George halts podcast with 76ers trying to save season
Paul George's decision to stop his podcast proved effective for himself Wednesday but not for the Philadelphia 76ers as they fell 110-105 to the New York Knicks.
The loss marked the Sixers' ninth consecutive defeat. However, George eclipsed 20 points for the first time since Jan. 24, contributing 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
George expanded postgame on why he's putting "Podcast P with Paul George" on hold, saying it "was more so just to focus on" the team.
"I haven't been the healthiest, so it's just been putting a ton of work towards getting my body as healthy as possible, and to keep focus of obviously being here and trying to turn things around here, and the full focus is trying to get this team together," George said, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
"But we got to give ourselves a chance. Take it one game at a time, but we got to give ourselves a chance to see what we can do down the stretch."
George said he'd considered stopping his podcast for some time after signing a four-year, $212-million deal with the Sixers over the offseason.
"It was something that was kind of racking in my head a little bit just because of (being) new to the city, being acclimated to Philadelphia," said George. "It just came to the point where it was like, 'All right, this is the time to kind of take a step back for a second.'"
Despite not having a win since Feb. 4, the 76ers can take some positives from Wednesday's game. They battled back from a 19-point deficit and briefly had the lead late in the fourth quarter before Jalen Brunson willed the Knicks to the finish line.
Injuries have dominated the Sixers' season. Star big man Joel Embiid has appeared in only 19 games and is currently sidelined as he confers with doctors about the next steps for his banged-up left knee.
George has missed 19 games this campaign, while Tyrese Maxey has faced multiple ailments, including a finger injury he's currently playing through.
Despite the obstacles, the Sixers sit just 2.5 games back of the Chicago Bulls for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference at 20-38.
However, George said earlier this week that the Sixers "just don't have the habits of a champion or a playoff-contending team."
Philadelphia will look to snap its losing skid Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.