George 'real confident' Pacers can take out LeBron ... eventually
After making six straight NBA Finals appearances, LeBron James is widely expected to capture the East once again in 2017.
However, there's at least one conference rival who thinks his team has what it takes to get past the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Indiana Pacers made several moves over the offseason to surround star Paul George with talent. The 26-year-old All-Star is "real confident" his revamped squad can eventually topple the Cavs.
Related: George believes Pacers can challenge Cavs in East
"The only thing is that with any new talent on any team, it takes time," he recently told Christopher Cason of Slam Magazine. "I think that's really the only thing that's an issue at this point right now. Who's to say that this team can't turn into something special right away this season?
"When (the Miami Heat) started the Big Three with LeBron, (Dwyane Wade), and (Chris) Bosh; they didn't win the first year. So hopefully, with what we got here, this will be the group that can put us over the top."
Related: 2016-17 Pacers Season Preview
Two years removed from suffering a gruesome leg injury, George has regained his elite form. He won a gold medal with Team USA this summer in Rio, and now has his sights set on being named the league MVP.
Typically, a team must be competitive in order for one of its players to receive consideration for the honor, so George is thrilled that Indiana's front office was active in improving the roster as he enters his prime, calling it a "luxury."
"You don't want to feel like you're wasting years or you're giving something that's not going to go somewhere," he explained.
"I think that's one of the worst things to go through in this league, so I'm thankful that they're trying to keep this team and the organization competitive, in putting pieces around me to try and get us back in the playoffs and to try and take out LeBron and the Cavaliers."
PG-13 has had three cracks at King James in the playoffs, falling to the Heat in each series - 4-2 in the 2012 East semifinals, 4-3 in the 2013 ECF, and 4-2 in the 2014 conference finals.