There are two things that can happen when a team loses their star player:
1) The team could have an awful season or 2) a different player can takeover and become the new leader. Remember last season when the Chicago Bulls lost Derrick Rose?
The Bulls season didn’t seem as strong as it could have been if Rose hadn’t gotten injured. It’s the same for the Lakers when Kobe was injured. Respectively, both teams are capable of playing against some of the best teams in the league without their best players. However, many teams who do lose their best players sometimes have a hard time adjusting to the change.
In contrast to the stereotypical belief, when the Pacers lost their leading scoring, Danny Granger, several players unraveled and kept the winning tempo of the team going. Both Paul George and Lance Stephenson become a part of the Pacers starting lineup and average at least 22 points a game.
After Granger left, 23 year old Paul George boomed into the player he always wanted to be. Other coaches and players in the league didn’t expect for the Pacers to have another star player patiently waiting for his chance to shine. Without hesitation, George helped his team win numerous games and he knows how to share the spotlight. By losing Granger, George’s talent was a great addition to the Pacers lineup.
All of the Pacers players know how to share the ball and the spotlight. However, many feared that when Granger returned that he would try and prove that he was still the star player. On Dec. 20, Granger finally returned to the game after being out for a while. Granger has been keeping up with the pace and adding points the scoreboard. Coach Frank Vogel has begun putting Granger in during the second half for about 22 minutes nightly. Furthermore, since Granger has begun playing in the second half, Pacers Net Rating has raised.
Granger is proving to his team and the league that he isn’t going to be the fallen player that has something to prove. Furthermore, he is adding points to the board and playing as a part of the team. Although it takes some players a while to get back into the rhythm of the game, Granger seems to be quickly getting into the flows of things. The Pacers have added by subtracting a player and then added again by welcoming back an all pro talent.
