Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center.
Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. REUTERS

Images of Indiana Pacers superstar Paul George going down with the leg injury in the exhibition game for the 2014 FIBA World Cup of Basketball is still haunting everyone. The incident forced the NBA to review its policy on the distance of the stanchion from the basket.

The gruesome injury also played a major decision into Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant's withdrawal from the team. Despite all the negative aura it has brought, George is optimistic of his successful return to form this season as thing are looking up in the course of his rehabilitation.

The Indiana star has already updated his followers with a documentary of his rehab and the attest news is that he will be medically cleared to run on a basketball court in the forthcoming weeks. This does not include basketball contact or even one on one play but the development that he can go through light drills just months away from surgery is encouraging to say the least. Paul has been so optimistic of his body that he is emblazoned to declare that he will return this season.

"It's a goal for sure to be able to have the opportunity to play this year, especially alongside the group of guys that we've got," George told USA Today Sports. "I feel very confident with the guys we got (who) are in the jersey or out of the jersey right now."

In the past few days, George was given the green light to do some spot up shooting on the condition of no running. The rehabilitation of his leg is being brought along gradually and next week, he reveals that he might be cleared for some light running up and down the court.

With George relegated to the bench during games, the young forward is using the time to learn more on the off-court tendencies of opponents and the coaching side of the game. At one time he was the subject of a joke as Pacers media relations coordinator David Benner placed a picture of George's press pass on his Twitter account.

The Pacers are showing some spirit of fight as it is exceeding expectations with a 5-7 record despite missing starters George Hill and David West. The team has been relying on a group effort and the continued improvement of all-star center Roy Hibbert who was much maligned last playoffs. The team is preparing for the visiting Phoenix Suns on Saturday in hopes of improving its standings in the Eastern Conference.