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George: "Whatever I've got to do to win"

Paul George's comments after the Pacers' loss to Denver on Friday left a trail of doubts. Although he scored 27 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter when he led a comeback that shrank a 23-point lead to five, he insinuated some unnamed people might consider him a ball-stopper.

His demeanor on the practice court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday wasn't that of an unhappy player, however. He had lengthy, smiling conversations with Thaddeus Young and assistant coach Popeye Jones, and joked around with rookie Georges Niang as well before meeting with media members.

He didn't care to shed further light on the issue of how assertive he should be offensively.

"It's a new day," he said in a solemn tone of voice. "Continue to play basketball, continue to get better. Try to get out of this slump we're in."

One thing George seemed pleased with was a likely change to the starting lineup. With Glenn Robinson III out for a couple of weeks with a sore calf muscle, Monta Ellis is expected to start in place of C.J. Miles. Coach Nate McMillan went with that lineup at the start of the second half against Denver and was rewarded. Ellis finished the game with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and no turnovers, scoring eight in the second half.

The move is designed to balance the first and second units by putting more size and 3-point shooting in the second unit (Miles), and more playmaking with the starters (Ellis). Besides, Ellis has been shooting well, too. Over the past 21 games, he's averaged 11.1 points while hitting 50 percent of his field goal attempts and 40 percent of his 3-pointers.

"He's been aggressive," McMillan said of Ellis' improved play. "We have really featured him with that second unit...and he's been really aggressive."

McMillan wants Ellis to continue to be aggressive with the starters. He also wants George to be aggressive, so long as the defense allows him to be. McMillan was perfectly fine with George shooting (and scoring) on four consecutive possessions midway through the fourth quarter on Friday, and was fine with George shooting (and missing) on the next possession as well.

The question is, should George play that way when the Pacers aren't in a desperate mode? It depends on what opportunities present themselves, and that's the gray area in the Pacers' offense.

"I think it's always that case with a leading scorer on the team," McMillan said. "That's every team. Sometimes people look at a guy and say he's selfish, he needs to move the ball. I think you play the game the right way. We know we need movement in our offense. I think he tries to pass the ball and move the ball, but when he has that opportunity to take advantage of a matchup, we need him to do that.

"Sometimes you feel (a teammate is shooting too much). But you have to stay together and trust in your teammate that you have his back and he has your back. He has to trust if there is a trap I'm going to give the ball up. I think we've done that a lot this season. We've had good ball movement. You have to go out there with that mindset."

George leads the Pacers with a 22.6-point scoring average, more than seven points ahead of Jeff Teague. He's taken 333 more shots than Teague, but is only shooting a slightly better percentage. McMillan said shot selection is a common topic of conversation in film sessions with the players, but by no means does he want George — or anyone else — failing to look for scoring opportunities.

"I don't think you come out passive, but I don't think you come out gunning," McMillan said. "I think you play the game. You try to get ball movement. If you have your look you take your look. If they're committing to you, then you give it up.

"Every game is a little different. But I don't want him coming out and thinking, people are bothered or talking about me moving the ball, so I'm not going to shoot. You can't play with that mindset. You have to play the game."

George agrees. The Pacers are 36-36 and badly in need of a win against Philadelphia on Sunday to help secure their place in the playoffs. He said he plans to do whatever it takes to make that happen, regardless of what role that requires.

"At this point it's win," he said. "Whatever I've got to do to win. If I have to put up 30 shots to win, I'll put up 30 shots to win."

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