Nate Taylor

IndyStar

An internal struggle has a grip on Paul George. He wants to be the player he was in November, when his shots came easier, when the net swished for him, when he was the clear No. 1 option on offense.

With the Indiana Pacers changing their style of play over the last week, George has struggled to be assertive. He is questioning himself more on the court. Should I pass? Should I shoot? Is this shot really in the flow of the offense? Should I focus my energy more on offense or on defense?

These are the questions — the ones at the back of his mind during games — that have left George conflicted. George is not afraid to say that he has a new role in the Pacers’ conventional two-post lineup. What George is trying to solve is how he can excel and play like the star he was in November alongside an impressive rookie in Myles Turner and a healthier Monta Ellis.

“It just felt like I was able to do anything I wanted to on the court,” George said of his play in November when he averaged 29.5 points on a team-leading 20.4 shot attempts. “It took a step back from where I’m at right now.”

After Monday’s overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, George told IndyStar it was tough for him to find his exact role with the Pacers transitioning back to their smash-mouth, rim-protecting style.

For the second time in the last three games, Turner took more shots than George. As the season has progressed, George has attempted fewer shots per game with each month. In January, he attempted 16.6 shots per game and shot 40.6 percent.

One reason George has deferred more is because of the rise in production from Ellis, who averaged 17 points and six assists last month. But with two frontcourt players in the game, George said the offense has become more strategic for him, analyzing what’s best for the team rather than just reacting and attacking based on how defenses are playing him.

“Before, I was confident that I was going to catch a rhythm just off of the shots and the looks I was getting,” he said. “Once one goes down, I’m a guy that has to see it going in and I catch fire that way. It’s been a little tough trying to find and pick and choose and trying to get shots in the offense without taking away from getting other guys going and in a flow.”

Insider: Pacers' Paul George feels his role has changed

The Pacers spent a large portion of Tuesday's practice on late-game situations. Coach Frank Vogel felt it was necessary after the Pacers, yet again, did not make enough plays in the final minutes of regulation to secure a victory.

Far too often, the Pacers have relied on isolation plays for late-minute baskets. Monday, a mistake by Turner in the final seconds of regulation led to Ellis missing an off-balanced fadeaway jumper.

Missing from that play, and several others late in the fourth quarter last month, was George. He stood in the corner and never touched the ball, which rarely happens to the star player on any NBA team.

George also noted that not receiving the ball can have a negative effect on the rest of his game. In the final minute of overtime Monday, George failed to box out LeBron James after Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer. James grabbed the ball and the Cavaliers extended their one-point lead with two free throws from Irving.

So George was asked the logical question: Does his apparent diminished offensive role take away from other aspects of his skill set during games?

“Yeah, sometimes,” George said. “You get late in the game and you haven’t had a shot in a while, haven’t had a good look in a while, haven’t had the ball in your hand in a while. I’m all about rhythm, and sometimes late in games it’s like, ‘Man, I haven’t, you know, been in rhythm in this whole little stretch.’ It’s hard to catch your rhythm and find your rhythm when you’re rhythmless for an extended period of time.”

George has made it clear he wants the ball for the game-winning shots, but Vogel has put the ball in Ellis' hands more often.

Vogel said it is up to George to work within the framework of the offense to either get open without the ball or to free up a teammate by drawing multiple defenders.

“If your bigs are spacing appropriately, in a lot of ways you have more space with the big at the charge circle under the basket,” Vogel said of George operating in the traditional lineup. “The elbows are cleared, you know, in the middle pick-and-roll game in particular. That’s something that can be a good thing. It’s just a different kind of space.”

Doyel: Pacers loss is encouraging ... and unacceptable

Even with his new role, George mentioned how the Pacers put themselves in position to win each of their last four games (they finished their homestand with a 2-2 record).

George, though, said he is hopeful that each player on the court will have a better understanding of what’s being asked of them late in the fourth quarter moving forward. That, of course, includes George, even if the internal struggle in his head continues.

“I’ve been ready for both situations, both scenarios,” George said on whether he gets the ball or not in the final seconds. “Like I said to start this year, I was ready to be the guy for this team. But there’s a reason why we go and get guys to help me with the load. If coach thinks someone is better fit for that play, then I’m a team player.”

Call IndyStar reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

Pacers at Nets, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Fox Sports Midwest

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LATE STRUGGLES

The Pacers have had the ball in the final four seconds of regulation or overtime with a chance to tie or go ahead 14 times this season and are zero-of-13 from the field with a turnover:

*-The NBA later ruled a foul should have been called on this play.

#-The Pacers lost in overtime.