George catches on to instructions quickly, but intense camp takes a toll on his shot

Indiana Pacers rookie Paul George has had a lot of things thrown at him during his first NBA training camp.

George, the No. 10 pick in this year's draft, has handled all those challenges so far.

Then there is his shooting.

The former Fresno State standout is 3-of-21 from the field in the preseason, 1-of-7 on 3-pointers.

"Things are going pretty well except my shot," said George, who hit 45 percent from the field in his two college seasons. "I don't normally get off to slow starts like that. I was always good at finding my groove early. It's been a hard time for me."

The Pacers aren't overly concerned.

Coach Jim O'Brien said George is taking shots within the system, but George is having to soak in as much information as he can, affecting his focus while shooting.

"When your mind is occupied with where you're supposed to be prior to getting the ball, how to set your man up for a screen down, it can be a little overwhelming," O'Brien said. "There's so much going on in his mind that it prevents him from playing in a natural flow. When you're not playing with a natural flow, you're not going to shoot the basketball as well as you normally would.

"There's no way to shortcut things for rookies when it comes to processing things offensively and defensively. Their mind is elsewhere when they're shooting the ball."

O'Brien said he thinks George would play in a potential 10-player rotation this season.

"He's got a chance to be really special," Pacers swingman Mike Dunleavy said. "I've been around a lot of draft picks between the 8-13 range in my career. He has the tools and skill set to get it done. It's a matter of how quick he can pick up on things and get used to playing at this level. He's got it all."