Danny Granger News: Pro Sports Daily

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March 13

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger said he doesn't regret signing a contract extension prior to the start of the 2008-09 season. He's headed for an early offseason for the fourth straight year after making the playoffs his rookie season. "Signing my extension was a no-brainer," he said after the Pacers got beat by the Boston Celtics on Friday. Granger was asked if he thought he needed a better supporting cast. "With our offense, (with) what we do, it's equal opportunity," he said. "For whatever reason, our offense hasn't been there. We got worse on defense." Team officials have no choice but to add better players if they expect to be decent anytime soon. ************************ Granger said he's appealing ..."

Pacers try teamwork in Granger's absence

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March 10

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers knew they couldn't have one player try to make up for the absence of Danny Granger. So instead, they used a team effort to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-96 to end a four-game losing streak Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. "Danny is our leading scorer and our go-to guy, and definitely we look at him to do some scoring," swingman Dahntay Jones said. "But it wasn't on one person's shoulders. It was a team effort, and the ball didn't stop (moving), and we didn't look for one guy to make plays for us. We made plays for everybody. That's a team effort." Granger missed the game while serving a league-mandated one-game suspension for an altercation in Phoenix on Saturday. ..."

Granger suspended 1 game

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March 10

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers knew there would be fallout from Saturday's altercation with the Phoenix Suns. They didn't know forward Danny Granger would be suspended one game for his part in the third-quarter incident. Granger's teammates Earl Watson and Roy Hibbert were fined $30,000 and $25,000, respectively, for their parts. Phoenix's Channing Frye also was suspended for a game and guard Jason Richardson was fined $25,000. Granger served his suspension Tuesday night, a 107-96 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers at Conseco Fieldhouse. "I think we're all very surprised," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "(Team president) Larry Bird and I were baffled, but there's not a lot a franchise can do. The ..."

Phoenix's fight fallout

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March 7

Arizona Republic

"Upon further review, there were a few bad punches thrown in the third-quarter fracas during Phoenix's 113-105 victory against Indiana. There was nothing that would not make Manny Pacquiao laugh but it will be enough for the league office to review. So it all started apparently moments earlier when two Pacers fumbled away a rebound and Channing Frye picked it up for a dunk follow. "When he turned around, he elbowed me," Watson told the Indianapolis Star. "The next play, he was setting a pick and he was using his hands and I told him to, 'Put your hands down.' He kept shoving me with his hands and I smacked his hands." Two minutes after Frye's dunk, switching off a screen, Watson wound up on ..."

Granger can't make Pacers winners

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March 4

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers have a hard enough time beating teams when they're clicking on both ends of the court. They have no chance of doing it when it's a one-man scoring show. That was the case against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Forward Danny Granger scored a game-high 30 points, but he didn't have any help from his teammates in their 102-79 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. "You don't see many times when one guy on your team has double figures and nobody else cracks double figures," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "Danny had a good game and we turned the ball over too many times." Granger went 12-of-22 from the field to make up for being shutdown by Los Angeles Lakers ..."

Pacers' Granger struggles through a tough season, family issue

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March 2

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger sat slouched in his chair, zoning out in the locker room with his game shorts on before a recent game. One of his shoes was untied. The other rested a couple of feet away. The Indiana Pacers forward paid no attention to the jokes a couple of teammates were telling on the other side of the room. Granger should have been focusing on what it would take to beat the Chicago Bulls that night. He has been unable to concentrate on such matters, however, as the Pacers embark on a four-game trip, starting tonight in Los Angeles against the Lakers. What has already been the most "trying season" in his five-year career took another turn early last week when he left the team for a couple ..."

