Danny Granger wins NBA's most improved player ...

[celtic_pride]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4161081

INDIANAPOLIS -- Danny Granger told a storybook tale of how he learned he'd been selected the NBA's Most Improved Player.

The Indiana Pacers star offered a picturesque image of riding in a gondola in Venice, Italy, with one hand in the water and the wind blowing through his hair.

Much of that was indeed a story -- he was in Venice, but in his hotel room instead of a boat when he heard the news. Upon coming clean at a news conference on Tuesday, those in the room broke into laughter.

"I can honestly say it really did come as a surprise," he said. "I really had it out of my mind for a while. I was on vacation, enjoying Italy, and all of a sudden, I'm winning the award."

He edged New Jersey Nets guard Devin Harris in voting (364 to 339) from a panel of 121 journalists. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant was third with 83 points.

The storybook tale was almost believable because of Granger's remarkable last eight months.


Danny Granger
#33 SF
Indiana Pacers
2009 STATS

GM
67 PPG
25.8 RPG
5.1 APG
2.7 FG%
.447 FT%
.878

Granger averaged a career-best 25.8 points this season, made his All-Star team debut and accepted an invitation to train with USA Basketball in July. That all happened after he signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension.

Granger improved his scoring average by at least five points in each of the past three seasons. He averaged 7.5 points as a rookie out of New Mexico, 13.9 in his second season and 19.6 in 2007-08.

Granger had the NBA's fifth-highest scoring average this season.

"I think in my fourth year, I just had the experience of playing a lot of minutes," he said. "I could read defenses a lot better. I could get my shot a lot easier than what I had in the past. I think I just thought my way through the game a little more than I had previously."

Granger's success has been a welcome change for a franchise that has had numerous off-court problems the past several years.

"He is the face of our franchise, and he handles himself well on the court and off," team president Larry Bird said. "I think going forward, he will continue to do the things he's doing, and continue to improve. That's all you can ask for."

The USA Basketball training camp is the first phase in selecting the squad for the 2012 Olympics in London. Bird, who has said he believes Granger can be an Olympian, said the camp will be good for Granger.

"There's a lot of talent over there, and most of the guys lead their teams -- probably all of them do," Bird said. "I think Danny being associated in the mix, he's going to learn from that, and he'll bring that back."

Granger elevated his game in January. He averaged 34.7 points and shot 49 percent during a six-game stretch that began on Jan. 3 against Western Conference teams.

Then he began making dramatic shots. He drained a game-winning 3-pointer over two-time MVP Steve Nash on Jan. 7 in Phoenix, then made a game-tying jumper late in regulation before the Pacers beat Detroit in overtime a week later.

He made another clutch shot on Jan. 19, a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left at New Orleans, before being one-upped by Chris Paul at the buzzer.

Granger missed 11 games in 2009 with a torn tendon in his right foot. He returned and averaged 28.4 points in 15 games the rest of the season.

But Granger knows scoring alone won't get him to the next level. Each of the top five players in the Most Valuable Player balloting also were on the first- or second-team All-Defensive squads. He knows that to become an MVP candidate, he must become a stopper.

"I don't just want to be a better defender, I want to be an elite defender," he said. "I really modeled my defensive game after [Houston forward] Ron Artest when he was here. He was a phenomenal defensive player when he was here. I probably got away from that the past two years. Next year, that will be my big focus."

Bird expects Granger to make good on his promise.

"Danny's one of our hardest workers," Bird said. "He spends a lot of time on the court working on his skills and trying to improve them. That doesn't go unnoticed. That's why we signed him up last year. He's a special player, and he gets better every year."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Can't really argue with that, although I thought Devan Harris would win it, but it was a great season by Granger.

Hope Durant though is named on one of the All NBA-Teams btw, he deserves it after the amazing season he had.

 

[matty p]

First player in NBA history to improve his scoring average by 5 points per game three years in a row. From 7.5 to 13.9 to 19.6 to 25.8 is a fair effort.

I actually thought Harris should win it but I'm ok with Granger.

 

[realsniper09]

Either Granger or Devin. Voting shows it was close, so Devin was very unlucky to lose out.

But no complaints with Granger winning it and Durant coming 3rd was good to see.

Granger improved his points output whilst maintaining similiar minutes to last season, whilst some of Devin's improvement came as a result of increased minutes following his trade from Dallas.

The top 3 will all go on and become awesome players though.

 

[MurphMagic]

Well deserved, he improved his game dramatically this season.

 

[slick1]

Love the way he plays, has got the right attitude to taking his game to the next level aswell.

 

[Darealrath]

Well deserved. Great season and very glad we signed him to that extension for what about $12m per before the season started.

FWIW Brandon Rush is a massive chance to win it next season if his last month of this season is anything to go by.

 

[matty p]

Well deserved. Great season and very glad we signed him to that extension for what about $12m per before the season started.

FWIW Brandon Rush is a massive chance to win it next season if his last month of this season is anything to go by.

My tips to win it next year are Beasley, Rondo, Durant, Oden or Love.

 

[dylan123]

My tips to win it next year are Beasley, Rondo, Durant, Oden or Love.

I think it would be pretty hard for Durant to win it. He is already had a pretty good season so he would have to do extremely well to get most improved from where he is already at.

 

[matty p]

I think it would be pretty hard for Durant to win it. He is already had a pretty good season so he would have to do extremely well to get most improved from where he is already at.

It probably won't happen but if he gets up to 30ppg, makes the All-Star team, is All-NBA and his team makes the playoffs, he is a chance.

 

[Osmodiar]

I think Granger was better over the year, Devin was less consistant but had some massive games. At least Harris won't face the chance of suffering from the Bobby Simmons MIP curse.