Frank Vogel says Paul George will start at power forward for Pacers

Every offseason brings changes and one team that took it to the “extreme” is the Indiana Pacers.

George, the 10th overall pick out of Fresno State in the 2010 National Basketball Association Draft, said he knows he can play the four, but is concerned about the wear and tear of playing the position over the course of a season. Five months after that, he made his first All-Star start.

This has been coming for some time. And if that’s Indiana’s starting lineup, there isn’t anyone there to let George operate on the outside as much as he did before. While there are still some lingering questions about George’s health from the gruesome leg injury last summer, he should find himself less of a nightly target by defenses.

Paul George has publicly announced that he’s “not too thrilled” about his transition to power forward.

– Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) September 24, 2015PG: “I’m not going to knock it like it’s just totally a awful decision”.

“I don’t think I’m at that point in my career where I should be changing positions”. Then while meeting with local reporters and asked how much say he’ll have in the decision, George added: “I hope a lot. I’m open to it so I just want to see how it goes”.

“Um, you know it’s, uh, I was open for – to try it out”, George told USA Today “It’s definitely a change”. George is also going to be up against players more adjusted and comfortable in this situation. He may not be quite as big as other power forwards that he faces, but his length and athleticism will allow him to mach up decently well. Not many teams would have answers defensively for George. Especially considering that George was once considered one of, if not the best perimeter defender in the league, it’s nearly a shame to see that aspect taken out of his game due him being slotted in the position that Bird would like to see him play. Though he noted he felt he could play anywhere on the court, he wasn’t expecting to play 30 minutes at power forward. But a broken leg ended Indiana’s reign as LeBron James’ toughest inter-conference competition and opened a door for the Pacers to drastically pivot from their tried-and-true identity.

Head coach Frank Vogel will take part in a Twitter Q&A on the Pacers’ Facebook page, while all players on the roster will visit with Pacers radio broadcasters Pat Boylan and Mark Boyle for a special edition of the “Blue & Gold Breakdown”.

All of which leads us back to where we started.

George’s move to power forward is perhaps the most glaring sign yet of Indiana’s roster upheaval.

Small-ball systems typically push each player up a position, at times eliminating a traditional power forward or center altogether.

Vogel said George is under no medical restrictions and that intends to use George the same way he always does during the preseason – sparingly at first with the minutes increasing as the October 28 season opener at Toronto gets closer. “He looks like Paul George to me”. This would be the true solution to the Pacers’ stretch-4 problem. He’s not thrilled about it, and his concerns make sense.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The rebuilt Paul George looks more like his old self. While it’s hard to see George start off the year frustrated with his new role, if anyone can conquer yet another obstacle and continue the ascent to greatness, it’s Paul George.