Paul George Says He's Getting His 'Pop Back' After Dropping 38 Points in Celtics Debut vs. Pistons

Paul George had two seasons to forget with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he looked more like the star he once was in his debut with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

In a loss to the Detroit Pistons, the veteran forward posted 38 points and five steals. After the game, he said he's starting to feel more like himself as he adjusts to his new team.

"Getting back into the swing of things. Playing again. I thought, really, the camp, legs were just heavy," he told reporters . "I was winded a lot of times, so it was taking away the ability to kind of do things when I just felt a little heavy and sluggish. But I'm getting my wind back. I'm getting my legs back. I feel like I'm getting my pop back, and so that was kind of the difference maker."

Despite his outstanding play on Tuesday, George said he had a "rough" training camp. It certainly didn't seem that way once he stepped onto the court.

"It's hard to know until the lights come on," George said . "It was a rough camp for me."

George played just 41 games in his first year with the Sixers before playing just 37 games a season ago. He struggled to stay on the floor consistently, which prevented him from ever getting into much of a rhythm with his teammates.

While George had a positive start to his first season in Boston, the Celtics blew a 22-point lead against the Pistons and clearly have some figuring out to do.

"I'm not a moral victory guy," George said. "It means nothing."