Granger could be perfect fit for Pacers

Rumors of Danny Granger's NBA demise may have been greatly exaggerated, or they might end up being right on target. But for the moment, it appears the much-injured Granger from the past year-and-a-half is ready to return to the only team he has played for in his nine professional seasons when the Pacers host the Bobcats Friday night.

Danny Granger appears ready to return and he may be
 just what the Pacers' bench needs.

First, it's important here that fans have a little patience with Granger. Sure, we thought he was coming back in the middle of last season, but after five games, he was hurt again and done for the season. Then, OK, we thought he was going to be ready for the start of this season, but he was hurt again and we were told he was going to miss the first three weeks of the season. Well, that was about six weeks ago, so sure, there's some frustration there.
But the good news is that Granger is likely frustrated, too. He was one of the few bright spots during the darkness of the coach Jim O'Brien years, when the teams went 121-169. And like any competitor, you can be sure that he had enough of those losing seasons. So, I'm guessing and making what I think is a safe assumption that he would love to be a key player in these winning years.
Also, it's not like Granger has went out on his own here to try and recover independently. He has traveled and worked out with the team regularly. He's not been some sort of missing person, who just showed up and said "put me in coach." He's been involved with the growth and development of the team these last two seasons, just not on the court. So, he deserves a bit of a break here. And remember, it's not his fault that he has a contract that pays him $14 million this year. We would all like to see that pay some dividends on the court, but don't hate the player for taking what any of us would take when negotiating that contract.
The big question and concern here is just how will Granger fit into the Pacers' current structure? They have the NBA's best record at 19-3, so it's OK to ask, just how bad do they need him? However, if Granger comes off the bench, it gives the Pacers second unit an instant upgrade. It also has probably helped that forward Luis Scola and point guard C.J. Watson, guys who are good enough to start for a lot of NBA teams, have accepted their bench roles with the Pacers and have been key contributors in the first quarter of the season. Hopefully, Granger sees that and sees even though he will most likely come off the bench, he can still be a key player.
The ironic thing here, too, with Granger, is that as long as he is coming off the bench, he won't have to make a big adjustment to his game from what it was in the O'Brien years. It was O'Brien who basically let Granger take over the offense, allowing him to shoot at will, and in that, Granger learned how to create his own shot while averaging 25 and 24 points in two of those seasons. That's an element the second unit is missing. And while second year player Orlando Johnson and rookie Solomon Hill have certainly given good effort while on the court this season, it's also hard to see them playing significant minutes in the playoffs.
A decent version of Granger will eventually give the Pacers a nice upgrade from what they are now getting off the bench. I think it's a given that Lance Stephenson has earned the right to continue to start unless he goes into an extended major funk (we're talking like 10 or 12 games here). But even when Stephenson has not played well offensively, he's become a capable defender against other teams' shooting guards and small forwards. And his ability to rebound and push the ball up the court is a unique skill that suits the Pacers' first unit well. Also, since Granger most likely is not as good defensively as Stephenson, if he is playing a lot of minutes against other teams' second units, it will be easier for him to match up against a lesser-skilled offensive player. And if Stephenson is having a bad night, or Granger is having a particularly good night, there's no reason the minutes can't be adjusted for that specific game. And Pacers coach Frank Vogel has shown in the past he's not afraid to let the players who are playing well finish out a game, even if they are normally reserves.
The Pacers have regularly been outscored in the second quarter this season, and to see them have a lead at halftime is rarity. So, if they can just get a respectable version of the Danny Granger that once was, it can only help.
Granger has said he has been pain free recently and it's just a matter of him getting in good physical condition so he can contribute. But if we see some flashes of what the old Granger used to play like, the Pacers will be in much better condition make their much desired run to an NBA title