Detroit — Paul George generated the most points by a player in their Boston Celtics debut. He registered a game-high 38 points. Unfortunately, he'll leave Little Caesars Arena with a bitter taste.
The nine-time All-Star's stellar two-way performance came in a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The hosts outscored their visitors 76-55 in the second half. They erased a 22-point deficit. It's the largest comeback on the first day of an NBA season in the play-by-play era, which dates back to 1997-98, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Plenty of digital ink will be spilled over what went wrong for a team that didn't lose after gaining a 20-point advantage once last year. However, the focus of this piece is to dive into George's two-way impact and a noteworthy insight he shared after the game.
Paul George shook off a 'rough' training camp
After Tuesday's tilt, the 16-year veteran conveyed that his first training camp with the Celtics was a "rough" one. At the root of that was trying to learn new concepts, a new system, and even new terminology than accustomed to. All while trying to get comfortable alongside new teammates.
Throughout that process, Joe Mazzulla and those George is now sharing a locker room with have been there to support him. They're helping him get up to speed, empowering him on the court, and making sure he feels like part of the team.
Another reason he played with comfort and confidence in Boston's season opener is that he hasn't felt this good physically since his days with the Los Angeles Clippers. During his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers, George dealt with a hyperextended knee. That came with setbacks he struggled to shake.
Now, "I'm getting my wind back. I'm getting my legs back. I feel like I'm getting my pop back," George said while speaking with the media in the visitors' locker room. "So that was kind of the difference maker."
How Paul George set a Celtics record in his Boston debut
The six-time All-NBA selection first got in a rhythm offensively when, 2:19 into the matchup, Jordan Walsh created a second-chance opportunity that led to a three for his veteran teammate.
Shortly after that, the rangy wing used his length to deflect a pass from Cade Cunningham. The reward? A layup at the other end of the floor. From there, an excellent back screen by Neemias Queta freed George for a corner 3. That allowed him to build on his strong start.
Next time down the court, Queta's pick got Duncan Robinson off of the six-foot-eight sharpshooter. With Jalen Duren in a shallow drop, George elevated and launched a three that barely grazed the net.
No matter where Boston initially stationed its new wing, he created problems for Detroit's defense. That's the beauty of having a knockdown catch-and-shoot threat who can make plays for himself and others off the dribble.
Inside Paul George's dominant third-quarter performance
As dynamic a talent as the venerable veteran is, Tuesday was about his scoring. Whether he was on the same side as Jayson Tatum or the opposite, he found success. That included a dominant display early in the second half.
It began with Derrick White rejecting a high-ball screen from Mitchell Robinson. His downhill drive sucked in Ausar Thompson, leaving George open for a corner 3. The next possession, it was clear he wanted the rock.
It started with a hard shove to John Collins to get open for pistol action. After pitching the ball back to White, he immediately got it back and came off a screen from Robinson. With Duren again in drop coverage, he rose and swished a triple. The following time down the floor, he drilled a three from 27 feet, firing without hesitation.
After the Celtics went away from George for a few possessions, they dialed up get-action, meaning, in this case, Neemias Queta set a screen for him to get open coming toward the ball. With Kevin Huerter now on his hip and Duren back to protect the paint, he used that runway to get to the rim. From there, he utilized his length and deft touch to finish soft off the glass through contact from the Pistons' center. It capped a third frame that highlighted his ability to elevate the offense.
"He made some great reads throughout the game," said Joe Mazzulla after the loss. "He was able to find advantages for himself and for others, and be aggressive. And we just have to continue that."
Paul George's disruptive defense on display in Celtics' opener
He didn't just produce the most points in Tuesday's tilt. He also had five steals, a game high.
The former league leader in that category utilized his length to make life difficult for Cade Cunningham. That's mostly meant for when he was guarding him. However, one of George's pickpockets came from preventing John Collins from posting him in transition. As Cunningham backed into the paint, inching closer to George with his head turned away from him, the 36-year-old wing blitzed from behind. He swiped the ball free. That led to capitalizing on two free throws at the other end.
George also contested five 3s and eight shots total. The former was a team high. The latter matched Neemias Queta for that distinction. He also had a team-best seven deflections. He created havoc throughout the game, including when guarding Detroit's best player. It captured his ability to help Boston generate more turnovers.
"He was unbelievable," voiced Tatum, noting his new teammate's two-way impact. "Just the confidence he played with. Obviously, made plays on defense, but getting to his spots, his ability to defend and get on the run, be able to space the floor, and attack certain matchups."
It came in a loss, but it was a stellar Celtics debut from a former All-NBA selection who reminded the basketball world how talented he is. George feeling healthier than he has in years and getting increasingly comfortable with his new team are exciting prospects. This storyline will help determine how far Boston goes this year.
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