Granger vs. Stephenson

[Grang33r]

Lance grew up a lot this past season. In some ways, he was our unsung hero. He came up big in several games and matured a lot as a player. He became a trusted player we can count on.

On the other side, Granger is a former all-star and if healthy, could be a game-changer. Before Paul George took the torch of leading the team this past season, the show was all Granger's.

Frank Vogel is going to have a big decision to make next fall. If Granger is healthy, who do you start? Granger or Lance?

Who's a better fit to start or be 6th man? What would you prefer?

[minimus]

Lance should start. He should bring this pitbull mentality: drive hard, defend. Let Danny be the best 6th man in NBA, be more efficient than ever, leader of 2nd unit.

[pacers70]

If Granger is completely healthy, he should start.

First, just think how tough it will be on other teams to have to match up with Granger and George on the wings.

Second, if Lance starts, he may want a higher salary next summer, coming off the bench he should stay in the 5 million range...which the Pacers can afford.

[Wizop]

Danny's said post game that he expects to start. if he's 100%, I'm not sure how you tell him no. Lance needs to spend the summer working on making the simple pass so that he can be a combo guard and get half his minutes at the point. similarly Danny is going to have to play some four particularly against players like Melo and LeBron when they play four.

[Scoot McGroot]

Lance grew up a lot this past season. In some ways, he was our unsung hero. He came up big in several games and matured a lot as a player. He became a trusted player we can count on.

On the other side, Granger is a former all-star and if healthy, could be a game-changer. Before Paul George took the torch of leading the team this past season, the show was all Granger's.

Frank Vogel is going to have a big decision to make next fall. If Granger is healthy, who do you start? Granger or Lance?

Who's a better fit to start or be 6th man? What would you prefer?

In a vacuum? Both players 100% healthy? I'd start Granger. I'd bring Lance off the bench and allow him to go crazy on offense when he enters the game.

Either way, Lance, Danny, and PG24 will ALL get 33+ minutes no matter what. Ultimately, I see those 3 holding down the wing minutes, and hope that OJ grows into be a situational backup there as well. Park Green on the bench or trade him. If you re-sign Sam Young, it's minimum, and he's battling to be active most nights.

[SmashMouthRod]

This is a tough decision because DG has been the leader of the team for so long and through so many tough years but I think Stephenson should start because he's the better ballhandler and passer. If he develops his jumper this offseason; then you have a two-way playmaker in addition to P. George; with no weaknesses in his game. Granger is very good defensively and scoring the ball which fills an immediate need off the bench. But the biggest knock on Granger all these years has been his ball handling. The starting unit needs the extra ball handler considering G. Hill isnt naturally a PG. I think its Vogels job to make all of the egos fit and buy in to playing championship caliber ball. Hopefully Vogel makes the best decision for the team and can handle the egos. This team has the best upside with Stephenson at the 2 and Granger playing in a 6th man scoring role. Not to mention when George is in foul trouble Granger comes in and their is no dropoff in defense or scoring.

[Wizop]

I play Granger with the first unit because I think he's the better outside shooter and we'll play inside out when Hibbert and West are in the game. I want the second unit to push the ball and that fits Lance's game and might even allow him to play point.

[Jake0890]

I say start Stephenson. George shouldn't be playing SG, imo.

[Wizop]

I say start Stephenson. George shouldn't be playing SG, imo.

as long as he can guard the position I don't see the problem. on offense, George Hill is at the top, Granger and George are each on one side of the arc at about the free throw line extended and West and Hibbert are on the blocks. 1-2-2. in that scheme there is no functional difference between the SG and the SF.

[Miller4ever]

Scoot's got it right, I think.

Hill/George/Granger/West/Hibbert the year before and the starting 5 now are almost identically productive. I think it's less of a question of who starts and more of a question of who finishes, based on matchups. Against teams that have a tougher time guarding the perimeter, Granger should be in there to make them pay. If we need fast buckets in transition and a push in tempo, Lance should be in there.

Wizop is also right that in our scheme, our offense is more about wings and bigs than PG, SG, SF, etc.

On defense, it about the matchups. George can guard smaller 2's to larger 3's, so he's fine. Granger can guard 3's most comfortably, and very few 2's. Lance can get 2's and some 3's. All in all, it's kind of a luxury, and Pulp could gain some serious traction in his 2nd year. We've already given him significant minutes already and whatnot.

In my ideal world, Lance takes the backup PG minutes, solving that problem and giving OJ more minutes at the 2.

[Wizop]

In my ideal world, Lance takes the backup PG minutes, solving that problem and giving OJ more minutes at the 2.

that's my hope too. I'm also hoping the draft gives us a point guard who can replace Ben. if those things happen we might not need to pursue high priced FA point guards and might even be able to live with DJ for another year if he is only playing when the match up favors him over Lance. the irony is that the backup point guard we gave up on, AJ Price, probably would have helped us this year.

