You know that saying about learning how to walk before you can run? I think Indianapolis Pacers president Larry Bird is hoping for a sprint.
Bird said earlier this week that he would not hesitate to play Paul George this season if the medical staff cleared him for game action. George, of course, suffered a gruesome leg injury while playing with Team USA over the summer and has not appeared in a single game this season.
George is hoping he can get back to full practices sometime in March.
"No limitations, full on, going on, being incorporated in all of our practice sessions and doing it through the whole duration of the practice instead of spot minutes or just getting thrown into the mix every now and then," George said of his eventual return via The Indianapolis Star.
If George can start practicing in full sometime in March, it would be Indy's hope that he could start playing in April. Does the 24 year old think that is realistic?
"It's hard to say. It's so much stuff that we have no control over, it's pretty much just letting this thing heal," George said. "I don't want to come back too soon and be out there and have a chance to re-injure it or cause any other problems. So, I want it to be fully right and I know this whole organization wants it to be right."
George has been working with the training and medical staffs to build up strength in his injured leg. Before suffering the injury, George was considered to be the franchise player for the Pacers. He averaged 21.7 PPG, 3.5 ASP, 6.8 RPG during the 2013-14 season.
