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is it gonna be his break out year (i know he did well this season,but do u see him getting even better)?

Yeah, that's the thought around here. He really came on strong at the end of last season, and all reports are that he is working hard to get better already. That story is familiar to us, as Granger had a huge end of the 2007-2008 season, worked hard all that summer, and came back and won MIP this past season. Not saying Rush will win MIP (he won't), but he is the undisputed starter at the 2 for us going into next season, and we are excited to see him improve on his game.

cdash wrote:Yeah, that's the thought around here. He really came on strong at the end of last season, and all reports are that he is working hard to get better already. That story is familiar to us, as Granger had a huge end of the 2007-2008 season, worked hard all that summer, and came back and won MIP this past season. Not saying Rush will win MIP (he won't), but he is the undisputed starter at the 2 for us going into next season, and we are excited to see him improve on his game.

^^^

cedric76 wrote:is it gonna be his break out year (i know he did well this season,but do u see him getting even better)?

Either way, it's still just his 2nd year in the NBA. He's got a lot of time.

You exceed expectations (at least mine) and then have a breakout year? Usually a breakout year is like your 4th year when you haven't lived up to expectations or haven't done much.

I think he's wondering if Rush will breakout a new hairstyle next season.

Gremz wrote:I think he's wondering if Rush will breakout a new hairstyle next season.

God willing.

I'll be satisfied if Rush is simply league-average next year, since it will (probably) be his first year as a full-time starter.

The Pacers really need him to break out sometime in the next two or three years, though. As things stand, the only way they are going to become a league power anytime soon is by improvement from within, from the likes of Rush, Hibbert, possibly Jack...anyone else?

mizzoupacers wrote:I'll be satisfied if Rush is simply league-average next year, since it will (probably) be his first year as a full-time starter.

The Pacers really need him to break out sometime in the next two or three years, though. As things stand, the only way they are going to become a league power anytime soon is by improvement from within, from the likes of Rush, Hibbert, possibly Jack...anyone else?

Get ourselves a gem in the draft, and we're well on our way. I'd love our athleticism and overall defense to be approached pretty seriously this off season, the overall quality we can obtain should be the highest priority though.

I hope we get a gem, but it's really hard to build a title contender without top-ten picks or a Lakers-like ability to attract top free agents.

I'm worried that the Pacers are in for numerous years of not-quite-good-enough, not-quite-bad-enough, here-comes-another-pick-between-ten-and-twenty-that-doesn't-break-the-cycle. Dante wrote about this territory; I think he called it "Purgatory."

Yeah, but when we were contending in the late 90s and early 2000s...how many of those guys did we pick in the lottery, let alone the high lottery? Smits is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. Savvy trades, smart free agent signings, and well spent draft picks (wherever they are) is how we are going to have to do things, and I think Bird knows that.

You're right in reminding me that it can be done. As everyone knows, the Pacers drafted extremely well in the late 1980s/early 1990s--we got Reggie, Smits, and the Davises within a five-year period, and only Smits was a high pick. That was amazing.

Between getting Dale Davis in 1991 and Granger in 2005, the Pacers didn't do particularly well in the draft--the best player we got was probably Al Harrington. We got some useful role players as well, guys like Foster and Travis Best, but not guys who could be the core of a real contending team.

Starting with Granger, maybe the Pacers have a chance to replicate their draft success from 1987-1991. Rush looks promising; Hibbert could become a solid starting center (which isn't easy to find). We'll see how they develop, and who else we can add. But it's not going to be easy.

No, it isn't. Honestly, I'd have more faith if Walsh was still running the show. That's not a knock on Bird at all, on the contrary, I like what he has done so far being the head honcho, but Walsh has a proven track record of success.

I think we are on the right track. Granger is a bona-fide franchise guy, Rush really has the potential to be a stud, and Hibbert can develop into a nice starting center. What sucks is, the balance of power has shifted from the West to the East I think. Besides the elite three (Orlando, Cleveland, Boston), Chicago is on the rise, New Jersey is headed in the right direction, when healthy Washington is a playoff team, the Bobcats showed some signs of life, and really the only team I can see that is clearly in a transition period is Detroit, and we have yet to see what moves they make this summer.

chatard5 wrote:You exceed expectations (at least mine) and then have a breakout year? Usually a breakout year is like your 4th year when you haven't lived up to expectations or haven't done much.

What would you call what Granger did then?

DGrangeRx33 wrote:

chatard5 wrote:You exceed expectations (at least mine) and then have a breakout year? Usually a breakout year is like your 4th year when you haven't lived up to expectations or haven't done much.

What would you call what Granger did then?

Simply Awesome.

DGrangeRx33 wrote:

chatard5 wrote:You exceed expectations (at least mine) and then have a breakout year? Usually a breakout year is like your 4th year when you haven't lived up to expectations or haven't done much.

What would you call what Granger did then?

His was later in his career. If Rush gets 25 points a game I guess he breaks out, but I don't see that happening. This is only his 2nd year. You don't HAVE to have not lived up to expectations. Granger was already very good, and then I guess he went from a good player to an All-Star. Rush won't be an All-Star. Hopefully he follows the same route as Granger, and we will have 2 stars in a couple years.

chatard5 wrote:

DGrangeRx33 wrote:

chatard5 wrote:You exceed expectations (at least mine) and then have a breakout year? Usually a breakout year is like your 4th year when you haven't lived up to expectations or haven't done much.

What would you call what Granger did then?

His was later in his career. If Rush gets 25 points a game I guess he breaks out, but I don't see that happening. This is only his 2nd year. You don't HAVE to have not lived up to expectations. Granger was already very good, and then I guess he went from a good player to an All-Star. Rush won't be an All-Star. Hopefully he follows the same route as Granger, and we will have 2 stars in a couple years.

Rush won't be an All-Star next year, or ever? Because I really think he could make an ASG in the future.

I honestly couldn't care less about a players' All-Star accreditation. What I see and like out of Rush, is a winner and a guy who by all means will be a quality threat on both ends of the floor in a couple of seasons. Next year I don't expect him to be a 25ppg player, by I do expect him to make some major improvements.

cdash wrote:Rush won't be an All-Star next year, or ever? Because I really think he could make an ASG in the future.

He won't be next year. Very good chance he will be at some point.

I think he will at some point, but definitely not next year. For one, I don't think his production will be there. I think best case scenario we can expect is around 15 ppg. Second, look at the competition: LeBron, Wade, Joe Johnson, Granger, Redd, Rashard Lewis, Turkoglu, Arenas, Butler, etc. I'm sure there's more, but that's tough company.