Pacers’ Paul George ‘more at ease’ about playing power forward
Indiana Pacers player Paul George said he is “more at ease” about his switch to the power forward position than he originally was, according to NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner.
George, who stands at 6'9", spent the first four years of his career playing shooting guard and small forward for the Pacers. He missed almost the entire 2014-15 season after suffering a compound fracture in his right leg during an exhibition game for the U.S. National Basketball Team. He did play in six games, averaging 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.
In the offseason, the Pacers parted ways with power forward David West, who signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs. They also traded center Roy Hibbert to the Los Angeles Lakers for a draft pick. Indiana then signed shooting guard Monta Ellis.
Pacers president Larry Bird announced in July that George would play the power forward position in the 2015-16 season to speed up the team's pace.
“I'm not too thrilled on it,” George toldUSA Today in September in regards to the change. “But it could change the more comfortable I get at the position.”
However, George said he is adjusting to his new role.
“The more we've had practice time and I've had sit-down moments with coach and with Larry, the more at ease I've felt about this situation,” George said.
The Pacers open the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 28 against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.
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