Paul George
IN PHOTO: May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) controls the ball between Miami Heat forward Shane Battier (31) and guard Dwyane Wade (rear) during the second half in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George is scheduled to make his season debut next week in an effort to help his squad secure one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The former recipient of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, George has been flip flopping on the decision to return from a gruesome injury he suffered last year but all indicators point out that he might suit up again this season.

The team originally planned for him to step foot on the court once again on the team’s next home game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night but the coach Frank Vogel quashed those rumours and added that his versatile player might be making his official return sometime next week. Both George and team President Larry Bird both previously aired optimism that the high flying 24-year-old leaper might return this season but backed down after some setbacks in his rehabilitation and the recent success of the team made the organization think twice about the pronouncement.

After the team went firing on all cylinders after the All-Star break by winning 9 straight, George told the media that he just might not return citing fears of ruining team chemistry. With the loss to second place Cleveland Cavaliers this Friday, the team is now on its third straight loss and is again in danger of falling out of the tight race for the final 7th and 8th places in the Eastern Conference.

“The Pacers also are in a crucial point in their schedule. They are in a stretch where the play seven of eight games against teams currently in playoff position, ” Brian Windhorst of ESPN said in his latest column that was the first to discuss the probability of George’s return.

In the absence of its primary playmaker in George, the team has been relying heavily on reserve guard Rodney Stuckey and starting point guard George Hill to provide the offence. George has been participating with full-on contact for three weeks now but several observers have noted that the Fresno State product is not remotely close to a hundred per cent recovery and is at time favouring the injured leg during scrimmages.

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