Danny Granger's impressive season

[mynameisgerd]

Danny Granger's impressing me lately not only in his recent performance but in his entire games for this season, he's currently the no. 4 in the NBA in scoring. If he will be able to finish the season strongly and scoring constantly, maybe he will be named the most improved player of the season?

[Modifly]

He impresses me with the way he's been playing this season as well. Danny Granger is playing at an All-Star level, and by looking at his status he definitely deserves a place in the All-Star game. Granger has prove himself to be one of the elite, consistence scorer in the NBA, not to mention the fact that his Pacers are not performing well.

However, I think it will be unlikely for him to be named the most improved player of the season. True, his numbers did increased from last year by almost 6 points a game, but there are also other players that have improved from last year by a margin of more than 6 points per game. Granger is improving constantly at a very fast rate, and he will be recognize as one of the best players in the NBA sooner or later.

Anyway, we're only half way through the season. If Granger's number keep increasing then he is well on his way of being a candidate for the most improved player award.

[Andrew]

The improvement some of his numbers have shown in only 0.7 more minutes per game than last year is impressive though, so he's probably got a shot at MIP at the very least. I don't think he's a lock for the All-Star game due to the Pacers' record but perhaps that will be overlooked and his individual season acknowledged by the coaches.

[Modifly]

Exactly, he will probably be nominated for the most improved player at the very least, and I dont think he's going to make it to the All-Star game either but if we judge it by his stats alone and leave out his team's record, he definitely deserve to be in the game.

[Andrew]

The thing is, if the All-Star game is supposed to be about putting the 24 best players in the league (give or take a couple who are simply having a great year and deserve to be acknowledged) then he's got as strong a claim as a few stars on winning teams. I guess you can't ignore the team's record completely but the All-Star game is an individual accomplishment so I don't think it's inappropriate if exceptions are made for players like Granger.

[el badman]

to Granger these days, he sure is making UNM proud.

[Cartar]

In my opinion, he should be an all-star, even looking at the team record, after all Wade made it last year, when Heat had the worst record in the league. If he continues to play like this, he'll make a good run at MIP, although Devin Harris is a lock for me right now.

[mynameisgerd]

Whew, talking about Devin Harris, he's also one of the players who's stepping up this season along with Danny G. but yeah, i agree, danny granger did improve a lot and considering his one of the blocker in the league, but that's all. He's good, no doubt about that, but he's not an all-star material for me. Maybe he could run for the 6th man award.

[Andrew]

In my opinion, he should be an all-star, even looking at the team record, after all Wade made it last year, when Heat had the worst record in the league. If he continues to play like this, he'll make a good run at MIP, although Devin Harris is a lock for me right now.

Wade was selected by the fans though. If it had been left up to the coaches, I doubt Wade would've been selected last year.

[el badman]

He's good, no doubt about that, but he's not an all-star material for me.

I suggest you check his stats again, the guy is more than all-star material this season. Indy is shitty this year but Granger does everything incredibly well.

[jonthefon]

Granger is definitely All-Star material. Like Harris, he's benefited a lot from being the first turkey in that Indy system now that they traded away O'Neal and Dunleavy's been hurt up until now. But his stats are darn good and him not getting to Phoenix will be an atrocity.

[Modifly]

Maybe he could run for the 6th man award.

How is that possible when he have started every game he's play in?

[NovU]

Granger is definitely All-Star material. Like Harris, he's benefited a lot from being the first turkey in that Indy system now that they traded away O'Neal and Dunleavy's been hurt up until now. But his stats are darn good and him not getting to Phoenix will be an atrocity.

Could be but not right now, at least for me, he doesn't get my vote. He's been awesome and no doubt about that so far in the season, but to be an all-star, usually you need more than 1 good playing year to prove that you can do it on constant basis and team winning will help as well. His team is 13-25 and second worst in East, and that fact doesn't help the cause either. However, he's right up there on MIP list along with Harris, but again, Harris gets my vote because the Nets are actually in the playoff boundary at the moment and tremendous thanks to Harris.

