There’s no question the Toronto Raptors have had a difficult time keeping Paul George anywhere close to in check in the first two games of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.
George, close to the form that made him an ascendant NBA superstar before a gruesome leg injury set him back an incalculable amount, blitzed Toronto for 33 points in Game 1 and tacked on 28 more in Game 2, beating a variety of Raptors defensive schemes and personnel. He is simply a matchup terror for which the Raptors have not found an answer.
But while no one with the Toronto franchise would dare suggest it publicly or confirm it privately, there is a sneaking suspicion that the Raptors are in many ways quite fine with a “let him have his, control everyone else” approach to the best-of-seven series that’s tied 1-1 heading to Game 3 in Indianapolis on Thursday night.