Paul George Set To Make Season Debut For Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tight race in the Eastern Conference and are already battling a ton of injuries. The good news for the Sixers is that they’ll be getting a huge reinforcement back tonight in Paul George, after missing multiple weeks recovering from the knee surgery he had earlier in the offseason.
Paul George Is Officially Back
After months of recovery, the star small forward will finally make his highly anticipated season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers. Battling multiple injuries last year, Paul George will look to rebound and put together a vintage season. With so many different rotations the 76ers used last season, George never found a rhythm and was eventually shut down for the rest of the season, joining Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.Â
George averaged 16.2 points per game in just 41 games, which marks the first time he’s averaged under 20 points per game since 2015. I’d expect better results this year because he’s surrounded by a lot more talent than he was last season. The starting rotation will look a lot different in tonight’s game with Joel Embiid and Kelly Oubre ruled out. The five starters will most likely be Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, Trendon Watford, and Andre Drummond.
76ers Are Battling A Lot Of Injuries
The addition of Paul George will help the 76ers a ton on both sides of the ball, but they’re also missing a ton of key pieces. The most significant piece is once again Joel Embiid, who’s dealing with right knee soreness, and his timetable to return is still unknown. Embiid last played on November 8th against the Detroit Pistons, as the 76ers remain cautious with him and manage his workload.
Sticking with the Center room is Adem Bona. He’s been electric throughout the season, using his athleticism to his advantage, averaging 1.7 blocks per game. Nick Nurse will have to be creative with how he puts together the rotations tonight, missing two of their top two centers. Andre Drummond will start in the meantime, and will be backed up by Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker.
Final Thoughts
The last player is Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre has been one of the Sixers’ best players this season, averaging 16.8 points per game. Losing Oubre actually makes Nick Nurse’s job easy, as that’s one less player he has to find a spot for in the rotation. Having George back will be key for this team’s success, and it’ll be exciting to see how they fare without Joel Embiid.