Granger returns just as Dunleavy leaves

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February 25

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Bulls, but the Indiana Pacers were without Mike Dunleavy. The Pacers' leading scorer, Granger missed Monday's 91-82 loss in Dallas for personal reasons. He matched a season high with 36 points in Saturday's 125-115 victory in Houston. Granger said before Wednesday's game it wouldn't be difficult to focus once the game started. "Basketball is kind of a release for me," said Granger, averaging 22.9 ppg in his fifth year in the NBA. "I've done it all my life. I just want to get back in the flow of things as quickly as possible." Pacers coach Jim O'Brien didn't expect any issues getting Granger into his normal rhythm. ..."

Granger returns just as Dunleavy leaves

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February 25

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Bulls, but the Indiana Pacers were without Mike Dunleavy. The Pacers' leading scorer, Granger missed Monday's 91-82 loss in Dallas for personal reasons. He matched a season high with 36 points in Saturday's 125-115 victory in Houston. Granger said before Wednesday's game it wouldn't be difficult to focus once the game started. "Basketball is kind of a release for me," said Granger, averaging 22.9 ppg in his fifth year in the NBA. "I've done it all my life. I just want to get back in the flow of things as quickly as possible.""

Loss of Granger tough on Pacers

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February 23

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers were without leading scorer Danny Granger for Monday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Granger missed the game for personal family reasons and coach Jim O'Brien said he doesn't know when he'll return to the team. "I have no idea," O'Brien said. "It's a serious situation he's going through." Mike Dunleavy made his 15th start of the season in place of Granger. The loss of Granger put O'Brien in a tough position because he normally likes to slide him to the power forward spot so he can defend Dallas All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. "We couldn't put Dahntay (Jones) on Dirk because he doesn't have the size," O'Brien said. "We had to put a bigger guy on him. Danny's ..."

Loss of Granger tough on Pacers, his return is unknown

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February 23

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers were without leading scorer Danny Granger for Monday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Granger missed the game for personal family reasons and coach Jim O'Brien said he doesn't know when he'll return to the team. "I have no idea," O'Brien said. "It's a serious situation he's going through." Mike Dunleavy made his 15th start of the season in place of Granger. The loss of Granger put O'Brien in a tough position because he normally likes to slide him to the power forward spot so he can defend Dallas All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. "We couldn't put Dahntay (Jones) on Dirk because he doesn't have the size," O'Brien said. "We had to put a bigger guy on him. Danny's ..."

Granger out for personal reasons

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February 22

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers leading scorer Danny Granger will miss tonight's game at Dallas for undisclosed personal reasons and his return date is unknown. Granger scored 36 points Saturday at Houston."

Gordon, Granger make first cut in U.S. program

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February 11

Indianapolis Star

"Indianapolis native Eric Gordon took another step toward being the youngest player on America's Olympic basketball team in 2012. Gordon and Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger were named to the 27-man USA Basketball national team, from which the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympic teams will be selected. Gordon, who turned 21 on Christmas, is the youngest of the 27 players by nearly three months. "I'm just going to continue to do the things I need to do," Gordon said in a phone interview Wednesday. "It would be something great to be a part of getting a gold medal. Getting to represent your country is an honor. "They probably need guys that are athletic and shooters and can play a ..."

Danny Granger and Eric Gordon join U.S. national team

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February 10

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger and former Indiana University player Eric Gordon have been named to the 2010-2012 USA Men's National Team program. "This is a great honor, not only to be selected with this group of players, but to have the opportunity to represent the United States," Granger said in a statement released from USA Basketball. "I think any athlete in any sport relishes the chance to wear that uniform." Granger, the Pacers' leading scorer at 22.4 points a game, was invited to take part in Team USA's mini-camp last summer but didn't attend because of personal reasons. Gordon, who starred at North Central High School, harbors gold-medal dreams. "I'm just going to continue to ..."

