Paul George records eight assists, three steals

Quiet for most of the first three quarters, George came through when the Celtics needed him most on Sunday. He scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter, including three on a triple with 1:32 remaining that extended Boston’s lead to 11. It’s early, but George appears to be fitting in well with his new teammates. Boston plays four games next week, beginning with the Rockets on Monday.

Having shot 11-of-29 from the field in Boston’s last two games, George was more accurate on Tuesday. Add in the rebounds, assists, and steals, and this was a good night for those rostering him. Also of note was George’s ability to play 36 minutes in the second game of a back-to-back. Hopefully, the inability to stay healthy the last two seasons doesn’t carry over into 2026-27. So far, so good.

Both players took the court on Monday, and both are on track to appear in both legs of a back-to-back set. Fantasy managers should still keep an eye on their statuses closer to tip-off to ensure neither are late scratches.

Neither George nor Robinson has dealt with an injury at this early juncture in the season. However, their absences from the injury report are notable, as Monday’s game is the first of two in as many nights for the Celtics. Boston hosts Brooklyn on Tuesday, and that may be a game in which George and/or Robinson get a night off for injury management reasons.

Compared to his 28-point debut for the Celtics on Tuesday, George wasn’t as explosive in Friday’s home opener. He needed 15 attempts to score 15 points, shooting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. George’s rebounds and steals were solid Friday, and the Celtics’ two-game Week 1 schedule was more concerning for fantasy managers. With Boston opening Week 2 with a back-to-back, George and Jayson Tatum could play three games instead of four.

What a debut it was for PG’s tenure in Boston. He scored 17 points in the first half, and then he came out hot in the third quarter, scoring 14 points in the frame without missing. He wasn’t able to add much else in the fourth quarter to counter the Pistons’ run, but it was still a superb first game for George. Outside of the scoring, he was also able to make a big impact on the defensive end. If he’s able to be this effective for Boston this season, they’ll contend for the top spot in the East, and George will end up being one of the best picks in fantasy hoops.

It won’t really show up in the statsheet, but George looked completely locked-in from a defensive standpoint in his unofficial Celtics debut, fitting in seamlessly with Boston’s complicated defensive rotations. He dished out four assists and generated five steals, looking like the perfect complimentary piece to Jayson Tatum. That role won’t translate to astronomical fantasy value, but his status as Boston’s secondary offensive option, along with his all-around fantasy impact, locks him in as a top-50 range pick in drafts this fall.

González didn’t have a great night shooting the basketball, going just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. However, his ability to contribute in other ways was on display, with the second-year wing hitting double digits in rebounds and leading the Celtics in assists. It was reported earlier this summer that the Celtics refused to part ways with González, which contributed to their not getting Giannis Antetokounmpo. So it’s clear that the decision-makers in Boston think highly of him. While González is not a must-draft player in standard leagues, the injury history of the new addition, Paul George, makes it likely that Hugo will be fantasy-relevant at some point.

The blockbuster deal between Eastern Conference foes swaps two highly regarded two-way wings. George, who is coming off an injury-plagued second season with the Sixers, averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds across 37 regular-season games. While no longer in his prime, the veteran is still a capable perimeter defender and scorer, with the size and skill set to comfortably play either forward position. Despite being far removed from his days as a Tier 1 fantasy basketball option, he’ll have some fantasy value in Boston, particularly due to his high-volume three-point shooting in a system that encourages shots from beyond the arc.

In Games 2 and 3, George’s production faltered after hot starts. Unfortunately for him and the 76ers, he could never get going in Game 4, and the Knicks would win by a 144-114 final score, which does not accurately reflect how things went off the rails. After appearing in 41 games in his first season with the 76ers, George appeared in 37 this year, limiting his fantasy value. Like Joel Embiid, the recent availability issues are something that fantasy managers will have to take into consideration when draft season rolls around.