Paul George flipping script in Sixers-Celtics series was perfect Boston audition

When the Boston Celtics went up against the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth time since the Joel Embiid era started, they lacked something they had the previous three times they went up in the postseason: the personnel to shut down the Sixers' best players. Even worse, the Sixers had the personnel to shut down the Celtics' best players.

One of the biggest reasons, maybe even THE biggest reason, Philadelphia got over the hump against Boston was because of their wing defense, which was spearheaded by none other than Paul George.

Boston had the edge over Philadelphia because of Al Horford. Whether he was playing for or against the Sixers, he always seemed to be their kryptonite, as his two-way play openly flustered Joel Embiid. Even when they teamed up, it turned out to be an absolutely terrible fit.

Well, the Celtics basically got just that against George, who was not only capable of hitting shots, but also straight up did to the Jays what Horford routinely did to Embiid when it mattered: took them out of their comfort zone.

George's defense made Tatum uncomfortable while it forced some bad turnovers from Brown

In their previous matchups, Philly never had anyone who could straight up bother both of the Jays, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (which is surprising when remembering that they had All-Defense talents Robert Covington and Ben Simmons at their peaks), but George was one of the very few players ever who got under both of their skins.

It's fair to say the Celtics may not have won their previous series against the Sixers without Horford (in the ones in which he played for Boston). For that same reason, the Sixers probably wouldn't have beaten the Celtics without George.

And now, that difference maker is a Celtic

Everyone knew even before he became a Celtic that George's best days are gone. However, that first-round series proved he's still a game-changer because he's still an elite defender who can shoot threes at an elite percentage for someone his size.

That's the kind of players that fits Mazzulla Ball like a glove.

Yes it's true that the Sixers have more talent than the Celtics, but Boston has fewer holes to exploit on the roster despite lessening their starpower by going from Brown to George. If and when they Philadelphia again, they have a Horford-like edge again, this time with George to deploy against the likes of Brown and LeBron James.

George won't put up the flasky number he used to, but if the Celtics get the win, they won't even care.

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