Paul George named the Boston Celtics and NY Knicks by name when discussing his excitement about playing against Eastern Conference competition with the Philadelphia -- but in the process, he may have lit a fire under the whole conference in a move Clipperholics' Will Eudy deemed "unwise."
"There may be another interpretation here, but it would appear Paul is saying the East is a bit easier to play in than the West," Eudy wrote. "While I do not believe he is wrong and most observers would likely agree about the strength of the conferences, it may not be wise to be putting this out there like he is. This is bulletin board material that the 76ers' foes can use for extra motivation this coming season."
George isn't wrong to be dismissive of most of the East. While teams like the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers are on the rise, the Sixers are top-heavy enough not to have too much trouble with them in a seven-game series.
But the Celtics and Knicks are quite literally built to stop him, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the former and Mikal Bridges acquired by the latter this summer. Good on him for recognizing the improvements made, but he just opened himself up for this take to be revisited next April or May if Philly doesn't take the Eastern Conference crown.
What exactly did Paul George say about the Eastern Conference?
PG said "the west was crazy" but then said he looked forward to facing the east.
"I think that alone excites me," George said. "And then just the competition, you know what I mean? Obviously Boston is the team to beat. New York is an iconic place to play. I miss playing there twice within a season. And so that alone is enough to just get you excited about what's to come.
"Being out East now, I'm just looking forward to those battles. I already know how the West was, right? The West was getting crazy. There's so much parity out West now. The East, it is going to be a different battle. It's a different gameplay I feel like out East than it is out West."
The aging George is just begging the young guns of the Eastern Conference to prove him wrong.