Overview
- In the Oct. 10 preseason home opener at TD Garden, the Celtics beat the 76ers 144-106 and ran their first look at a Tatum-George lineup.
- Paul George said his job is to make the game easier for Jayson Tatum and to use defense and playmaking to reduce Tatum’s offensive burden.
- George played 25 minutes in that game and recorded 13 points, five steals, five rebounds, four assists and six deflections while showing defensive impact.
- Commentators and former players praised George’s fit in Boston’s free-flowing, 5-out offense and said he can play without the pressure to be the primary scorer.
- The main open question is availability: George played fewer than half of regular-season games during his two years with Philadelphia, so staying healthy will decide how much Boston benefits.