George, like Leonard, does not face the major obstacle towards winning MVP that those in the "Team's Not Good Enough" category of this segment have to deal with. Indeed, GM Larry Bird has worked wonders for this Indiana squad over the summer, creating a very impressive and talented starting five of PG Jeff Teague, SG Monta Ellis, George at SF, PF Thaddeus Young, and C Al Jefferson, with key reserves such as PG Ty Lawson and PF/C Myles Turner, even if the bench is still average at best. This team is legitimate, and I would even go so far as to say that they are the favorites over the likes of Boston and Toronto to earn the number two seed in the East behind Cleveland.
George had an amazing comeback year last season after his horrific injury at the 2014 FIBA World Cup that kept him out all of that season. In 2015-16, the superstar had his best season ever, averaging 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on an efficient shooting split of 41.8/37.2/86.0 while playing 81 out of 82 regular season games. In fact, other than that gruesome leg injury at FIBA, George has been a relative iron man over the course of his career, playing 80 and 79 games respectively for the two seasons that immediately preceded the injury.
George's defensive prowess is already renowned -- his 6'11" wingspan, physical strength, and excellent instincts made him the league's top "LeBron Stopper" (along with, coincidentally, Kawhi Leonard) during the Pacers-Heat rivalry a few years ago; not to mention George's two All-Defensive Team appearances. But it was his improved offensive game that has enabled PG13 to take the next step -- particularly in the post and from downtown. Now 26 and entering the prime of his career with a polished all-around game, the pieces are all in place for George to make a legitimate run at the league's most coveted award.
However, with that being said, the MVP case for PG will be difficult to make should he finish just behind LeBron himself in every regard -- points, rebounds, assists, percentages, and most importantly, wins. If, in all likelihood, the Cavs do indeed have the East's top seed, there really isn't much of a case for why George should win MVP over LeBron, and that's not even mentioning all of the superstars out West. Conversely, however, in the unlikely event that George's Pacers somehow triumph over LeBron James' Cavaliers in the regular season, then consider George one of, if not the favorites for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
George had an amazing comeback year last season after his horrific injury at the 2014 FIBA World Cup that kept him out all of that season. In 2015-16, the superstar had his best season ever, averaging 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on an efficient shooting split of 41.8/37.2/86.0 while playing 81 out of 82 regular season games. In fact, other than that gruesome leg injury at FIBA, George has been a relative iron man over the course of his career, playing 80 and 79 games respectively for the two seasons that immediately preceded the injury.
George's defensive prowess is already renowned -- his 6'11" wingspan, physical strength, and excellent instincts made him the league's top "LeBron Stopper" (along with, coincidentally, Kawhi Leonard) during the Pacers-Heat rivalry a few years ago; not to mention George's two All-Defensive Team appearances. But it was his improved offensive game that has enabled PG13 to take the next step -- particularly in the post and from downtown. Now 26 and entering the prime of his career with a polished all-around game, the pieces are all in place for George to make a legitimate run at the league's most coveted award.
However, with that being said, the MVP case for PG will be difficult to make should he finish just behind LeBron himself in every regard -- points, rebounds, assists, percentages, and most importantly, wins. If, in all likelihood, the Cavs do indeed have the East's top seed, there really isn't much of a case for why George should win MVP over LeBron, and that's not even mentioning all of the superstars out West. Conversely, however, in the unlikely event that George's Pacers somehow triumph over LeBron James' Cavaliers in the regular season, then consider George one of, if not the favorites for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
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