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NBA -- Paul George is back! By Adeline Deladisma PhilBoxing.com Tue, 07 Apr 2015  INDIANAPOLIS -- In a game critical to determining who will take the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Indiana Pacers doled out a convincing 112-89 win against the Miami Heat Sunday night. Perhaps even more significantly, the game also marked the return of Indiana Pacers forward Paul George after sustaining a fracture to his right leg last August during an exhibition game for Team USA as it prepared for competition in the World Cup of basketball. The injury last summer was physically shocking and difficult to watch as George made contact with the basketball stanchion and cleanly broke the two bones in his lower leg. Once they were repaired, what would follow were seven months of rehabilitation and training to get him back to game action. The Pacers were decimated by injury early in the season, not just to George, but also to veteran forward David West and point guard George Hill. The Pacers ran through a number of starting line ups and managed to stay competitive. While the situation was not ideal, as it never is with injuries, what it did allow was a chance for some of the reserves to get significant game time experience. They managed to post a 33-43 record and are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. All this without their two-time All Star. 
George, in the meantime, kept busy. He was named a Pacers PR intern so he could sit on press row and be on the sidelines while keeping his leg out of harms way (https://twitter.com/Yg_Trece/status/535200175925776385). He became something of a fashion maven at ball games, sporting some pretty sharp threads at times. He released his shoe, the Paul George Nike Hyperdunks in November and a line of New Era ball caps at the All Star break. He even did a stint as a sideline reporter with Hill, who was also injured at the time (https://twitter.com/FSIndiana/status/552502284975108096). And he worked. And worked. Worked to get back into game shape when many anticipated that he would be out for the season. Once it even became a possibility that he could return during the 2014-15 season, he every step and shot were analyzed to see if could really happen. Bleacher Report created a multipart series chronicling his road to recovery (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2404149-paul-georges-road-back-im-back-ep-4), highlighting the ups and downs of his path. Both George and the Pacers were adamant that he would only return if it was the right thing to do. And it would have to be at the right time. Sunday was that time. Before the game, George had this to say: "The recovery has been a long process and this is another step in the process?. I'm excited, but at the same time I'm aware I'm still in a rehab stage and will continue to work to get back to full strength." According to Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, "We're happy to have Paul back in uniform, and this is just another step in his rehabilitation from the injury. He has worked hard to get to this point and still has work to do, but it's a positive step toward what we hope will be a full recovery at some point." Even before the game started there was a hum of excitement among the crowd. Four-Star General martin Dempsey, the United States current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was on hand to present George with honorary dog tags commemorating his commitment to representing the country as part of USA Basketball. It would also be the first game George would don his new number 13 jersey, replacing his 24 from last season. George was greeted by an exuberant crowd waving thousands of yellow and blue signs reading "Welcome Back PG," when he entered the game at 5:34 in the first quarter. He shot and made a 14 foot jumper to record his first points of the season. All eyes were on him as he played slightly more than 14 and a half minutes. He scored 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting, including 3 from behind the arc, and finished with 2 rebounds. POSTGAME. George revealed that he was excited about returning, but didn't want to get too caught up in the emotions. "It was everything that I expected. The welcoming back into the game was probably the greatest moment that I've had. Just happy to be back to the game." Cautiously optimistic, George understands well that this is part of the process of getting back into the game. Though he will only play limited minutes, he is thankful to be back. He may very well be the spark the Indiana Pacers need to make a last push into the playoffs. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Adeline Deladisma.  |
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