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Pacers president Bird says F Granger has regressed

Basketball Betting Lines

04/21/2010 -

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Danny Granger, now more than ever, understands that Larry Bird is hard to please.

Granger averaged 24.1 points this season, fourth-highest in team history and eighth-best in the league, but the Indiana Pacers president said his high-scoring forward took a step back.

``I think sometimes, he rushes into things,'' Bird said. ``He regressed a little bit.''

Statistics support Bird's claim. Granger's scoring average dropped from 25.8 the previous year, when he was an All-Star and finished fifth in scoring, while his 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting also dipped. His overall field-goal percentage fell by two percent.

Bird said Granger didn't defend as well as he'd hoped, either.

``I thought his defense was great when he had a challenge, and I thought it was poor when he thought he could overmatch his guy,'' Bird said. ``A lot of nights, he was very good on the defensive end. I'd just like him to be a little more consistent.''

Bird remains on Granger's case for his lack of rebounding - he believes the 6-foot-8 swingman should average 8 or 9 per game instead of the 5.5 he posted this season. But he knows the 27-year-old is a hardworking, competitive player in his prime, who could lead the way if the Pacers are to return to the playoffs after a four-year absence.

``He's a special player,'' Bird said. ``He is the face of the franchise.''

Granger was the league's most improved player last season, the third straight year he had raised his scoring average by at least five points. His steady growth fueled expectations, but his health didn't always cooperate.

Granger missed 16 straight games early in the season with a heel injury, which cost him a shot at a second straight All-Star appearance and crippled the team while new players were trying to fit in. Indiana went 25-37 when Granger played and 5-15 when he didn't.

``It's an opportunity that I lost,'' Granger said. ``I think I would have had a great year. It happens, though. Hopefully, it's one of those injuries that won't happen anymore.''

Granger closed the season with a flourish. He scored 30 or more points in 11 of his final 25 games, and the Pacers won nine of those 11.

``It was just the process of getting back from injury and concentrating on the small things,'' he said. ``I wish I had played the whole season and have hit this stride at 60 games. Maybe we'd be in the playoffs. It's a little too late, just save it for next year.''

His teammates noticed his improvement down the stretch.

``He found his rhythm, and within all that, everything kind of came together,'' point guard Earl Watson said. ``You can see everybody playing at a different level.''

Bird believes Granger can make the expected jump next season if he stays healthy.

``I don't worry about Danny in the summer,'' he said. ``Some guys, you worry about whether they're going to do the work and some guys you don't.''

Eight players - Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Granger - have ranked in the top 10 in scoring average each of the past two seasons. Only Bosh and Granger have failed to make the playoffs.

Granger knows that his success will be measured more by wins and losses than individual numbers, and there are signs he's starting to elevate his team. Even though the Pacers failed to reach the postseason, Indiana won 11 of its last 16 games, including wins against playoff teams Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Utah.

Granger said the team's biggest problem was inconsistency, especially early in the season.

``Sometimes, we'd get on the court and we forget what makes us win games,'' he said. ``It's just a focus that we're all going to have to have, that coach is going to have to have of getting us back into this mindset when the season starts.''

Granger is part of the team's young core that includes Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush, players that Bird and coach Jim O'Brien have said improved this season. Tyler Hansbrough, last year's first-round pick, missed most of the season after dealing with an inner-ear infection and a concussion. He is expected to make a full recovery.

``We think that we have put together some good young players, led by Danny Granger, Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert,'' O'Brien said. ``You put all those things together, there's no reason why we can't take a nice full step forward next year.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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