[Andrew]

Could be but not right now, at least for me, he doesn't get my vote. He's been awesome and no doubt about that so far in the season, but to be an all-star, usually you need more than 1 good playing year to prove that you can do it on constant basis and team winning will help as well. His team is 13-25 and second worst in East, and that fact doesn't help the cause either. However, he's right up there on MIP list along with Harris, but again, Harris gets my vote because the Nets are actually in the playoff boundary at the moment and tremendous thanks to Harris.

But then that's a double standard because Harris doesn't fit your other criteria (more than one year playing at a really high level).

In any case, I'd disagree with that. A perennial All-Star is someone who maintains that standard year-in, year-out, but if a player's performance warrants an All-Star selection then so be it, regardless if this is the first time they can be seen as a worthy candidate. Otherwise, you couldn't select rookies and as we all know there are some players who come into the league and establish themselves as stars immediately. To be an All-Star - at least one who is selected by the coaches - you simply need to be playing at that level in any given season. It may be your only appearance and you may never have a season like that again (Andrei Kirilenko comes to mind) but for that one season the selection is certainly justified.

[NovU]

Yeah, I guess you could say that it's a double standard in some ways so i said it's usually the case. For Harris, it was bit more like Arenas & Nash case, shining with the new team and contributing tremendously to winnings. So I think the spotlight he's getting is somewhat deserving over Granger's. I admit Granger's stat line deserves to be an all-star, but he just can't get my vote yet due to some reasons like that.

And yeah, I agree with you on latter. That's why I wouldn't want to see Iverson going to ASG. Sometimes, being an established superstar just can get you a free pass to ASG over those who truly deserve. Well, it's fan based, after all.

[[Q]]

ah it's the age-old should players on bad teams be all-stars question. being a big fantasy NBA player, i say yes on Granger for the all-around production but a snub could be just as bad as Hedo Turkoglu's snub from last year.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I guess you could say that it's a double standard in some ways so i said it's usually the case. For Harris, it was bit more like Arenas & Nash case, shining with the new team and contributing tremendously to winnings. So I think the spotlight he's getting is somewhat deserving over Granger's. I admit Granger's stat line deserves to be an all-star, but he just can't get my vote yet due to some reasons like that.

I agree, Devin Harris definitely deserves to be talked about and be in All-Star consideration at the very least but given that it's an individual honour I think you have to recognise players on subpar teams all the same. For example, if someone was averaging a triple double on a lottery bound team, you'd have to at least consider them because individually they'd be accomplishing something very rare and impressive. I guess you could downplay it due to the "great numbers on a horrible team" aspect but year-to-year there are usually a few struggling teams and they don't always boast a player with All-Star numbers. They offer an opportunity but it's up to the player to get the job done.

And yeah, I agree with you on latter. That's why I wouldn't want to see Iverson going to ASG. Sometimes, being an established superstar just can get you a free pass to ASG over those who truly deserve. Well, it's fan based, after all.

It depends on the situation. At the end of the day it's an event for the fans and who they want to see and Iverson is still a tremendously talented player even if this isn't his best season so it's not completely unreasonable that he's voted in and considered an All-Star; it's not like Michael Ruffin or Tyronn Lue are being voted in by the fans, for the most part the fan voting selects players who could be considered All-Star level players even if they're not having their best season due to injuries or whatever.

[jonthefon]

All-Star games will always reward individual performances if they're stat-lines like Danny Granger's. I think he should get in through the coaches.

[The X]

I agree, Granger should be there, as should Devin Harris. Although one person I think who should squeeze into the 12th spot as a backup C/PF (not too many in East anyhow) is David Lee

[Andrew]

It could happen, he's certainly capitalised on the rebuilding Knicks and the five extra minutes per game that he's been getting this year.