After a string of subpar performances, Paul George bounced back in a big way by making NBA history in Game 5, dropping 35 points on 66% shooting in an insane 24 minutes of play-time.
FROM ELIAS: Paul George is the only player in NBA postseason history to score 35 points in 25 minutes or less in the Shot Clock Era (1954-55). pic.twitter.com/jlx2sNUXCj
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) August 26, 2020
PG (35 PTS) balled out in the Clippers’ big Game 5 win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dOy3XWUUeR
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 26, 2020
This is a highly encouraging sign for the Clippers, but one has to wonder: why was he struggling so much in the first place? According to him, he has been “in a dark place” since the bubble started.
“The bubble got the best of me, I was just in a dark place. I really wasn’t here, I checked out. These past couple games it was just difficult, but shout out to people that stood behind me, who was in my corner, the positivity, my teammates, my family friends, everybody. Thank everybody who reached out to me.”
Paul George says he battled anxiety and a little bit of depression during his shooting slump to start this playoff series.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) August 26, 2020
Paul George said he was in a really dark place the last few games
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 26, 2020
It seems PG’s head just wasn’t in a good place since the playoffs began. But if the Clippers are to make any noise this postseason, they’ll need him at the top of his game.
Hopefully, this game becomes the new normal for him going forward this postseason.
