Indiana is a deep team, but they don't have a ton of top-end players.
That's certainly okay in this league, especially in my view.
As a Pistons fan, I was treated to a 2004 title squad that did not have a true superstar.
That being said, it is a rarity.
Indiana has a lot of talented players, but only Danny Granger is an elite talent at this point in his career.
As a result, as he goes, so too go the Pacers.
In wins, Granger is averaging over 20 points per game.
However, in losses that average is down by five.
So how do you do that?
First off, deny him the ball.
Put your best perimeter defender on him, and body him up.
This doesn't mean you should play dirty, but play rough.
When Granger gets frustrated, his numbers suffer. In losses, he was much more likely to commit fouls than he was in wins.
So get him frustrated, and make him play on both ends.
The Pacers will try to protect him on defense, but it is imperative that Granger gets pushed on both sides of the ball.
Orlando probably doesn't have the players to do this, but Chicago does.
If Chicago plays Indiana, look for Luol Deng to push Granger to the limit.
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