The past year has been a major disappointment for the Indiana Pacers, dating all the way back to last season when the team faded after the All-Star break and was a disappointment in the playoffs. Then there was the rock bottom: a team USA scrimmage in which Paul George suffered a horrific leg injury that has kept him out for the majority of the year.
However, the Pacers have picked themselves up and dusted themselves off. They are still in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race with George back for the final stretch. After missing eight months with a broken leg, the 24-year-old looked good in his return scoring 13 points and adding two rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 15 minutes of action in a 112-89 win over the Miami Heat.
George’s return will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Indiana’s push to make the playoffs but that isn’t the only area where his presence will matter for NBA fans. He’ll impact the Pacers from a fantasy perspective too, which is what we’ll take a look at here.
What Will George Provide Now That He’s Back
Perhaps the most interesting angle to begin with is what to expect from George himself from a fantasy perspective the rest of the way. The numbers George posted in his return showed that he is capable of producing when called upon but at the same time, it’s unreasonable to expect Indiana to give him upwards of 30 minutes per night as he tries to work his way back following such a serious injury. The schedule will also help dictate what George does from a fantasy perspective in regards to whether or not the Pacers really need him in the lineup to beat some of their remaining opponents as they attempt to secure a playoff spot. While he might not play extensively against the New York Knicks, Indiana will certainly need his help against the Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies over the course of their final four games. So look for the 15 minutes that George played against Miami as being the low base for George in terms of what to expect from his in terms of fantasy production down the final stretch of the regular season.
West, Miles And Stuckey In Decline
The other side of the fantasy equation shifts the focus to which player’s value will take the biggest hit with George back in the lineup. While David West and C.J. Miles stand out as two players in particular that should see a hit to their overall production and their point totals in particular with George cutting into it, the bench will also take a hit as well with Solomon Hill and Rodney Stuckey also expected to see smaller roles. West and Miles won’t be expected to score at the same rate with George taking some of that burden away from them. Meanwhile, Stuckey was already dealing with a lingering wrist issue, so owners won’t like the fact that he won’t be forced back in to the lineup anytime soon now that reinforcements have arrived.
Hill, Scola On The Rise
While West and Miles stand out as the two players whose fantasy value should take the biggest hit with George back in the lineup, there are a couple of players that could really benefit from his presence: George Hill and Luis Scola. Hill and Scola have led Indiana in points per game over the past couple of weeks and while conventional wisdom might dictate their overall point totals might take a hit, they could also benefit from his presence since he will take away some of the defensive attention those two command and open up more room on the floor. Hill’s assist totals in particular could improve with another key offensive option in the lineup while Scola should have more room to operate if he becomes the third-best scoring threat on the floor for the Pacers.
It’s difficult to narrow the exact fantasy impact that George’s presence in Indiana’s lineup will have but it’s clear he will be a consistent threat the rest of the way and while his return could hurt the production of players like West and Miles it should have a positive impact on the numbers registered by players like Hill and Scola.
