Indiana Pacers Danny Granger Breaks Out
The Indiana Pacers season did not live up their standards in 08′-09′ winning only 36 games. This is not how most remember the Pacers, but the Miller days are over.
With Reggie Miller now gone the state of Indiana looks to Danny Granger to help create a perennial playoff team, once again like in the 1990′s.
The 26 year old Granger made serious waves during his 4th season in the NBA. Always known to be a player with tremendous upside, Granger flirted with this potential during his first few seasons in the league. The 2008-2009 season, however, was a different story altogether.
The Pacers have a young team with a good upside. The defense was their death blow last season giving up more points then they could score. More emphasis needs to be put on defense; we know the team can score.
The Central division should be an improvement overall – the Chicago Bulls are potentially a high 40 win team, the Cleveland Cavs acquired Shaquille O’Neal and will be the front runners.
Granger’s 87.8 free throw percentage was also among the best in the NBA. Had the Pacers been a winning team last season, Granger would have received far more credit. Still, his game should continue to improve, and it’s only a matter of time before Danny Granger becomes a household name.
The Pacers lack a scoring big man. Mike Dunleavy averaged 15 points per game but at 6-9 he isn’t a true center but more a forward. Roy Hibbert should have a better year then he did in 08′-09′, as a rookie Hibbert averaged 7 points per game. If Hibbert can develop a more refined inside game he should be a force because at 7-2 he is one of the tallest players in the NBA.
Head Coach Jim O’Brien has a good group of young talent that he would like to mold into a playoff team that can at least compete against the top teams in the East. If O’Brien manages another 36 win season his job could possibly be in danger. The President of Basketball Operations, Larry Bird, is a patient man – but he can’t tolerate another losing season.
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