Paul George batted down any notion that his recent comments about C.J. Miles and Lance Stephenson were an attempt to throw his teammates under the bus during shootaround on Wednesday. He called any rhetoric to the contrary “complete ignorance.”
Paul George thinks it’s ‘complete ignorance’ to say he threw his teammates under the bus
George made comments about C.J. Miles and Lance Stephenson after each of Indiana’s two playoff losses.
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“Everybody knows how close I am with my teammates, and to really make that the highlight of the series — I said that only to motivate us and to win the series,” George told reporters. “That’s what this thing is about. Winning. And trying to bring a championship to Indy, and try to get out of this first round.”
Indiana trails Cleveland, 2-0, in their first-round playoff matchup with the series headed home for Games 3 and 4. George wanted to combat the idea that he was selfish, maintaining he was solely answering questions he was asked about ways the team could improve in late-game scenarios.
“I didn’t say anything that was even close to throwing them under the bus. It is what it is,” he said. “Our locker room is still great and I’m still very pleased with all of my teammates.”
After each of Indiana’s two first-round losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers, George was critical of a teammate.
The Pacers’ All-Star did not take the final shot in their 109-108 Game 1 loss to Cleveland. He passed the ball to C.J. Miles expecting to get it back. Instead, Miles took and missed the potential game-winner.
“C.J. took it upon himself,” George said following the game. “I’m confident in all my guys taking shots, that’s not the issue. But in that situation like that, I’ve gotta get that.”
After Game 2, George said newly re-signed teammate Lance Stephenson had to “learn to control himself,” suggesting he needs to play with more discipline on the court. It’s a sentiment head coach Nate McMillan seemed to share, urging Stephenson to calm down during the game.
“He’s got to learn to just be in the moment,” George said. “Lance is in our locker room, is looked upon as a leader — one of our leaders. His body language has to improve just for the team.”
The Pacers are considered the underdog in a series against a Cavaliers team carried by LeBron James, who is aiming to make his seventh consecutive NBA Finals appearance and third straight in Cleveland.
The last thing Indiana needs as it attempts to beat the odds is locker room discord.
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