After three months out, Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George made a strong comeback in a game against the Utah Jazz / LA Clippers' Paul George scores 34 in return from 3-month absence to fuel comeback vs. Utah Jazz
Published: March 29, 2022 US time
Publisher: ESPN
Article author: Aum Janmisk
Article translated by de Gaulle
Three months ago, after much deliberation, Paul George decided to undergo surgery on his right elbow to treat and repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament. Injuries to this ligament are more common in baseball, especially pitchers who have to pitch, and often suffer from ulnar collateral ligament injuries. Now back on the court, George's recovery in his elbows will also be tested when he makes a move similar to a baseball pitcher's pitch.
George, on the other hand, used his actual performance on the field to prove that he was recovering very well. In a round in the fourth quarter of the game, he was on the inside line to pick up an empty catch from his teammates, but the ball was too strong and flew straight out of the bottom line. George was already in the air, stretched out his arm, firmly grasped the ball flying in the air, and then flicked his forearm to accurately deliver the ball to the empty teammate Hattenstein, helping the latter to complete the layup with ease.
This passing action in the air tested George's right elbow, which had been operated on. Judging from the actual effect on the field, George has not only fully recovered, but also is in great shape. The assist to Hattenstein was the prettiest of George's six assists in the game. In addition, he contributed a team-high 34 points and 4 steals, with a comprehensive performance, helped the Clippers to come in, and defeated the Jazz at home with a 121-115 score reversal to achieve a returning start.
In the opening stages of the game, the Clippers entered the form very slowly, and at one point the Jazz stretched the gap to 25 points. George's personal first half was also not good, accumulating only 3 of 8 shots, contributing only 8 points. After half-time, though, George seemed to be finding his rhythm. In the third quarter alone, George scored a full 20 points with the efficiency of 5-of-7 and 3-of-4 from three-point range, and helped the Clippers smooth out the 25-point difference, set off a wave of counterattack, and finally won.
After more than three months of injury suspension, he returned to the first game and scored 34 points, which can be said to be very rare in the NBA. According to statistics, among the players who returned after missing more than 40 games in all seasons, George's debut score ranked first in NBA history. The 34-point game was George's seventh game of the season to score 30+, which was one more than the other Clippers' 30+ games combined.
"I think the recovery is 90 percent," George said of his elbow injury after the game, "but it's all part of the recovery process." Applying pressure to the ligament will make it recover better and stronger. Overall, I felt fine, no pain, no soreness. I also felt my muscles and forearms getting stronger. ”
George is recovering well, and his return can be described as a charcoal in the snow for the Clippers. Before the game against the Jazz, the Clippers had suffered a five-game losing streak, and the team's record and morale were at a low ebb. George's return to the first game helped the team achieve a reversal, which undoubtedly greatly encouraged the team. Meanwhile, the 25-point reversal is also the fourth time this season that the Clippers have finally won the game after falling behind by 24 points or more. The number of reversals is undoubtedly the NBA's single-season record.
The Clippers' record of glory is a disgrace to the Jazz. According to statistics, since the 1996-97 season, the Jazz have led by 25 points or more in a single game in these 26 years. In the previous 235 times, the Jazz had all laughed to the end. The only exception was the Clippers, who had just returned to George.
After winning this game, the Clippers' record became 37-39, still in the 8th place in the West. Now they have a six-game gap from the Timberwolves in front of them, and a 4.5-game advantage over the Pelicans behind them, and they have basically settled in this position now. But with George back, and seeing the team's big man behave like this, the Clippers seem to have more anticipation for the upcoming playoffs and possible playoffs.
George suffered an elbow injury last December and announced over Christmas that he was going to undergo surgery. At the time, the team gave the argument that George would be on an indefinite leave. Even George himself felt he would have to wait until next season to get back on the pitch.
"To be honest, just when I was injured, I preferred the option of surgery," George said, "and now, I've overcome the effects of injury and come back on the pitch." This means that I don't have to wait until the summer to go through the long process of recuperation, recovery and treatment. I hope that by the time I get to summer, I can do real, practical training. So, I immediately wanted to have surgery. ”
In this way, George began a race against the clock surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. Before the All-Star, he couldn't wait to start left-handed shooting training. By early March, he was allowed to shoot with his right hand and practice other balls. George then went through a full-court five-on-five confrontational training this week, and after meeting the requirements of the game, he returned to the field without stopping.
In 2014, George suffered a serious calf injury at the U.S. national team training camp. Although the process of injury and recovery made him taste all kinds of pain, it also gave him a lot of confidence and experience. These confidences and experiences, after this elbow injury, became a priceless asset for George. "I already know what to put in the process, and I know that there have to be some sacrifices and commitments," George said, "and a lot of times it's not just about the effort on the pitch, it's also about putting a lot of money off the pitch." It's because I've experienced similar situations before that I know how to recover from injuries. ”
With that confidence and a fully recovered body, George returned to the field at the end and most critical time of the regular season. In the third quarter, he shot three points in front of the Clippers' bench, and the exquisite pass to Hattenstein in the air in the fourth quarter, all of which made the team rejoice.
"His return has brought us a fundamental change," Tyrone Lou said of George, "and it really means a lot to us to bring back a player who has been in the All-Star Team for many years and a defensive champion." ”