Paul George is not only OK playing power forward for the Indiana Pacers -- he's been working at it.

"I'll be ready for it. I'm working on making that change and being prepared to play some forward this year," George said Thursday. "I understand what Larry (Bird) wants as far as playing the faster pace. I mean, I'm for it. That's the way the league is going nowadays."

George was hanging out at Victory Field, hosting the seventh annual Caroline Symmes Celebrity Softball Challenge, benefiting the Indiana Children's Wish Fund. Robert Mathis and Dwayne Allen of the Indianapolis Colts were his co-hosts.

George has been in Los Angeles for the summer but came to Indy for the event.

"I'm working out, training. I got a great start. I got a great start for the summer," he said.

George was out most of last season, recovering from a broken right leg. He returned for the final six games, but then suffered a strained left calf in the season finale.

"I'm getting better," he said. "I'm close to being 100 (percent)."

After last season, Bird had some ideas for George when he returns this season.

"David is our starter, but when we go smaller, we'd like to see Paul maybe play some (power forward) and you know everybody says, 'You'll have a problem on the defensive end.' Well, I don't think so," Bird said in April. "He can guard about anybody, and then on the other end, it's a major plus for us."

But, all Pacers talk aside, George was taking his job as a softball player seriously. He showed up hours early for batting practice — and slammed some home runs.

He was hoping for more during the game.

"I think I got a good shot (at a home run)," he said. "It means a lot (to be here). At the end of the day, this is what it's for. It's for the kids. For us to come out here and put on a show, have fun with this. No one knows what they're doing, but we're all here to have fun."

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2015/06/04/paul-george-ready-to-play-power-forward/28500275/

blkexec wrote:Stein is perfect for this new small ball lineups. Melo at the 4.....Bron at the 4.....they have changed the game. Twin tower lineups are facing extinction.

The funny thing is that the 2012-13 Knicks with Tyson/Melo/Shump/Kidd/Felton were basically the blueprint for this style of play... they just had a monumentally terrible backcourt and couldn't exploit it as much as some teams have been able to.

I think they'll draft Payne if he's still on the board. Wonder if they are also hoping West opts out.

BRIGGS wrote:

blkexec wrote:Stein is perfect for this new small ball lineups. Melo at the 4.....Bron at the 4.....they have changed the game. Twin tower lineups are facing extinction.

Stein is perfect for PF when Paul George scores 24 and he scores 6 Im sure we will win the +- in that position. oh I forgot Willie Stein is the new Chuck Norris. When Stein shows up the opposing PF asks for the night off.

I think Stein would probably play center since he is 7'1" with a 7'3" wing span.

Melo is actually the perfect PF for the new NBA but I don't think he wants to play there.

crzymdups wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

blkexec wrote:Stein is perfect for this new small ball lineups. Melo at the 4.....Bron at the 4.....they have changed the game. Twin tower lineups are facing extinction.

Stein is perfect for PF when Paul George scores 24 and he scores 6 Im sure we will win the +- in that position. oh I forgot Willie Stein is the new Chuck Norris. When Stein shows up the opposing PF asks for the night off.

I think Stein would probably play center since he is 7'1" with a 7'3" wing span.

Melo is actually the perfect PF for the new NBA but I don't think he wants to play there.

LeBron said he didn't like playing PF while he was with Miami..He got beat up too much...

I think it should be an option for Melo to play PF sometimes - it shouldn't be all the time, he'll wear down. But they should try to create mismatches within the game sometimes for him, like Indy is saying about PG. They aren't saying PG will be the PF full-time, they're saying sometimes they'll go small.

crzymdups wrote:

holfresh wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

blkexec wrote:Stein is perfect for this new small ball lineups. Melo at the 4.....Bron at the 4.....they have changed the game. Twin tower lineups are facing extinction.

Stein is perfect for PF when Paul George scores 24 and he scores 6 Im sure we will win the +- in that position. oh I forgot Willie Stein is the new Chuck Norris. When Stein shows up the opposing PF asks for the night off.

I think Stein would probably play center since he is 7'1" with a 7'3" wing span.

Melo is actually the perfect PF for the new NBA but I don't think he wants to play there.

LeBron said he didn't like playing PF while he was with Miami..He got beat up too much...

Yeah, exactly. But Bron is a lot more of a playmaker than Melo. Bron operates from the top of the key and dribbles and passes and penetrates to start the offense.

Melo usually sets up at his spots on the wings and goes to work off a pass and or some screen action. He rarely dribbles the ball up - and this is just eye test, I don't have stats on this - I think he's pretty bad at plays where he has to intiate action at the top of the key. It's not his game. He plays best on the wing, whether face up or post up. To me it makes more sense for Melo to be a PF and get those mismatches where his quickness allows him to blow by any type of single coverage.

Bron wouldn't make as much sense at PF just because of the way he plays. And I know he's supposedly better in the post the past few years, but he really seems most effective when he initiating the offense from the top of the key.

It depends who his teammates are.

On cleveland he needs to do everything because who else can initiate offense?

crzymdups wrote:

holfresh wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

blkexec wrote:Stein is perfect for this new small ball lineups. Melo at the 4.....Bron at the 4.....they have changed the game. Twin tower lineups are facing extinction.

Stein is perfect for PF when Paul George scores 24 and he scores 6 Im sure we will win the +- in that position. oh I forgot Willie Stein is the new Chuck Norris. When Stein shows up the opposing PF asks for the night off.

I think Stein would probably play center since he is 7'1" with a 7'3" wing span.

Melo is actually the perfect PF for the new NBA but I don't think he wants to play there.

LeBron said he didn't like playing PF while he was with Miami..He got beat up too much...

Yeah, exactly. But Bron is a lot more of a playmaker than Melo. Bron operates from the top of the key and dribbles and passes and penetrates to start the offense.

Melo usually sets up at his spots on the wings and goes to work off a pass and or some screen action. He rarely dribbles the ball up - and this is just eye test, I don't have stats on this - I think he's pretty bad at plays where he has to intiate action at the top of the key. It's not his game. He plays best on the wing, whether face up or post up. To me it makes more sense for Melo to be a PF and get those mismatches where his quickness allows him to blow by any type of single coverage.

Bron wouldn't make as much sense at PF just because of the way he plays. And I know he's supposedly better in the post the past few years, but he really seems most effective when he initiating the offense from the top of the key.

It's not about what position you play that creates mismatches...Playing PF means Melo defends PF...If the other PF is a mismatch then he won't defend Melo...If Melo is a playing PF against Indy then Paul George is a SF then Paul George will defend him no matter what position he plays...My problem is that you are asking Melo to take more of a beating at an advanced age when you need his scoring down the stretch..