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Paul George, James Harden
THE The Philadelphia 76ers recovered well from his defeat James Harden by adding Paul George to the team. Former player and former Sixers star Theo Ratliff thinks George will fit in better than Harden.
Ratliff explained in an interview with SiriusXM why he thinks George is better for the Sixers than Harden by pointing out what George does that Harden doesn’t. ClutchPoints X Account aggregated the interview.
“The one thing Paul George does that James Harden hasn’t done is play defense. With the dynamic of having a scorer who’s played in an All-Star role for a long time and also knows how to defer to other All-Stars, I think he’s a great acquisition,” Ratliff said. “He does the utility work in addition to scoring baskets.”
Ratliff’s comments are valid, as George has been on multiple All-Star and All-NBA teams. He has also been on multiple All-Defense teams, but he hasn’t been on one since 2019.
Ratliff played for the Sixers from 1997 to 2001 and in his final season he was selected to the All-Star team. However, he did not play due to injury and was traded to the Atlanta Hawks mid-season for Dikembe Mutombo. Ratliff returned to the Sixers for the 2008-09 season.
Paul George is expected to have the biggest impact among the newcomers
In an article dated August 19,ESPN staff held a poll to see which new member would have the biggest impact on their new team. George finished first with 68 points, or 48% of the vote. The staff then explained why George finished first.
“After negotiations for a maximum contract failed, George’s five-season stint with the Lawnmowers “The 2018-19 season has come to a close. George remains one of the best players in the NBA, holding the No. 1 spot on the list of players who have had the most impact on his new team,” the staff wrote.
George is coming off an All-Star appearance in 2024 with the Clippers. Even though he is 34, George can play at a high level. The last time he made a substantial playoff run was in 2021 — the only substantial run he has made since leaving the Clippers. Indiana Pacers – George still has enough potential that the Sixers feel comfortable playing him.
He beat Mikal Bridges, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Chris PaulAnd Klay Thompson in the survey.
Kevin Garnett Makes Bold Statement About Paul George
Joining the Sixers marks George’s return to the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2017. NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett believes his fresh start in the Eastern Conference his personal Instagram page.
“I think PG is going to be better in the East than he was in the West. There’s going to be a much slower pace here in the East. He’s going to have a fresh start. I’m sure he hears all the rumblings and echoes coming from the Clippers locker room,” Garnett said on Aug. 19.
George could be third in the Sixers’ pecking order behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That could be better for him as he could thrive with less weight on his shoulders. The Sixers have had high expectations for several years now, but have not gone past the second round.
With George’s talent and experience, that could change in 2025.
Matt John covers the NBA for Heavy.com. The Massachusetts native has been covering the NBA since 2018, with stints at The Sporting News, FanSided, Basketball News, and Basketball Insiders. Learn more about Matt John
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