Skip Bayless’ new nickname for Paul George was perfectly timed before his playoff nightmare
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images Paul George had already given Skip Bayless ammunition before Game 3, but what followed made the commentator’s mockery feel even sharper. After the Philadelphia 76ers lost Game 2 to the New York Knicks, Bayless called George “Playoff Pee” on ESPN ’ s First Take, a twist on the forward’s old “Playoff P” label. And it landed because the 36-year-old then endured another brutal night, disappearing after a brilliant start as Philadelphia fell 108-94 and slipped 3-0 down in the series.
Skip Bayless’ nickname hit Paul George harder after Game 3 Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images George opened Game 3 like a player ready to answer the criticism. He scored 15 points in the first quarter, hitting six of his first nine shots. Then the night completely changed.
George did not score again, missing his final shots as the Knicks tightened their defence and Philadelphia’s offence faded. That made Bayless’ timing difficult to ignore. The nickname came after George went scoreless in the fourth quarter of Game 2, shooting 0-for-5 in the final period.
Game 3 repeated the same concern in a harsher way. George was not just quiet late, he was scoreless for three full quarters after his opening burst. The veteran forward finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes.
The numbers are not up to what is expected of him, but the fact that his impact vanished when Philadelphia needed stability is the more concerning factor. That is why “Playoff Pee” felt perfectly timed. Bayless did not create George’s nightmare, but Game 3 gave the insult a much longer shelf life.