Not having Paul George completely healthy for the 2023 NBA playoffs hurts the Los Angeles Clippers greatly. As we all know, the NBA regular season has come to an end and the teams participating in the playoffs and play-in tournament have been revealed. The Clippers have done somewhat well this season and finished with a record of 44 wins and 38 losses, giving them the 5th seed in the Western Conference.
According to the playoffs format, that means they will be matching up against the 4th seed in the first round. That would happen to be Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and the Phoenix Suns. At the moment, the Suns look like one of the best teams in the league and a force to be reckoned with.
With that being said, Clippers fans should certainly want to know when PG will be making a return for his team and if it is possible in the first round against the Suns. Let us take a closer look and find out.
Paul George is expected to be sidelined for the first half of the Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoneix Suns series
Some fans might already be aware of what happened. PG and the Clippers were playing a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he suffered a knee injury when landing after getting a rebound. The awkward landing caused him to crumble to the floor instantly and we have not seen him on the court since then.
According to the initial reports, his hyper-extended knee was estimated to take between 2-3 weeks in order to completely heal. However, April 11 is the 3rd-week point and George still seems to have a long way to go before returning for the Clippers.
He is expected to miss the first half of their matchup against the Suns, something that will drastically hurt his team’s chances of coming out on top. This season, Paul George has been averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He is also considered to be one of the best wing defenders in the league.
The first-round playoff series against the Suns are expected to begin on April 16. Hopefully, George will be able to make a return to help his team potentially defeat the Phoneix Suns. We wish him the best and hope that he is able to make a successful recovery.