[Jake0890]

I say start Stephenson. George shouldn't be playing SG, imo.

as long as he can guard the position I don't see the problem. on offense, George Hill is at the top, Granger and George are each on one side of the arc at about the free throw line extended and West and Hibbert are on the blocks. 1-2-2. in that scheme there is no functional difference between the SG and the SF.

That's true, but when we play, for example, the Miami Heat, who guards LeBron? Personally, I'm more comfortable with George guarding LeBron, but then Granger is forced to chase around Wade or whoever is there at shooting guard, something that I'm not sure he can do.

[Scoot McGroot]

I say start Stephenson. George shouldn't be playing SG, imo.

as long as he can guard the position I don't see the problem. on offense, George Hill is at the top, Granger and George are each on one side of the arc at about the free throw line extended and West and Hibbert are on the blocks. 1-2-2. in that scheme there is no functional difference between the SG and the SF.

That's true, but when we play, for example, the Miami Heat, who guards LeBron? Personally, I'm more comfortable with George guarding LeBron, but then Granger is forced to chase around Wade or whoever is there at shooting guard, something that I'm not sure he can do.

We had West and Hans chasing Allen, Battier, and Miller around for a good portion of the series. I'm sure Danny could hold his own.

[Wizop]

and in the 2012 Miami series, Danny was our stopper and it was his injury that left us without enough defenders for the big two. Paul wore down this year trying to guard LeBron for the whole game. it took a toll on his offense. I think it'll be a major advantage next year to have Danny able to share the load.

[Jake0890]

as long as he can guard the position I don't see the problem. on offense, George Hill is at the top, Granger and George are each on one side of the arc at about the free throw line extended and West and Hibbert are on the blocks. 1-2-2. in that scheme there is no functional difference between the SG and the SF.

That's true, but when we play, for example, the Miami Heat, who guards LeBron? Personally, I'm more comfortable with George guarding LeBron, but then Granger is forced to chase around Wade or whoever is there at shooting guard, something that I'm not sure he can do.

We had West and Hans chasing Allen, Battier, and Miller around for a good portion of the series. I'm sure Danny could hold his own.

I guess that's true when you're chasing around 3 point shooting scrubs, but I'm not sure how long they could stay on the floor together when they played a really good SG-SF combo. Maybe I'm just overthinking things...

[Scoot McGroot]

That's true, but when we play, for example, the Miami Heat, who guards LeBron? Personally, I'm more comfortable with George guarding LeBron, but then Granger is forced to chase around Wade or whoever is there at shooting guard, something that I'm not sure he can do.

We had West and Hans chasing Allen, Battier, and Miller around for a good portion of the series. I'm sure Danny could hold his own.

I guess that's true when you're chasing around 3 point shooting scrubs, but I'm not sure how long they could stay on the floor together when they played a really good SG-SF combo. Maybe I'm just overthinking things...

Yeah, I think you're overthinking it again. George would be the primary defender. Granger would replace Sam Young as the backup defender on Lebron. That's a HUGE upgrade.

[8305]

Listening to Frank Vogel interview yesturday afternoon.

He expects Danny to want his starting position back and he also wants Lance to work hard to keep his starting position. Sounds like he's fine opening up the spot and letting the best man win.

He also does not see Lance as a point guard. Says he is definately more comfortable on the wing and expects that's where he will play.

For what it worth I like Lance as the starter. He made remarkable progress in that role this year I wouldn't tamper with what has been working.

[Scoot McGroot]

Lance became an NBA player as soon as we stopped trying to force him to be a PG. I can't see us going back now.

[Jake0890]

Yeah, there's a lot of talk about Steph becoming a point guard, and I just don't see it. Glad to see neither does Vogel.

[SmashMouthRod]

In my ideal world, Lance takes the backup PG minutes, solving that problem and giving OJ more minutes at the 2.

that's my hope too. I'm also hoping the draft gives us a point guard who can replace Ben. if those things happen we might not need to pursue high priced FA point guards and might even be able to live with DJ for another year if he is only playing when the match up favors him over Lance. the irony is that the backup point guard we gave up on, AJ Price, probably would have helped us this year.

I agree 100% on AJ Price. However I think that this team needs a vet presence at backup point guard to help tutor/spell Hill. A major problem the team had this year was turnovers; meaning P. George and G. Hill are going to have to come back from the off-season with improved ball-handling because its a copycat league; more and more teams are going to try to ramp up the pressure on those guys and Granger is not a very good ball-handler giving the starting lineup one less. Bird said "he scares me everything i see him dribble" a couple years back which is the only reason I consider using Stephenson at the 2 next to Hill while only playing Granger at the 3 or 4.