San Antonio: You appear to have put a lot of stock into two players that were injured all last year. Granger's injury looks to be chronic and long term. Why should people overlook these injury problems and assume health with these players because if assumed they are injured, I have a hard time ranking this team highly.
Everybody knows I've long hated the 82-game Yao Ming argument. In the CB Draft, with so little solid ground, voters use a combination of gut instinct and gamesmanship to determine the fates of some 30-odd seriously injured players any given offseason - I don't expect that to change. Still, if you're implying you can be swayed, I'll give it my best effort.
First, Kevin Love managed just 18 games last season and struggled with a series of loosely related injuries under a black cloud of bad luck. But I've yet to see it suggested that his troubles will follow him into next season, I can't recall a broken hand derailing an NBA career, he's by all reports in the best shape of his career, and has been training without restriction for going on two months now.
Then we have Danny Granger. As Who pointed out, the media struck a decidedly pessimistic tone during the Pacers' season and, as is typical in 21st century pro sports, actual specific injury details since are scarce. Granger is playing 1-on-1 basketball and is currently penciled in as the Pacers' starting small forward. His injury is chronic, but not typically career ending - Wade and Carter have successfully managed "jumper's knee." He has a history of playing through discomfort, averaging 72 games per season prior to last year. And with tens of millions on the line, never underestimate the added motivation of a contract year, even on a high effort, high character player such as Danny Granger.
Beyond that, I've worked to mitigate the Spurs' risk. San Antonio has great wing depth by design and can limit Granger to 25-28 mpg during the regular season. Thaddeus Young is an NBA starter on nearly any other team and was the 76ers best player last season, he can reasonably spot start for Granger (or Love for that matter) without costing the Spurs in the regular season win column. Iguodala draws the tougher defensive assignment every night, and is a far better ball handler than Paul George. He can also slide to the 3 with Marcus Thornton covering Granger's scoring load, or with Ridnour running at the 2 as he's done so well alongside other young point guards, first Rubio then Brandon Jennings. Kevin Love is an All-NBA talent, the first option on offense, and best teammate Granger will have ever played off. Luigi Datome is an elite Euro-league shooter and DeMarre Carroll is a smart, highly efficient, plus defender at the back of the rotation.
Roy is right, that Granger's production likely dips again. The Spurs can live with slightly less than 18.7 points per on strong 3-point and free throw shooting, 5 rpg and 1 spg. I would love to see his FG% tick back upwards with Granger playing as the third option most nights behind Love and Walker. But I most need Danny to stretch the floor opposite Love, take advantage of the mismatches his size creates, and to use his length to fill passing lanes and cover ground as a help defender.
Boston's Pau Gasol has the same degenerative knee condition, and while he missed less time than Granger last season, he's also three years older. How optimistic are you of his chances? In my division Dallas's starting two-guard Eric Gordon has a far worse injury history. Rose, Westbrook, Rondo, and Bryant are all returning from major knee surgeries, being asked to do more than Granger for their respective teams, and all rely more on their athleticism. Granger - except in his agility for a player his height - has never been an elite athlete.
Topic: 2013 CB Draft: Southwest Division Press Conferences (Read 30077 times)