Paul George eyeing a mid-March return
Help is on the way for the Indiana Pacers.
All-NBA forward Paul George, who is recovering from a gruesome leg injury that he sustained in the summer, is eyeing a mid-March debut, George told Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.
It was originally believed that George would miss the entirety of the season after he broke his leg during a Team USA scrimmage, but George has been steadily inching closer to a return.
George's return has the potential to shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers have struggled immensely without George, but their defense has remained stout and they currently sit just two games back of the playoffs.
Last season, George was named to the All-NBA Third Team after posting averages of 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. George is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and his offensive skill set could provide the Pacers with the No. 1 option they have lacked all season.
Should George recapture his pre-injury form, the Pacers are poised to capture their former success. The core of Roy Hibbert, David West, George Hill and George mirrors that of the Pacers squads that qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals over the last two seasons.
Fingers crossed for more of this: