How Paul George Has Made the Pacers an NBA Finals Contender

Second-year guard Paul George may not yet be a household name, but he's already become one of the most essential components to the Indiana Pacers' deep rotation.

You might not know that from looking at his numbers alone, especially in the first round against the Orlando Magic.

George is averaging just 9.8 points a game on 42 percent shooting through the first four games, and his usually solid three-point range has eluded him. That's certainly not the profile of the kind of difference-maker who turns good teams into great ones.

Nevertheless, at 6'8" George's length makes him a versatile asset, especially alongside the similarly framed Danny Granger.

He's averaging over seven rebounds a game in the playoffs after grabbing 5.6 per game during the regular season. With guys like Roy Hibbert and David West in the paint, George makes Indiana one of the best rebounding teams in the league—second only to the Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season.

Of course, that length also helps out on the defensive end.

That might not mean the Pacers have what it takes to take down the Miami Heat this time around, but there's no question that George's physical tools and defensive prowess could prove a challenge for LeBron James over the years.

George also has quick hands and a knack for getting into the passing lane, tallying 1.6 steals a game in the regular season.

It's hard to put a value on what that kind of presence means to a team like the Pacers. Guys like George don't always jump out at you from the box score alone.

Even without singularly dominating games, George may be something of a missing piece for Indiana. After all, this squad has plenty of guys who can score, including Granger, Hibbert, West, George Hill and Darren Collison.

And while George's buckets may be little more than a luxury now, he has all the makings of a star thanks to his range, athleticism and well-rounded skill set.

He's also a pretty good dunker.

Indiana may still be a year or two away from contending (at least as long as the Miami Heat are still in the Eastern Conference). When Frank Vogel's team takes that next step though, don't be surprised if Paul George has a lot to do with that.