CAN DANNY GRANGER DO IT?

[daddyJ_t]

so im reading the indianapolis star a couple days ago and see a big article on danny granger and the pacer. his stats over the last 4 years were quoted as being better then some of the top players in the nba(collectively that is over the years) now he was also snubbed and benched in the world championships by coach k, but still ended up with a medal. since he has studied his team usa teamates and listened to coach k, he has rededicated himself to playing alot better defense in is fitting even better with jim obrians sceme. he is now playing better defense ans with larry legends rebuilding project finally taking form and getting danny some good teamates. can danny granger finally take control of this team and lead the pacers to the best season theyve had since before reggie miller retired and finally get the pacer back into the playoffs?

 

[Megatron]

Yes, the Pacers can (and probably will) make the playoffs, for two reasons

1) The top of the conference is strong, but the bottom of the East is weak. It's still too early to talk about playoff seedings and such, but theres been some underachieving teams (Bucks, Bobcats) and the Pacers will probably only have to win 40-45 games to get a playoff spot. In the East, 41-41 would be enough for a 7 seed, more then likely.

2) Danny Granger is great. He's one of the more underappreciated stars in the league because the Pacers have been so bad for so long (pretty much since he's been on the team). But now, he has guys like Collison and Roy Hibbert stepped up as a solid supporting cast.

Is this a great team? No. They might win 1 game in the 1st round (depending on who they face). But are they a playoff team in the top heavy east? Yes.

 

[ThePeoplesChampion]

Having not watch much of the NBA...id say yes based on the fact or them beating back to back the two favorites for the NBA crown...the Lakers and Heat...granted LA is stumbling right now and the Heat arent living up to expectations...i still think the Pacers arent in the Heats or Lakers league...but they can make the playoffs in a top heavy East

 

[INDYjon22]

The Pacers are a very solid team. Granger has just been getting better and better every year and now he has the supporting cast to help him out. Right now the Pacers are definitely a 7 or 8 seed caliber team, with the upside of a 6 seed. They have already shown that they can hang with the best, or supposedly best teams, in the league such as the Lakers and Heat. Are they a championship level team? No, but they are a playoff team. As someone said above me, after the top 4 or 5 teams the East really falls off with a bunch of teams that can play at about the same level. Unless injuries begin to pile up on the Pacers, they should be able to make the playoffs.

So to answer your question, yes Granger can do it. After years of struggling Granger and the Pacers have a good supporting cast which should be enough to get them to the playoffs this year and maybe even for the next few years, barring injuries and players leaving.

 

[gd]

He'll take them to the playoffs because the East is freaking shitty. When you actually look at the Pacers, they aren't a great team. Grangers is a very good player, but not a superstar. Hibbert has been a surprise this year, but a frontcourt of him and McRoberts isn't anything special.

So they'll make the playoffs and lose in the first round, which for the Pacers is a very successfull year. Overall though, they aren't going to make much of an impact.

 

[The Crock]

Danny Granger is a great player, vastly underrated. He's great on the offensive end and now that he's working on his defense he could definitely transform into one of the best players in the NBA. He did one of the best things he could have, he learned from his Team USA teammates and Coach K. He's applied himself to being a better player, and I applaud him for it, great job.

Now, on to the matter at hand. Will he lead the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs? Yes. It has been said countless times in this thread, but the East is pretty weak. They're top-heavy and past the first 4 teams, everything else is up for grabs. With guys like Roy Hibbert, Darren Collison, and even Mike Dunleavy, Granger has the tools around him to lock up a 6, 7, or 8 seed with ease. Granger just needs someone who can score and take some of the pressure off of him and he'll be just fine, leading the Pacers into the playoffs.

 

[daddyJ_t]

im looking at things this way, we are half game behind chicago for division lead and have a good shot at winning it. if the pacers do that , they are guarenteed at least a 4 seed at the worst. but will granger continue to stick to his defenseand play the way he has or will he get frusterated and be a downfall for the pacders?