Granger’s Return Could Key Pacers
Added on Feb 13, 2013 by Scott in
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Pacers forward Danny Granger hasn’t taken the court this season after being diagnosed with patellar tendinosis in November. A bout of the flu will keep him out of the lineup until after the All-Star break, but when he is finally cleared to play again, he might be the missing piece to Indiana’s puzzle in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers currently rank first in points allowed and second in rebounds, and sit atop the Central Division at 31-21. If defense and physical play were the driving forces behind winning a championship, then they would be the favorites in the East. However, scoring and up tempo offense rule the NBA, so Granger’s shooting prowess is sorely missed on an offense that is 28th in scoring.
Even though his scoring averages gave dipped every year since 2009, Granger is still one of the league’s better spot up shooters. His biggest issue of late has been injuries. He missed 20 games a season ago with knee problems, the same knee problems that continue to plague him.
Without Granger, small forward Paul George has become the team’s number one option. Through 51 games, he is averaging 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Combined with power forward David West, the duo makes up the team’s most consistent threats.
Adding a healthy Granger back into the starting lineup would provide the needed punch to increase Indiana’s odds of making a serious run in the conference. Now, Granger has been rumored to be on the trading block, although it’s doubtful any team would acquire a player with balky knees fresh off the injury report.
Unless they can get a quality scorer in exchange, dealing Granger at this point wouldn’t make much sense. His declining play and availability is cause for concern, but he’s still only 29 and it’s not as if the Pacers have an abundance of offensive talent on the roster. The wisest decision might be to take the wait and see approach. If he comes back and can stay out of the trainer’s room, he could be the key to lifting Indiana’s championship hopes.
