Indiana Pacers Danny Granger Breaks Out

By Abe Hibbert

The 2008-2009 basketball season brought us the breakout of a little known player to those not adamant about the NBA.

The bright side to their season was that they didn't have trouble scoring; they averaged 105 points per game, 5th in the NBA. They still managed to go less than .500 on the season, thanks to their defensive qualities.

Granger's scoring averages have increased every year since he has been in the league since 04'. 08'-09' Granger was fifth in scoring at 25.1 points per game - look for another year similar this season as well.

The Pacers have a young team with a good upside. The defense was their death blow last season giving up more points then they could score. More emphasis needs to be put on defense; we know the team can score.

His three point shooting was exceptional, as Granger averaged 2.7 three pointers made per game, and shot at a percentage that exceeded 40 percent. The Indiana Pacers were thrilled with this production and made it clear throughout the course of the season.

Granger's 87.8 free throw percentage was also among the best in the NBA. Had the Pacers been a winning team last season, Granger would have received far more credit. Still, his game should continue to improve, and it's only a matter of time before Danny Granger becomes a household name.

Unfortunately for Pacer fans, he can't do it all on his own. He's a great player to build the team around, but they need some serious help defensively. This team can score points, but there's no way to go deep with a weak defense.

Their draft this year looks like it could potentially solve this problem, but not right off the bat. Tyler Hansbrough has proven that he can play defense, but that's at the NCAA level. It will take time to develop into a star in the NBA, but he's got the potential. - 31494

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