Pacers notebook: Granger, organization to treat fieldhouse workers to dinner - Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger will host the dinner he tweeted about during the NBA lockout. Sunday's event at Bankers Life Fieldhouse is for many of the part-time employees who did not get paid from July 1 until Nov. 26.

Granger and members of the organization will host the dinner, which also includes games, raffle prizes and special guests.

"The plan was for this to take place somewhere in Indianapolis if the lockout continued," Granger said in a statement from the team.

"Once that was resolved, it was obvious the fieldhouse was the only logical place to do this and then, with the condensed schedule, finding a date."

The day he and the team came up with follows Saturday night's home game versus the Boston Celtics and before the Pacers depart Wednesday for a three-game West Coast trip.

"I wanted to do something for these unsung workers and for the sacrifices they were making with lost income. Now, it's the best of everything, the team stepped in to help, we're playing, they are back making this the best place to come to in the NBA, and we can get together for some food and fun."

Foster for rare 3

Pacers coach Frank Vogel joked at practice Thursday that he told his players to look for center Jeff Foster for a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter Wednesday during a 12-point victory over Atlanta.

Foster might have to persuade Vogel to actually run a play to free him up for a 3. Prior to Wednesday's big shot, Foster had not made one since Dec. 13, 2008. He is just 7-of-54 on 3s in 13 seasons.

Point guard update

Lance Stephenson, who scored a career-high 12 points against the Hawks, will continue to get playing time, but it will be mainly at shooting guard.

Starter Darren Collison and backup George Hill will be the point guards when they are on the court with Stephenson.

Vogel will run plays with Stephenson handling the ball, but his primary role will be at shooting guard.

Pacers not getting the votes

The Pacers have six players -- Collison, Granger, David West, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George -- on this year's All-Star ballot, but none are among the top vote getters at their respective positions.

Orlando center Dwight Howard, the overall top vote getter, leads the Eastern Conference. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant leads the West.

Voting runs through Jan. 31, with the starters for the Feb. 26 game in Orlando, Fla., announced Feb. 2.

Call Star reporter Mike Wells at (317) 444-6053.