After seven long years, Pacers plucked a gem, by George

I never understood why the NBA uses All-Star weekend as the designated midpoint of its 82-game regular-season schedule. The Indiana Pacers have played 53 games. The Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets entered their break at 56 and 55, respectively.

Story lines dominating this, uh, first half range from San Antonio’s quiet efficiency in compiling the league’s best record to location meaning everything to the formerly faceless Nets franchise. LeBron James is proving once again he’s the NBA’s premier individual talent, and the locomotive known as the Lakers left the tracks weeks ago and hasn’t been seen since.

Then there’s that young guy with the Pacers. Dang, what’s his name again? George somebody.

That’s not me talking. I’ve watched 6-foot-9 swingman Paul George play enough to realize Indiana plucked an absolute gem with the 10th overall selection in the 2010 Draft. (Note: Those who booed this pick at the Pacers’ Draft Party must either turn in their playoff tickets or spend an hour at a Pacers practice taking charges from David West and Tyler Hansbrough.)

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