I’m not an expert on the psychological aspects of basketball since the things that are going through NBA player’s heads are so far removed from the things that are going through my head when I’m playing a game of basketball. I’m mostly thinking about how to get open for a midrange jumper (even though everybody wants to play twos and ones which means that midrange jumpers are a horrible value proposition), how to run without looking like a dork, and how not to get debilitating leg cramps every time I make a hard cut or jump for a rebound. NBA players don’t have to think about those things.
So I have no insight into the thought processes of the players, but you can sometimes get a glimpse into their psyche by their actions on the court. And the glimpse I got of Paul George’s psyche made it clear that Gary Trent Jr. is living TRENT-FRICKIN-FREE in Paul George’s head, now and forever.
GTJ is probably living in a lot of player’s heads rent-free right now, but PG is the one who couldn’t deal with that particular dose of mental anguish. He made “yapping” motions with his hand after a particularly brutal series of blunders on his end, indicating that he thought Trent Jr. was talking too much. Uh, sorry to remind you Mr. Playoff Pee, but you just got stripped by the guy you’re jawing with and he’s been embarrassing you with three-pointers the entire game. He’s allowed to talk a bit. You’re allowed to shut up a bit.
As far as I’m concerned, GTJ can talk as much trash as he wants to anybody he wants. He’s earned it; he is the best three-point shooter in the bubble, after all. If he ever cools down, he’ll have to cool down his mouth too, but for now, he can yap at whoever he wants. Sensitive quasi-superstars with easily-hurt feelings included.