“Gentlemen! And Danny Granger! Start Your Engines!”

Well, not just yet. It’s quite interesting, with all the daily drama over Derrick Rose’s status in the Windy City, that the actual Central Division leaders, the Indiana Pacers, suffer no anxieties about the timetable for the return of the franchise’s leading scorer from the past five seasons. Granger tried to start back up after the All-Star Break and appeared in five games, but returned to the inactive list after dealing with persistent knee soreness.

The Pacers are hoping Granger will be able to get back on the floor at some point during the four-game road trip that follows tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. They’re cruising along just fine, however, thanks to the offensive emergence of Paul George, the offensive resurgence of 2-time All-Star David West, and a defense that remains absolutely stifling. They’re giving up just 89.5 PPG to opponents, who are shooting an NBA-low 41.4 FG% and 32.1 3FG%.

Atlanta is one of just two teams that have managed to hang triple-digits on them twice this year. Ever since the Pacers defeated the Hawks 114-103 on February 5, only one other team, the Miami HEAT (105-91 on March 10), has managed to surpass the 100-point barrier in regulation. Before that Miami game, Atlanta was also the last Eastern Conference team to shoot more than 50 percent against the Hoosier State pros, going 44-for-80 in a December 29 win at Philips Arena.

Can we just go ahead and start handing out the season-ending hardware? The Defensive Player of the Year trophy should already be engraved with “Paul George,” who ranks sixth among non-centers in defensive rebounds per game, third among non-point-guards in steals. His rebounding in particular makes it easier for Roy Hibbert to go for offensive boards (2^nd in NBA for offensive rebounding percentage) and block shots. (3^rd in NBA for BPG). George joins Hibbert and a greatly improved (defensively) West among the top 5 NBA players for defensive rating. George is not shooting well (42.5 FG%; 37.9 FG% on threes despite shooting the sixth-most in the league), otherwise we’d see him take home the Most Improved Player trophy as well.

Indiana has had to adjust, though, with West unavailable for the past week-and-a-half due to a back injury. Although the Pacers probably can’t go West, young man Tyler Hansbrough has stepped up admirably. Tyler has, indeed, been creating, averaging 15.3 PPG and 10.8 RPG in his last four starts subbing for West, who has averaged 17.3 PPG and 7.7 RPGs this season.

Josh Smith (4^th among NBA forwards in assists per game; 0 assists and 0 free throw attempts on February 5 vs. Indy) will have to attack the lack of depth at the 4-spot in West’s absence, drawing fouls from Hansbrough and extra defenders for passes-to-assists out of the post. Al Horford (5^th among centers in assists per game; 2 assists on February 5) will draw the Pacer defense out of the paint and set up shots for Smith and cutting guards, including Indianapolis native Jeff Teague. This approach will force George Hill and Lance Stephenson to work the full court and not just patrol the perimeter on defense.

One of those cutting guards that won’t be available will be Devin Harris, probably the most reliable Hawk guard going to the hoop. John Jenkins (59 FG% at the rim) has to step up and focus on finishing at the rim. Expect some looks for DeShawn Stevenson and Dahntay Jones, the latter able to help Stevenson cool off George (29 points on February 5, 5-for-9 on threes) on defense.

On Palm Sunday, the Hawks turned the other cheek while allowing the Bucks to snatch 19 offensive rebounds, the most given up in a regulation game since Atlanta’s opener against Omer Asik and the Rockets. And that won’t cut it if they have designs on earning a victory and Hibbert (6.3 offensive RPG per 48 minutes, 1^st in NBA) makes it to the arena tonight. Ivan Johnson (likely returning from back spasms), Johan Petro and Anthony Tolliver will need to help out Horford and Smith with the defensive rebounding so Hibbert doesn’t mop up all of George’s misses.

Go Hawks!

~lw3