[festar35Participant]

Why do I get the feeling that Lance Stephenson will ultimately be a better player than Paul George?

Could this happen?

I mean I know both guys are 22 yo and that PG is already an All-Star, but when I watch them play Stephenson just seems to have that Killer instinct that is required to be elite. Don’t get me wrong I think George will be amazing and his role will be that of a very very good 2nd option, but Stephenson to me has an ability to be great offensively.

I mean there was a reason he a Wall were the top recruits outta high school and with his head looking like it is firmly on top of his shoulders in terms of maturity I think his ability on the court will start gaining momentum again.

[T-Dot-BallerParticipant]

ur an idiot for posting this

[festar35Participant]

Thanks! Clearly you don’t watch many Pacers games. Lance has the best offensive instincts on that Pacers team, he has the best handles and ability to drive to the hoop. He is built like a freight train and all though his jump-shot was initially good it has come a long way and now he is a consistent outside threat.

He has the potential, look how far he has come in 3 years. It wasn’t it statement either, it was a question and you still have given me no reason to belief otherwise.

[festar35Participant]

Larry Bird himself said he was the most talented player on the Pacers roster and he has proven to be a good judge of talent as you look at the Pacers team.

[JoeWolf1]

When speaking potential, I’m going with the super athletic 6’10” guy with the 7′ wingspan, a 9′ standing reach who’s averaging 17/7/4 over the 6’5” guy less athletic guy averaging 9/4/3 and shoots a worse pecent from the perimter.

There was a reason Josh Selby was ranked high as a high school and there was a reason why a lot of guys ranked lower than him are still in the league right now. How good a guy is at 17 or 18 doesn’t mean anything in the league.

[festar35Participant]

You make a really good, I just feel/worry George will remain a highly inconsistent scorer as he scores 20 one game and then 8-9 the next.

Where as I can see Lance being a consistent threat as his driving game is very good due to his size and strength. As for the high school thing I again understand, but was more basing it off the strides and steps he has taken since being in Indiana.

[JoeWolf1]

I guess I don’t see where the frustration with Paul George’s development lies. He’s more than doubled his rookie point production, doubled his rebounding, improved his outside shot, and only has 9 games this season in which he failed to reach 10 points and 27 games in which he hit for over 20. I mean, if you’re concerned he doesn’t score that much all the time, then I’d say you may need to take a closer look. 70 times this year he dropped over 10 points, and he’s scored 20 points or more three times the amount of times he’s failed to reach 10.

I don’t dislike Lance, I think he has the making of a fine do it all role player, but he only averages 10 points per game per 36 minutes, and is a 32% 3 point shooter and a 65% FT shooter. He may have came out of high school a more refined player than George, but I’d say the tables have turned, even in the fundamental act of shooting the ball. George was kind of forced to play a first option for a lot of the season, which isn’t what he really is, but I don’t see Lance being more than a 3rd or 4th option. He’s started all year and has only gone for 20 three times.

[BasketballJunkie224Participant]

i think that lance is starting to understand what it takes to be a good nba player and he will get better down the road IMO. But it is just very difficult to compare him to someone on the all star team. Paul George is a great talent. I do not see lance becoming better than him ever. As far as Paul G i think that he will get even better as time goes on too

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

Lance for the drive next year so he better be shooting right now. Lance will never be as good but Paul is overrated now and I like him. I was high on him and actually expect better than what he has done scoring wise.

[KHAM83Participant]

Im not going to bash you for your prediction, but like said above, PG is an all-star who also has a lot of potential still. I too like Lance, and give Kudos to Larry Bird for believing in him and sticking by him since day 1. Many of us on here bashed him for not upgrading the SG position already and for not trading for Mayo when he had the chance. Pacers are in a rare position where they can both contend with the best, yet still have a lot of room to improve. Hibbert is playing like he did last year at this time (which got him his contract) and the emergence of Lance gives them one less position to worry about, he can def be their SG of the future.

[KHAM83Participant]

There were rumors that Bird may not return next year. If true, do you think who ever replaces him will believe as much in Stephenson too or will they sell high? Hoopshype reports that NO will look to move Eric Gordon after this season. I dont think NO will turn down a package of Lance and Granger for a package centered around Gordon. This will give Indy 2 great wings around Hibbert and NO will fill out their team with the hometown Granger and have a prospect sg who as of now is better than Rivers. Just a thought.

***Just ran this throuh Trade Machine
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cgajwxm

NO gets Granger, Lance, and uprade at the 5. Then draft Burke who I think will fit prefectly.
Burke-Stephenson-Grange-Davis-Mahinmi
6th man Rivers/Anderson

Indy gets a new backcourt.
Vasques-Gordon-PG-West?-Hibbert
6th man George Hill plus have 13 mill in cap space.

[festar35Participant]

The Pacers can’t afford another max contract at this point, as no doubt Paul George will get max or very near to max and it wouldn’t work with re-signing of West and Hibbert already being on Max $.

[fcb206Participant]

Lance Stevenson is one of those guys who peaked as a player when he was 17 years old. I’m sure he will have a nice NBA career for all of the reasons you pointed out, but for real…the sky is the limit for Paul George. Physical freak, crazy blend of size and skill, and already producing at an all star level.

[Author]

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