Following the Los Angeles Clippers' dismal performance last season, Paul George has been getting attention for the wrong reasons. Clippers supporters are campaigning to drive the forward out of L.A. and the star continues to generate controversy in the league rather effortlessly.
There was that report that after the Clippers bowed out of the Western Conference last season, courtesy of the Denver Nuggets, George unleashed a dressing room speech that was not well-received. While unconfirmed, that episode amplified the rumors that the 30-year-old, handpicked by Kawhi Leonard to campaign with him, was not popular among his teammates.
It appeared that George had the same kind of shaky relationship with Doc Rivers, the former Clippers head coach now leading the Philadelphia 76ers. According to CBS Sports, the Clippers star blamed Rivers for failing to make the adjustments that led to the team's lackluster performance during the postseason.
George's overall production in the series with Nuggets was far from impressive but it turned out that he is putting the share of the blame on Rivers. He claimed that the coach's tactics affected his offensive game, and that caused the Clippers the NBA Finals.
When word reached Rivers regarding the assessment offered by George, the bench tactician said he enjoyed coaching the Clippers man. But he added that "everybody needs to take ownership," of the campaign's outcome, stressing that while the coach was at fault so were the players, and that cluster includes George.
The reaction from Rivers was nothing short of classy despite the not-so-subtle criticism of how he handled things at Clippers. However, Kendrick Perkins, who played under River with the Boston Celtics, was not too forgiving.
Perkins characterized George's assessment of Rivers as "a cowardly move," if not completely unnecessary given that the coach has already moved on. Perkins added that it is a bad taste for George to throw someone under the bus when is also the subject of disappointment.
Now it would seem that the prevailing situation with the Clippers would likely lead to George eventually getting traded but according to Clutch Points, citing the information shared by Sam Amick of The Athletic, such a scenario is not happening. The star is still in the long-term plans of the L.A. club.
"The Clippers, sources say, remain fully committed to George as part of their program," Amish was reported as saying.
This appears to be the case despite the clamor from some Clippers fans that the front office can try to make a deal with the Houston Rockets. The latter's superstar, James Harden, has made known his wish to leave and the Clippers Nation crowd are hoping that the former MVP can be brought to the fold.
In any case and if the Leonard-George will remain intact when the next campaign starts this December, the pressure is greater for the two superstars to live up to the high expectations.
