Frustrated Paul George struggles to break out of slump After garnering Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors in November, the Pacers star has struggled to find his footing in December

Paul George missed nearly a full season after suffering a broken leg during a USA Basketball scrimmage in the summer of 2014, but during the first month of this season, a healthy George was putting up the best numbers of his career.

George was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in November, averaging 29.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in leading the Pacers to an 11-2 record. He hit 3-pointers at a 49.5 percent clip — for perspective, Golden State's Steph Curry shot 43.8 percent from beyond the arc last month.

But George has struggled mightily since: He's shooting just 36 percent from the field in December, and 35 percent from 3-point range. His plus/minus statistic, measuring how many more points a player's team scores than the opponent while he's on the court, went from a +15.6 in November to -1.2 this month.

"It's frustrating," George said after practice Tuesday. "Given the circumstance of being out a year, that's what I really feel like it's been, just trying to get used to a full season now. A lot of my shots feel good; I'm still getting good looks a majority of the time. Most of them are just short. It just comes down to legs, making sure I'm sharp, making sure I'm fresh."

George said there's no way to completely simulate the grind of a basketball season while rehabbing from a broken leg. Another factor, he said, is how opposing defenses are game-planning against him after his red-hot November.

"We run a lot of pick-and-rolls and ball screens for me, and it almost seems like everybody's just loading up," George said. "Help-side is loading up, the big that I'm coming off on is no longer dropping down, he's coming up higher (to guard George). So it's almost forcing me to swing the ball or pocket-pass. Those are times when I'm trying to be aggressive, and I get myself in a bind trying to work through the other team just watching, just following me."

George has seen this before, both in terms of starting a season hot and falling into a slump, as well as being hounded by opposing defenses. In 2013-14, George shot 47 percent from the field in November and December, but saw that number drop to 41 percent in January. His plus/minus stat went from +19.1 in November to +4.0 in January.

"I do think it's part of the injury and the recovery," coach Frank Vogel said of George's current slump. "He was going really good for a while, but you hit a little bit of a wall or whatever you want to call it where maybe your legs are a little bit heavy because you haven't played in a year. So I think that's part of it, plus he was so hot, so spectacular in November that he's Part A, Part B and Part C of every team's game plan.

"(But) you talk to him, and he has great perspective on things right now. There was a little bit more of an immaturity or a young player's mindset with his game (two seasons ago). You can just see that he's grown. He's a different player. It's just a matter of time before he comes out of this thing and gets going again."

George doesn't hide that his slump has him frustrated. Another source of frustration early this season for George has been officiating. Even while playing well, George had issues with referees in several games, the most recent example of which resulted in a $35,000 fine for criticizing the officials on live television following a win against the Brooklyn Nets.

"I've gotten past the stage of worrying about the officials," George said. "I've moved on to just playing now, and once the shots start falling, I'll be good again."

Another difference between George's slump two seasons ago and his current downturn is the personnel around him. The Pacers have overhauled their style of play in favor of a smaller, faster lineup.

"Compared to other teams (from previous years), we've got more playmakers on this team," George said. "So you've just gotta trust your teammates, put the ball in their hands. They've done a good job of finding me and getting me for looks as opposed to me trying to work for myself to get looks."

George said he's confident his body will get used to the rigors of a full NBA season again, but when asked how long he thought that could take, his response was wistful.

"I wish I had the answer to that one," George said.

With the Pacers headed to Chicago for a battle with the division rival Bulls on Wednesday, George hinted at a possible solution to his slump.

"When it's going against (Bulls guard) Jimmy (Butler), it's always gonna be rough," George said. "But games like that are the ones that can change the slump. I know Jimmy's one of the best defenders in this league, but it's him being locked in defensively that might get me going offensively."

Details on Ellis' knee

Monta Ellis had surgery on his right meniscus over the summer to remove some cartilage. He's had soreness in the knee even early into this season, affecting his ability to maneuver on the court. On Tuesday, Ellis provided some details about his progression so far.

"(The issue) wasn't where I had the surgery, there was a cyst behind the knee that came in, and I couldn't extend it all the way or bend it, or if I'd sit down too long, the muscles would tighten up," Ellis said. "And the cyst burst and went down to my calf, and my calf was very sore and it would tighten up if I wasn't moving.

"It's starting to get better. My knee is actually moving. I'm able to get out and run, cut, do the things I normally do. And that's why I'm playing the way I'm playing right now."

Ellis is averaging 23 points over his last three games.

INDIANA AT CHICAGO

Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET Wednesday

Arena: United Center

TV: FSI

RADIO: 1070 AM, 93.5 FM

Projected Starters:

Pacers (18-12)

Pos; Player; PPG; Key Stat

PG; George Hill; 11.9 ppg; 3.8 rpg

SG; Monta Ellis; 13.1 ppg; 4.4 apg

SF; C.J. Miles; 14.6 ppg; 39.5% 3-pt

PF; Paul George; 24.2 ppg; 7.6 rpg

C; Ian Mahinmi; 8.3 ppg; 7.1 rpg

6th; Myles Turner; 6.1 ppg; 2.9 rpg

Bulls (17-12)

PG; Derrick Rose; 14.4 ppg; 5.1 apg

SG; Jimmy Butler; 20.8 ppg; 1.9 spg

SF; Nikola Mirotic; 10.4 ppg; 6.0 rpg

PF; Taj Gibson; 7.4 ppg; 6.4 rpg

C; Pau Gasol; 16.4 ppg; 10.7 rpg

6th; Aaron Brooks; 8.4 ppg; 2.2 apg

STORYLINES:

AN IMPROVED, TIGHTER EASTERN CONFERENCE: Just three games separate the top (Cavaliers) from the No. 8 spot (Celtics) in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers and Bulls are separated by just a half game in the standings, and Wednesday night's matchup will be the third between the two teams this season, with each winning a game so far.

"It's the ultimate don't-overreact-to-the-standings time of year," Vogel said. "You're gonna lose two or three and be 11th and then win two or three and be second. So you can't be excited about being second and you can't be down in the dumps about being 11th."

JORDAN HILL OUT; C.J. MILES QUESTIONABLE: The Pacers announced Tuesday that center Jordan Hill will be out for Wednesday's game against Chicago with a tooth infection and forward C.J. Miles is questionable with a sore lower back. Miles, who missed Monday's win over the Hawks due to the injury, did not practice Tuesday.

TURNER COULD SEE ACTION: Pacers first-round draft pick Myles Turner, who has been out since early November with a fractured left thumb, could play Wednesday in Chicago.

"If (Jordan Hill's) out then we're gonna have to throw Myles out there," Vogel said. "But (Turner) had a good practice today. His rhythm and timing was a little bit off, as is to be expected, a little bit of rust. But he's a big body and an active body out there, so we're excited to see him get back out there."

PREDICTION: The Pacers have shown significant defensive improvement over the past two games, and with Derrick Rose still trying to find a rhythm offensively and Jimmy Butler averaging 16.5 points against Indiana this season, the Pacers pull out a narrow road win. Pacers 96, Bulls 93.

Follow Star producer Manny Randhawa on Twitter: @MannyRsports.