FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.
Even on a team lacking tangible bright spots, Danny Granger has gotten a bit lost in translation from the outside perspective. You rarely hear his name mentioned with the Iguodalas and Smiths and Dengs ... but he's certainly in the same class. He's due a contract extension this summer, but there have been only minor rumblings, and it could very well be that the Pacers will let him get to restricted free agency next summer.
That's a mad gambit, because Granger's a tremendous player who is only getting better.
He almost looks like Carmelo Anthony's Other, his defensive-minded half. Where 'Melo refuses to pause or stop on offense, Granger does the same defensively, forcing his will upon his attacker rather than the other way around. People don't drive on Granger: he drives them back or into the ground. He gets steals, he gets blocks, he rebounds. He stands his man up. And yes, Indiana has been a mediocre defensive team. But that has a lot more to do with Jamaal Tinsley and Troy Murphy than Granger.
The great thing: his offense has come around superbly, too. He proved this year that the three-point stroke he showed in 2006-07 was no fluke by hitting for better than 40%. Jim O'Brien's bang-bang system seemed to agree with him, despite the lack of a decent point guard. Granger borrowed some aggression for his offensive game, kept his efficiency strong, and ended up a shade under 20 points per night.
Basically, Granger has positioned himself as a New Wave Shawn Marion, a glue stick for a dynamic roster. As we all know, Marion (already good) became a stunner when Phoenix replaced Stephon Marbury with Steve Nash. How much will T.J. Ford help Granger? I'm betting a little big here, but I truly believe Granger's box scores can get even wilder ... all while supplying the best man defense Indiana can offer. For the Pacers to get back on the upswing, Granger is the clear engine, the player who will have the most to say about where Indy ends up in the standings.
NBA Top 50
No. 50, Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-28-2008 @ 11:25AM
Matt Moore said...
I was ready to blast this pick, then I looked at the numbers. Damn. Granger needs to go on my "must-watch" list immediately.
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8-28-2008 @ 1:15PM
Step said...
I don't know if Granger will make a leap just because TJ Ford will be running things. For one, he's not going to switch positions like Marion did and gain a huge athletic advantage. He wouldn't gain an big athletic advantage anyway because he's not near the athlete Marion is. And also, Marion is a fantastic mover off the ball who could benefit from the addition of a superb passing point. Granger is not a relentless off the ball mover.
I think Granger's pretty much at his ceiling right now because he lacks the ball handling and great feet to add to his game. He's pretty much just a jump shooter offensively, a good one with a nice deep stroke but nevertheless, still mainly a jump shooter. That limits how far his scoring numbers can expand because he doesn't drive well, so his free throw attempts are unlikely to increase and the lack of a post game will not provide him with more higher percentage shots. He also doesn't supplement his scoring with much playmaking.
I think he's closer to a role player offensively than he is a featured one. He wouldn't be better than the fourth best player on most of the elite teams right now.
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8-28-2008 @ 1:54PM
Mortimer said...
Danny Granger is still criminally underrated.
Just like Brandon Roy coming out of college, and after his Rookie of the Year season, many critics say Granger has reached his peak and won't continue to improve. He was underrated as "just solid" coming out of college, causing him to slip, and since no one watches Indy he is still being overlooked.
Granger is a good defender, great shooter, great size; he is pretty much perfect. Plus, a smart kid.
Please, Indiana, let Granger go to RFA status. Portland will take their cap space and say HERE YA GO BIG GUY and force Indy to blink, or force them into a sign n' trade.
It might technically be "overpaying" Granger, but he's a very good SF and would fit the Blazers perfectly. Plus, with the richest owner in sports, the Blazers can still easily afford to overpay LMA/Oden/Roy soon after to keep harmony (and then Rudy and Bayless, when the time comes).
I hope GMs keep underrating the kid, just like fans still are. Even if he's at his "ceiling", he's going to gain more experience and savvy, making him an even better defender.
Basically, I would like very much for Portland to steal him away.
Mortimer
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