Paul George's goal: practicing in a month

If Paul George had his way, he would commemorate the seven-month anniversary of fracturing his leg with a practice alongside his Indiana Pacers teammates.

"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 the March 1 target.

That goal, less than a month away, would be the next step in a rehabilitation phase that has been at times monotonous and emotionally draining.

That day would excite a fan base and a team still hanging on to the hope that they can make the playoffs with their two-time All Star in the lineup. But until then, there will be days in the process like Thursday when George met with local media and shared hopeful possibilities while also noting the dubiousness of a full comeback this season.

"I want to be back out there playing. That's just my competitive side," George said. "Again, I know it's not a likelihood at this point, but I'm definitely pushing it and working hard to make it possible."

During a 10-minute interview session Thursday, George fielded several inquiries about his rehab process, his conditioning, mentality and, of course, the question du jour:

Does he expect to play during the 2014-15 season?

George, who broke his leg on Aug. 1 during a Team USA basketball scrimmage in Las Vegas, has made strides during rehab. He has bonded with the elliptical bike – the best way to keep up his cardio. In recent weeks, George has progressed to playing games of 3-on-3 and even, as he revealed Thursday, "occasionally getting thrown into halfcourt sets," but never running up and down the court in full 5-on-5 action, nor taking contact.

On Tuesday, there was a surprising development in this rehab process: Team president of basketball operations Larry Bird generated headlines with comments that George seems like "every week he's getting better and better" and if the team can make the playoffs, then Bird would like a fully-healed George to play some games this season to "get ready to go next year."

So, by Thursday, the curiosity had grown. Does George expect to play this season?

George's latest response did not deviate from any sunny examination he has shared in the past. George wants to play, naturally. He believes that if the Pacers can make a push for the playoffs, then his personal drive for a comeback would intensify. However, George still recognizes the reality of his still recovering right leg.

"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."

Coach Frank Vogel continued his line that he has shared since the beginning: He expects George to miss the season.

"I'm hopeful, too, but we're all being realistic and I'm proceeding that he's not going to play this year," Vogel said on Thursday. "We're going to try to improve what he's doing each week, each month. My expectation is he's not going to play. But, like Larry said, if he surprises us all and is able to play, then we're open minded to that."

While the full comeback remains up in the air, George practicing with his teammates appears to have far greater chances.

"At some point from now until the end of the season (George will return to practice)," Vogel said. "Part of him increasing his activity is getting into practice. I don't know what point that's going to be, really have no idea. It's really just going to be communication with the trainers but we do expect him to if his rehab progresses the right way to be getting into practices at some point this season."

George still feels pain from time and time – "Sometimes I have great days and some days, it's a little tough." He hopes the next MRI – he's due for another in a couple of weeks – will continue to reveal a leg on the mend and, as optimistic as ever, George believes that after getting cleared to practice, it would only take him "a good week or two until I feel comfortable with my conditioning that I could play."

After the casual press conference, George joked with Vogel that he planned to defend LeBron James during the Pacers' Friday night matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. George may still be a long way from even practicing but it didn't stop Vogel from playing along with this fantasy?

"Minutes restriction?" Vogel quipped. "Thirty-five seconds? Just play you on offense?"

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

CLEVELAND AT INDIANA

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-1070 AM, 107.5 FM.

CAVALIERS (30-20*)

Pos. Player PPG Key stat PG Kyrie Irving 21.9 5.2 apg SG J.R. Smith 11.8 2.9 apg SF LeBron James 26.2 7.4 rpg PF Kevin Love 16.9 10.5 rpg C Timofey Mozgov 8.9 8.0 rpg 6th Tristan Thompson 9.0 8.4 rpg

*Prior to Thursday's game

PACERS (18-32)

Pos. Player PPG Key stat PG George Hill 14.2 3.0 apg SG Rodney Stuckey 11.5 3.6 rpg SF C.J. Miles 12.4 2.9 rpg PF David West 12.9 6.9 rpg C Roy Hibbert 11.3 1.8 bpg 6th C.J. Watson 10.4 2.8 apg

STORYLINES:

Mahinmi, Allen out vs. Cavs: On Wednesday, Ian Mahinmi sprained his right ankle in a similar way that West injured his during the preseason. The difference? While West was spotted in a walking boot and cane the next day, by Thursday's team practice, Mahinmi was back on his feet and walking under his own power. A very encouraging sign, however, Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Mahinmi will miss Friday's game and "likely longer than that." Lavoy Allen (sore right knee), who has already missed the past two games, has the similar outlook. So, enter rookie Shayne Whittington as the backup center behind Hibbert.

He said what?!: "They're hot … We lost to several teams this year on losing streaks, so that's a different kind of feel (with) a team coming in on a winning streak that's red hot that obviously is one of the best teams in the NBA." – Vogel on the Cavaliers.

Prediction: The Cavs will meet the Pacers on the second night of a back to back, however the short flight from Cleveland to Indianapolis should not be much of a factor. After all, last Saturday the Sacramento Kings made the same trip to Indy after a loss to the Cavs and won. While the Atlanta Hawks earned much-deserved national props for their 19-game winning streak, Cleveland was busy plodding along to its own hot path, entering Thursday on an 11-game winning strerak. During that time, LeBron James, rightfully, re-entered the MVP conversation and the Cavs once again became an Eastern Conference contender. This runaway train will continue inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cavaliers win 99-90.

— Candace Buckner