Pacers plan to rely on small lineup

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February 3

Indianapolis Star

"Enough tinkering. Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said he has settled on a starting lineup style: four perimeter players and a center. Forward Danny Granger isn't necessarily a fan of that approach full time because it forces him to defend bigger players. "It takes its toll," the 6-8 Granger said after struggling to defend Toronto All-Star forward Chris Bosh and Los Angeles 7-footer Pau Gasol. "I like it in stretches because it's been effective for us. I trust our coaches know what's been effective for us. I just have to compensate where we lack when we go small." The 6-10 Bosh had 26 points and 15 rebounds in Toronto's win Sunday. Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Lakers' win ..."

Granger struggles through off season

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January 29

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger neither waited for nor expected a phone call Thursday, when the NBA announced reserves for its annual All-Star Game. Granger, a first-time All-Star last season, said he doesn't deserve to go this season. His scoring average is just two points fewer than the 25.8 from a year ago, but something has been different, missing all season. Granger has a legitimate excuse: He played hurt and missed more than a month with a torn right plantar fascia, which limited his ability to attack. His season goes beyond his foot problem, though. Look at his body language during games. He isn't pumping his chest or holding up three fingers after making a big shot. Opposing ..."

Granger can't lose in Super Bowl

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January 28

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger doesn't know whom to root for in the Super Bowl. Does he go with his hometown team, the New Orleans Saints, or does he go with the Indianapolis Colts? Granger's going with both. "I was born and raised in New Orleans so I'm definitely pulling for the Saints," he said. "But if the Colts win, I'm not going to be upset because I play in Indianapolis." Granger's father, Danny Granger Sr., wore a bag over his head when the Saints were referred to as the "Aints" because they were so bad. The younger Granger played against Eli Manning in high school, with brother Peyton and father Archie in attendance. "It's basically a win-win for me," Granger said. "I grew up ..."

Granger's shooting struggles continue

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January 20

ESPN.com

"Danny Granger is one of the more talented players in the NBA and his statistical versatility makes him a tasty fantasy morsel. Entering Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat, he was averaging 24.1 points, 2.5 assists, 5.8 boards, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and a whopping 3.1 3-pointers. That combination of scoring, steals, blocks and 3-point production is why he was a top-five draft pick in many leagues this season. In my Tuesday column, I mentioned Granger as one of the better free throw shooters, too, because he's averaging 6.9 attempts per game and hitting 82.3 percent of them. On the other hand, there are two looming problems for his fantasy owners: he's injury-prone and his field goal ..."

Report of dispute, trade offer refuted

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January 12

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Well, you don't hear this around an NBA team every day: Timberwolves center Al Jefferson walked past teammate Kevin Love after Monday's morning shootaround, shouted out "Love you, Kevin," to which Love replied, "Love you, too, man." It was their playful response to a Yahoo! Sports report that Indiana refused a Wolves' Jefferson-for-Danny Granger trade offer, presented partly because Jefferson and Love are at odds with each other. Wolves boss David Kahn called the report "totally without merit" and said he will not offer any of his "core" players in trade until next summer. Kahn last week told Jefferson, through his agent, that he will not trade him this season, and Kahn met with Jefferson ..."

O'Brien, Granger chat about 3s

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January 12

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien likes the 3-point shot, but even he realizes Danny Granger is too enamored with 3s. O'Brien recently addressed the issue with his forward. Granger went into Monday's game against the Toronto Raptors with 166 3-pointers attempted, which represents nearly half his shots (357) this season. He went 9-of-19 against the Raptors from the field, including 2-of-7 3s. "Now we're playing with groups that are going to space the court, and as a result, when the ball goes to Danny and somebody is closing out on him, there's no reason for him to settle for a challenged 3 because the court is wide open now," O'Brien said. Granger attempted 20 3-pointers, making seven, in ..."

Wolves offered Pacers Jefferson for Granger

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January 11

Yahoo! Sports

"Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn recently offered forward Al Jefferson to the Indiana Pacers for forward Danny Granger, but was immediately rebuffed, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. While Pacers president Larry Bird remains determined to build around Granger, sources say Kahn has become increasingly dubious on making Jefferson a cornerstone for the Timberwolves. So far, Kahn has tried to undo almost everything from the Kevin McHale regime, and trading Jefferson would be another significant step in that direction. After rehabbing from a knee injury he suffered in February, Jefferson is still trying to work himself back to the elite form he showed last season when he had ..."

