With little pause, George lifts Indy

ByMICHAEL WALLACE
May 12, 2014, 2:30 AM

— -- WASHINGTON -- Frank Vogel tried to give Paul George an out. A few of them, actually. Sensing the assignment of chasing Washington Wizards sharpshooter Bradley Beal around screens all night might wear down George, the Indiana Pacers coach offered before Game 4 Sunday to lighten the load and switch his perimeter defensive catalyst onto less aggressive players for stretches. George flat-out refused. Then, after watching George play 22 of 24 minutes in the first half and do everything he could to help settle his team amid a raucous environment on the road, Vogel reminded himself to make sure he built in a couple of breathers for his All-Star in the second half.

George wanted no part of that plan either.

And when the Wizards opened the second half by quickly extending their lead to a seemingly insurmountable 19 points against an Indiana team with a routinely anemic offense, George was just warming up for his most aggressive act of denial.