AP Photo/Marcio José SanchezDeMarcus Cousins, Los Angeles Clippers' center, came to the defense of his teammate after Paul George scored 41 points and 13 rebounds during a 116-102 win over the Phoenix Suns in Monday's Western Conference Finals.Cousins stated to reporters that he didn't know where the trolling bulls-t came from and that George was "one of the most exceptional players ever to put his shoes on." Warning: This tweet contains profanityGeorge repeated a similar refrain when George said that it was the "honest truth" as well as a fact. He received undue critic at times.In Game 5, the seven-time All-Star was a master of his craft. His 20 points in the fourth quarter proved crucial in stopping the Suns.However, this performance shows that some want to hear more from George during the playoffs. The 31-year old has proven that he is a great two-way player, as he has demonstrated on numerous occasions. The No. 1 scoring option for a playoff team.George sets the bar high and it is difficult to overlook when he fails to live up to his billing in the postseason.It wouldn't be normal for an All-NBA player shooting 4-of-16 from the floor while his team is putting the final touches to a 3-1 playoff series. George scored 20 points in his 7-of 37 shooting effort in back-toback elimination games. It's just too amazing for him to allow that to happen.However, it's possible for the commentary to go too far at times. George was the first to receive the "Pandemic P." moniker. He's averaged 23.3 points, 7.7 rebound and 4.5 assists per game since his All-Star debut in 2013.For players in George's group, harsh judgements can be expected. In a situation where there is no clear winner or loser, narratives are natural.After Philly's conference semifinals defeat, Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers' star, has seen the floodgates open for him. Giannis Antetokounmpo won't be immune to questions about his ability to play in the playoffs, even though he has two MVPs.George deserves all the plaudits he gets in Game 5's wake, but the conversation will change if he runs out gas or lays an egg in one the next two games.