Granger returns, starts for Pacers

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January 9

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger was still two weeks away from his return just days ago. The next day, his return was near but it wouldn't be during the team's current two-game trip. Then, with the help of two good practices, the Indiana Pacers' All-Star forward was in the starting lineup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after being out since Dec. 5 with a torn right plantar fascia. Granger finished with 19 points, six rebounds and four fouls in more than 31 minutes of play. "He responded well to a couple days of practice," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "He didn't have the soreness that we had anticipated." The Pacers originally announced Granger would be out four to six weeks. "I had a feeling ..."

Danny Granger returns to practice after heel injury, expects to play soon

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January 8

Indianapolis Star

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"The Pacers are slowly starting to get healthy. All 15 players practiced for the first time in about two years the past two days. All-Star Danny Granger (foot) is practicing and should return in about two weeks."

Granger's return isn't imminent

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January 6

Indianapolis Star

"It appears Indiana Pacers swingman Danny Granger won't be back to help his struggling teammates for another couple of weeks, according to coach Jim O'Brien. O'Brien said Granger's torn right plantar fascia will keep him sidelined at least two more weeks. "I think Danny, he went up and down a little bit today. I still think he's two, 2 1/2 weeks away," O'Brien said before Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic. "I haven't been told an exact time, but that's my understanding." The team said Granger would miss between four and six weeks shortly after he injured his foot against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 5. Granger said last week that he thought he'd be back before the six-week mark. ..."

A step forward for Granger

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December 28

Indianapolis Star

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"Pacers forward Danny Granger took a step, albeit a small one, toward his return from a torn right plantar fascia when he did some light shooting on the court for the first time Saturday. "It was decent. I haven't really pushed it yet because I don't think I'm at that point yet," Granger said. "The foot is still healing. Each day I try to do more and more on it." The real test for Granger will come when he starts running. A date for that has yet to be determined. It has almost been three weeks since the Pacers shut down Granger for at least a month. The team said he could be out up to six weeks. "There's no chance I'll be out for the full the six weeks," Granger said. "I'm thinking about ..."

Granger: Comeback "Going to be hard"

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December 11

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers Danny Granger said today that it will be tough for him not to rush back from his torn right plantar fascia. At the same time, though, Granger knows he'll be 100 percent healthy when he returns to the lineup after his rehabilitation, which could take up to six weeks. "It's going to be hard, I'm not going to lie to you," Granger said as he held himself up on crutches after practice today. "It will be very difficult, especially since I don't know where we'll be standing wise in the East when it's time for me to come back. I'm going to try and get back as soon as possible and hopefully we'll still be in playoff contention." Granger tore his plantar fascia in the third quarter of ..."

Pacers Danny Granger out 4-6 weeks

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December 8

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger will miss 4-6 weeks with a torn right plantar fascia, the team announced today. No surgery is required, and Granger will begin rehabiliation immediately."

Granger to get MRI on heel today

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December 7

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger is scheduled to get a MRI on his bruised right heel later today. A team spokesman said they won't have the results until Tuesday, but coach Jim O'Brien is bracing for the possibility of being without his leading scorer. "That's my mindset," O'Brien said after practice today. "I'd like to be pleasantly surprised, but I'm preparing for the worse." Granger, who is averaging 24.4 points, re-aggravated his heel when he came off a screen early in the third quarter of Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He had to be helped to the locker room by the team's assistant athletic trainer."

