LOS ANGELES (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - One of the qualities that has allowed Duke University and USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to have a Hall of Fame career has been his insistence that players be fully committed on defense. Another has been his willingness to experiment.

Paul George, who is making his Olympic debut next month in Rio de Janeiro, excels on defense and has become one of Coach K's latest experiments. Normally a shooting guard or small forward with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, the 2.06m George has been playing some point guard for the USA in the build-up to the Brazil Games.

"I think he's (George) playing the best basketball of his life right now." - Krzyzewski

After the USA's 111-74 victory over Argentina in Las Vegas on Friday, Krzyzewski talked about George.

"When the two point guards got two fouls really quick, we had him (George) bring the ball up," the coach said. "We'd like every once in awhile to take a look at that, too."

Krzyzewski remained true to his word because in the next warm-up game against China on Sunday, George slotted in at the point.

"One thing we did today was we used Paul at the point, and his ball pressure was amazing," Krzyzewski said. "He and Klay (Thompson), I'm trying to learn a little bit more about them.

"Not that Paul would start at the point, but even if he's in with Kyrie (Irving), maybe he takes the point, stuff like that. We're trying to figure that out. Our switching, because we have so many versatile players, I think is going to be a real strength for us."

A couple of years removed from the fractured leg that he suffered before the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, George is just happy to be a part of the USA program. He is relishing the opportunity to make his mark with the red, white and blue. In his first game with the USA against Argentina, George poured in 18 points.

"It's behind me, it's behind me," he said of the injury. "I don't play the game expecting to get hurt, I know it is a possibility but there's no thought in my mind that I'm ever going to get hurt. I play this game because I love it and I just play hard."

Krzyzewski can't say enough good things about the player. He hit the ground running at the USA's first training and has been making quite an impression ever since.

"I think he's playing the best basketball of his life right now," the coach said. "He is a guy, I'm not saying the other guys aren't in the 100 percent shape that they will be in, but I think he is. I think he's ready to roll.

"He's probably a guy that never really gets that much (out of shape). He might go to 97 (percent). He's just a very gifted athlete and to see him come back like this, he's just a really good guy to coach because you could play him everywhere."

FIBA