| Changes Coming For Granger? Authored by Andrew Perna - January 6, 2009 - 2:36 pm
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He is also averaging highs in minutes (36.6), shot attempts (18.6), blocks (1.4), assists (3.4) and, unfortunately, turnovers (3.0).
Coach Jim O'Brien couldn't ask for much more from his star player, who -- barring a bizarre discrimination based on Indiana's poor record -- should make his first All-Star appearance next month. However, changes are coming for Granger very soon.
Assuming he doesn't suffer yet another setback, guard Mike Dunleavy is expected to make his season debut on Wednesday night against the Suns in Phoenix. Dunleavy, who team president Larry Bird has called Indiana's "best all-around player", averaged a career-best 19.1 points last season, second only to Granger's 19.6 on the Pacers.
Dunleavy attempted 13.6 shots per game last season, and although he'll be slowly worked back into the rotation whenever he does finally return, he'll have to steal shots from someone.
Marquis Daniels, who has filled in admirably in Dunleavy's absence, will be the prime candidate to see a serious decrease in touches, but Granger will undoubtedly see a difference as well.
Alongside Dunleavy, Granger attempted more than three fewer shots last season (15.1), but one must remember that Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley and Ronald Murray (all absent) where getting significant touches as well.
I don't anticipate a huge drop off for Granger offensively once Dunleavy is back on the court, but I don't believe he'll finish many games with twenty or more shot attempts either.
With that said, having Dunleavy on the floor should actually allow #33 to be more efficient and perhaps score just as much, or even more.
Granger has very respectable shooting percentages (45.5 FG%, 38.2 3PT%), and should see those numbers increase with less defensive pressure.
Indiana's most common five-man lineup this season, when enjoying perfect health, has been T.J. Ford-Daniels-Granger-Troy Murphy-Rasho Nesterovic. If you are an opposing defense, who are you double-teaming?
Ford is ineffective beyond mid-range, Daniels is shooting 18.5% from three-point land, Murphy is more comfortable outside of the paint than inside it, and Nesterovic can be neutralized by an average defender.
When considering all of this, it's actually remarkable that Granger is shooting as well as he has this season. Without Dunleavy on the floor, he's far-and-away the team's most dynamic offense threat. Of course, as he continues to develop, he'd be that player on a lot of NBA teams.
Dunleavy, who is a better ball-handler, rebounder and shooter than Daniels, should do more than just improve Granger's offensive efficiency.
Granger, who's goal is still to improve his ball-handling, has had his hands on the basketball a heck of a lot this season. That's why he's posting highs in both assists and turnovers.
Defense is Indiana's Achilles' heel, and Granger will be able to place more focus on that side of the ball with Dunleavy helping on the offensive end. As one of the team's better defenders Danny has been sufficient, but any additional energy that can be placed on stopping the opposing team will be welcomed by coach O'Brien.
It's impossible to accurately predict just how Granger will respond to having Dunleavy back in the lineup, but if the one-two punch they provided last season is any indication, I'm sure Danny would gladly sacrifice a few shots in order to win more games.
That might even give Granger a better shot at an All-Star appearance in Phoenix.
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor for RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM’s Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