A painful trip in more ways than one

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December 6

Indianapolis Star

"It's bad enough that the Pacers went 0-4 on their trip out West. It's even worse when you're hit with the injury bug again. That's what happened when Danny Granger went to the ground in pain after aggravating his bruised right heel early the third quarter. Coach Jim O'Brien said Granger will get any MRI when they return to Indianapolis. The team was scheduled to fly back to Indy on Sunday morning after staying the night in L.A. Granger walked out the Staples Center with a walking boot on his right foot. "He's a key guy, leading scorer, biggest threat by far," O'Brien said. The Pacers have three days to think about how bad they played on the trip before hosting the Portland Trail Blazers at ..."

Granger aggrevates bruised right heel

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December 6

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers have more to worry about than another loss. The Pacers, who have dealt with injuries all season, suffered a major blowSaturday when forward Danny Granger sat out most of the second half in the 88-72 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers after aggravating his bruised right heel. The 72 points was a season low for the Pacers. "We won't know more until he gets an MRI when we get back to Indianapolis," coach Jim O'Brien said. "He's a key guy, leading scorer, biggest threat by far." After taking a pass from Troy Murphy early in the third quarter, Granger took a couple of steps before going to the ground in obvious pain. He stayed on the ground for a couple of minutes before being ..."

Jazz win fourth straight

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December 5

Salt Lake Tribune

"It was throwback jersey night at EnergySolutions Arena, and the Utah Jazz nearly threw one back. Seemingly, the Jazz had an easy victory in hand Friday against the struggling Indiana Pacers. Utah bolted to a 19-point lead in the first quarter and rebuilt a 17-point advantage midway through the third. Instead of coasting home, however, the Jazz had to hold off a desperate rally by Indiana before claiming a 96-87 victory. Carlos Boozer finished with a season-high 35 points and rookie Wesley Matthews added 18 as Utah won its fourth straight game. "We came out guns blazing -- a lot of energy, having fun," Boozer said. "We got a huge lead but they are a good team -- an NBA team. They came ..."

Pacers rest Granger, Rush, Dunleavy

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November 29

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers rested four players during today's practice. Starters Danny Granger and Brandon Rush and reserves Mike Dunleavy and Tyler Hansbrough didn't practice. It was a scheduled day off for Granger to help his heel issue heal and for Dunleavy as he comes back from a knee injury, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. Granger is expected to start Monday night when the Pacers begin a four-game West Coast road trip against Golden State, O'Brien said. Dunleavy will come off the bench while his minutes remain limited. Rush didn't practice due to a quadriceps bruise, but is expected to start Monday as well. Hansbrough is dealing with a left knee bruise and right shin issue."

Dunleavy's return to lineup nears

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November 27

Indianapolis Star

"Mike Dunleavy compared his smooth-looking jump shot to riding a bike: You never lose it once you have it down. The toughest part for Dunleavy, who has played in 18 games in the past 17 months, is getting into shape and working on his timing. The Indiana Pacers swingman is slowly getting those aspects of his game back, and with that said, Dunleavy could soon be making his long-awaited season debut. "I'm really close," Dunleavy said. "At this point I would say it's day-to-day." The Pacers host the Dallas Mavericks tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. Dunleavy is not expected to play. Some members of the Pacers organization have become quite eager for Dunleavy to return, especially with the ..."

Granger sprains left medial collateral ligament before game

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November 26

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers are getting used to these situations. They lose a player to injury, and rather than sulk about the situation, the next player or players in line step in and try to hold things down. This time it wasn't just any player in street clothes on the bench. The Pacers had to try to end their four-game losing streak without leading scorer Danny Granger. It was far from pretty, but the Pacers did enough to overcome the loss of Granger and get past a horrendous start to come from behind to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 86-73 on Wednesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. "I have always thought throughout my career that winning ugly is probably a great step for your team to know it's ..."

Complete lack of effort

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November 23

Indianapolis Star

"At least the Pacers didn't wait until the fourth quarter to tire down against the Bobcats. They looked like they were full of southern food the way they moved up and down the court in their blowout loss to the Bobcats, who were on a seven-game skid. "I think they controlled everything," coach Jim O'Brien said. "They played with more force than we did all four quarters. We didn't seem to have an answer. "It's a credit to them, they played extremely hard. They shut us down on offense and just kicked our tails when we were on the defensive end." Losing to teams like Charlotte and New York is why not many people are sold that the Pacers can be a playoff team Sunday was also an example of why ..."

Pacers' Granger can't seem to locate his shot

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November 11

Indianapolis Star

"Practice had ended an hour earlier, and most of the Indiana Pacers were long gone. Mike Dunleavy, trying to work his way back from a knee injury, was shooting on one end of the court. All-Star Danny Granger, working his way back from an early shooting slump, was on the other. "Come on, Danny!" a frustrated Granger yelled after he failed to make consecutive 3-pointers during a drill with assistant coach Frank Vogel. Later, after hitting five consecutive 3s, he missed from outside the key. "This spot is killing me," he said, walking back to the corner. And so the quest to rediscover his shooting touch continues. He hopes all the hard work in a desolate gym pays off, heading into tonight's ..."

Pacers' Granger is an All-Star. He wants to become a winner.

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October 30

Indianapolis Star

"The face of the Indiana Pacers was just another face in the crowd on this night. There were no autograph seekers or photo requests and very few whispers or finger-pointing as Danny Granger and his new bride dined at one of Indianapolis' premier steakhouses. Those who did tell Granger "good luck this season" as he exited toward his white Range Rover know the 26-year-old All-Star has to carry the Pacers if they hope to return to being a playoff regular. "I hear that a lot from people," Granger said, cutting into his 24-ounce porterhouse. "People ask me if we're going to get back to the playoffs." Granger's continued growth will be pivotal. Team president Larry Bird repeatedly has said there ..."

Pacers All-Star Granger practices, might play

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October 28

Indianapolis Star

"All-Star forward Danny Granger participated in this morning's team shootaround, but the Pacers want to see how he responds before deciding whether he plays in the season opener tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Granger is dealing with a right bruised heel."

Pacers go small, and move pays off

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October 24

Indianapolis Star

"A shortage of healthy bodies forced Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien to go with a small lineup to start the second half of Friday's preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. The move paid off. Using a lineup that had All-Star Danny Granger playing power forward, the Pacers outscored the Spurs by 13 points in the third quarter to help them beat San Antonio 114-112 before 8,029 fans at Indiana University's Assembly Hall. "I thought we competed well and had a great third quarter," O'Brien said. "We went small because (Troy Murphy) only had seven more minutes he could play. I wanted to be able to start small and it seemed to work out." The Pacers wrapped up the preseason with a 3-4 record. ..."

Award just another step for Granger

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May 13

Indianapolis Star

columnist Bob Kravitz

"Congratulations, Danny Granger. First, an All-Star. Now, the league's Most Improved Player. Next, lead the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs for the first time in four years. How does he lead them there? Easy. Become one of the league's best defenders. Take note that the five top MVP vote-getters (LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul) all made the first or second All-Defensive teams. Accept the challenge of becoming the kind of star who not only scores lots of points, but leads his team on both ends of the floor. "I don't want to just get better; I want to be an elite player," Granger said Tuesday. "I've really patterned my defensive game after Ron Artest, but ..."

Pacers' Granger NBA's most improved, sets sights on playoffs

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May 12

Indianapolis Star

"After being named the NBA's Most Improved Player today, Pacers forward Danny Granger said he's aiming for another title next year: Danny Granger, member of a playoff team. In talking about where he sees his improvement for the future, he talked mainly about the team. "We had so many opportunities to win so many games, and we came up a little bit short," Granger said this morning. "Next year, with myself and the other leaders on the team, we have to find ways to win those games. That's what I'd like to improve on the most." More coverage:Click here for team updates, blogs, photo galleries, schedules, stats and more. The first player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by five points ..."

