Danny Granger may have to wait till next year for his second All-Star appearance. (NBAE/Getty Images) |
It looks like Danny Granger might have to wait awhile for his second All-Star appearance.
Though the Pacers forward has solid numbers (23.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.52 steals), a combination of factors conspires against his candidacy for a place among the Eastern Conference reserves.
For one, his numbers are down, particularly the shooting percentages. For another, he missed a substantial chunk of the season due to injury. And, though the team's record isn't all that different from a year ago, he hasn't filled the highlight reel with game-winning shots as he did then.
This isn't just my opinion.
John Schuhmann of The Mothership analyzed the likely candidates for reserve spots in the East and Granger was not among them.
"Yes, playing on a good team is a requirement. And with only seven teams at .500 or better in the East, the pickings are slim. Of course, there's always an exception to the rule, when a guy's numbers are just too good to ignore," Schuhmann wrote. "Danny Granger was that guy last year. David Lee is that guy in 2010."
Schuhmann projects Chris Bosh, Gerald Wallace, Paul Pierce and Josh Smith as the reserve forwards, with Granger listed among "the hardest snubs." Bosh is a no-brainer and Wallace is averaging a double-double for the playoff-bound Bobcats. Pierce is the heart of the East's best team and Smith is finally fulfilling his potential as a top producer at both ends of the floor for the Hawks.
Leadership, defense, toughness cited as road woes
Why have the Pacers struggled so mightily on the road, where they're 4-18 and have dropped 11 of 12?
Mike Wells examined that question in today's Indianapolis Star and came up with three primary deficiencies: leadership, mental toughness and defense.
Some of the key quotes:
Pacers Coach Jim O'Brien: "There seems to be a gap between the elite teams and the rest of us. The rest of us just are not where we need to be from the standpoint of consistent defensive toughness to win on the road."
Pacers analyst Clark Kellogg: "Teams that win consistently on the road, they have strong internal leadership. You can't find any team that wins on the road that doesn't have good, strong leadership in terms of setting that tone and mind-set. They have a way of saying we're going to handle our business."
Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra: "You have to be able to defend on the road to give yourself a chance to win. You can't always bank on making shots."
Another tough break for White
After missing almost all of last season due to a pair of surgeries on a benign tumor in his jaw, D.J. White will miss up to two months after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair a fracture in his right thumb. The injury occurred in practice.
The former Indiana University standout had appeared in eight games for the Oklahoma City this season, averaging 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds. He averaged 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in six games in the D-League. Last season, White appeared in seven games, averaging 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds.
