Pacers Notebook: Indy enjoys run of good health after Granger injury

admin February 20, 2013 0

By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent

As the Pacers get back to work tonight against New York after a week-long All-Star siesta, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate their good fortune health-wise.

Sure, Danny Granger hasn’t taken a dribble, but his absence has arguably been a net positive. With Granger on the floor, Paul George would not have gotten the space or touches necessary to become an All-Star. George is already a better player than Granger, while Lance Stephenson became a major contributor in his expanded role.

More importantly, after Granger went out with a left knee injury, nobody else got hurt. Day-to-day injuries have been extremely rare, and no injury of any significance has occurred.

The starting lineup of George, David West, Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson and George Hill has been among the healthiest in the league.

Combined, those players have missed just seven games all season. George and West, the team’s best weapons, have missed one apiece, and each sat out a glorified scrimmage against Charlotte.

Conversely, take a look at the games missed by other starting lineups in the East this season prior to the All-Star break. (Note that this data, compiled by ISL, does not encompass players who have missed the entire season, such as Granger, Andrew Bynum and Derrick Rose.)

GAMES MISSED – STARTING LINEUP

Pacers – 7

Hawks”28

Bulls”36

Celtics”45

Nets”21

Bobcats”38

Cavs”47

Pistons”0

Heat”13

Bucks”23

Knicks”61

Magic”41

76ers”26

Raptors”80

Wizards”70

Short of pouring the players glasses of that magical water from Lake Michigan, it’s evident that the Pacers’ training staff, led by Josh Corbeil, deserves credit for doing everything within its power to keep the team healthy.

Indiana’s bench has been fine, too, with key reserves Ian Mahinimi, Tyler Hansbrough and D.J. Augustin available for all 53 games so far.

The team was due for some better luck. In 2009-10, Pacers starters missed 34 games. The year before, the injury toll was 100. The NBA is usually a tough league with a long season that tests depth.

The Pacers are one of 12 teams whose starting center has played in every game. Unlike Philadelphia or Chicago, which have not seen any action from superstars Bynum and Rose and yet still endured a load of other injuries, Indiana lost Granger, a very good scorer, but kept everything else intact.

As you saw above, the Pacers are one of only two teams in the East whose regular starting lineup missed less than 10 games prior to the All-Star break.

Before the season started, many national writers and local media picked up on how healthy Indiana was last season and wondered if it could happen again. Granger’s troubles seemed to foretell a turn of fortune, but so far, that hasn’t been the case.