NBA to honor Granger today

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May 12

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger will cap off his stellar season today when he's named the NBA's Most Improved Player, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Granger will be the third Pacer to win the award, joining Jalen Rose (2000) and Jermaine O'Neal (2002). A team spokesman said they had no comment on the scheduled 11:30 a.m. news conference set for today at Conseco Fieldhouse. The league waited to announce the award until Granger returned from his two-week vacation to Italy. Granger, who signed a $60-million contract extension last October, finished fifth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points a game. He's the first player in league history to ..."

Team USA invites Granger

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May 9

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball training camp, which could lead to him playing in next year's World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. The camp is in late July in Las Vegas. He was first approached about the possibility in February during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

"I think that's the level everyone strives to get to," Granger told The Associated Press by telephone from Italy. "You want to win an NBA championship, of course, but I think to play in the Olympics is something really special. It comes around just once every four years, and it's a special opportunity.""

Pacers' Granger wants to become one of NBA's top defenders

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May 8

Indianapolis Star

"As Danny Granger vacations in Italy, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are marching toward a possible dream matchup in the NBA Finals. Granger proved he could go basket-to-basket with those two this season. Now the Indiana Pacers' All-Star forward needs to prove he can defend at the same level, or his vacation next year might start just as early as this one. Granger finished fifth in the league in scoring (25.8 ppg). His defense fell off as quickly as his offensive game took off, and the Pacers missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season. "Danny will get better," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "He'll do what it takes to get better. Danny plays with a chip on his shoulder. The one ..."

Is Granger the league's Most Improved Player?

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April 9

Indianapolis Star

"It's getting around that time of year for voting on the league's top players. One of the most intriguing battles appears to be for the league's Most Improved Player. Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger will likely be in the running for award. Teams routinely send out little gimmicks trying to persuade voters. I recently received a spray bottle, sponge and towel from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of their campaign for rookie Kevin Love because he cleans the glass in the rebounding department. The Pacers don't believe in doing that. They simply sent out a letter from team president Larry Bird explaining why voters shouldGranger. Here are some of the highlights of the letter from Bird: ..."

Granger rusty in return to Pacers' lineup

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March 16

Indianapolis Star

"Danny Granger's return to the lineup featured plenty of rust, a lot of missed shots and a highlight dunk over Granger by Toronto's Shawn Marion. Welcome back, Danny. Granger, who had missed the previous 11 games with a partially torn tendon in his right foot, scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting in the Pacers' 110-87 loss to the Raptors on Sunday afternoon. "I'm glad I got that out of the way," Granger said. "I played 18 minutes, but I thought I played 32. That's how it feels. It'll come around. It takes awhile to get back in rhythm." The plan was to bring Granger off the bench and limit him to 20 minutes. Coach Jim O'Brien didn't give Granger the full 20 minutes since the game turned into ..."

Granger's aching foot pushes back return

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March 14

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Danny Granger's return to the lineup was put on hold for at least one more game because of continued soreness in his right foot. "It's definitely still sore," he said before Friday's 101-87 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. "I have to be able to do everything I normally can on the court. Otherwise we're going to keep going backwards. We need to get to the point where I'm playing and it's getting better and better. I think that's the main issue." Granger had targeted Friday as his return from a 10-game absence due to a partially torn tendon in his right foot. He practiced Thursday, but woke up with some discomfort in his foot Friday. "He's not even close to being ..."

Granger remains sidelined as red-hot Jazz visit

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March 10

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers returned from their three-city West Coast trip feeling good after gaining ground in the playoff race. They're also a game closer to having their leading scorer return. But there's a catch: They'll be without Danny Granger tonight and have to beat the hottest team in the NBA if they expect to gain or maintain their ground in the Eastern Conference. The Utah Jazz have won 11 consecutive games and are 14-1 since Feb. 1. "When you play against them, you have to bring your hard hat," Pacers guard Jarrett Jack said. Center Mehmet Okur scored a career-high 43 points in the Jazz's victory against the Pacers in January. Utah and San Antonio are the only teams among the NBA's top ..."