Feb 13 2009 4:39PM

Head2Head


scoring Howard has seen his average slowly creep up toward that magical 20-ppg barrier since he first entered the League in 2003. A subpar second half last season nudged it just below (he finished at 19.9 ppg), and his brief playoff spell was even worse (29.2 percent shooting, 12.6 ppg). But a bevy of offcourt storylines likely served as distraction to one of the League's most stealthy stars. It took about two seasons for Howard to find his footing on the offensive end, but his game is suited to first Avery Johnson's and now Rick Carlisle's halfcourt-set offenses, courtesy of steadily increased range on his always-accurate jumper and a stellar face-up game. He probably will never be a consistent go-to guy, but as long as he's playing the role of wingman, Howard has evolved to the point where he can be counted on for 20 a night. With Chris Paul and Deron Williams stacking up accolades like Pringles, Danny Granger often gets overlooked in the heralded 2005 draft class. He has evolved into a dangerous scorer and one of the most underrated stars in the game. His averages have been the antithesis of the stock market, climbing steadily each season (7.5 ppg in '05-06, 13.9 ppg in '06-07, 19.6 ppg in '07-08) and peaking at 24.4 ppg this season, as of press time. A big threat from outside and excellent from the charity stripe, Granger also gets a bevy of buckets in the paint thanks to his size and speed. Granted, his numbers have seen a spike due to the absence of Mike Dunleavy earlier in the season, but he has flashed his prowess against an increased amount of double teams. His numbers won't be dipping anytime soon. Advantage:
Granger
floor game It's here where Howard distances himself from most of his contemporaries at the 3. The sixth-year pro is one of the best rebounding small forwards in the game today, a necessity for a team whose most skilled seven-footer does his best work from 15 feet and out. He also takes very good care of the ball, having never averaged more than 1.8 tpg despite a steady increase in usage as his career has progressed (a career-high 25.9 percent usage last season against only a turnover and a half a night). He isn't much of a distributor, but with Jason Kidd now running the show, there's really no reason for him to be. His assist totals are nothing to go wild over (a career average of 1.6 apg), but on a team where he is the main scoring optionÑwith very few viable options elsewhereÑit's more often that teammates are trying to give him the ball, not vice versa. Still, he does the little things on the floor as well, hustling for loose balls, rebounds and the like, so don't get him twisted as a "me-first" type of player. He has also played alongside Jamaal Tinsley and TJ FordÑtwo solid, albeit not great, point guardsÑwho are good at running offenses, allowing him to be more effective in other areas. Advantage:
Howard
defense The Mavericks originally deployed Howard as a defensive gatekeeperÑa lengthy, dogged 3 who was equally comfortable harassing 2s on the perimeter in one-on-one situations or banging with 3s and even some 4s in the post. As his offensive game has burgeoned he has saved himself a little on the defensive end. But while his numbers were down last season and early this seasonÑhis 59 steals in '07-08 and this year's matching 0.8 spg are both career lowsÑthe effort and ball pressure are still very much there. He's more of a disruptive force at this point, but when the opponent has only 24 seconds to get a shot off, energetic disruption is as good a weapon as any. Like Dave Chappelle, Danny Granger loves a good block party. If you haven't witnessed, we suggest you peep his filthy rejections of Josh Childress, Willie Green, Antoine Wright, TJ Ford and a host of others. A good combination of size and strength allows him to match up well with most small forwards and he is quick enough to hang with many of the top 2s in the League as well. He has yet to be recognized as a lockdown defender, but given time, we think Granger will slowly gain recognition for his skills on the other side of the ball. Advantage:
Howard
clutch play About the only thing that went right for the Mavericks in their epic 2007 postseason exit at the hands of the Warriors was the ascension of Howard into the ranks of today's elite. With Dirk Nowitzki effectively stymied, Howard went bonkers, throwing up 21.3 ppg on 51.5 percent shooting to go along with 9.8 rpg, 2.8 rpg and 2.2 spg. He certainly could not be faulted for that horrifying exit. However, when the Mavs needed him most last seasonÑdown the stretch and in another eventual first-round flameoutÑhe was nowhere to be found, shooting a combined 35.8 percent in seven April games and five playoff games. One can excuse the poor showing on the aforementioned off-court issues, but he will need to put the past behind him quickly and regain focus for the Mavs to make it back to the playoffs this season. If you were still recovering from a turkey coma the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, you may have missed arguably this season's most clutch performance. DG scored 32 points to carry Indy to a 118-117 victory over the then 14-1 defending Western Conference champion Lakers after trailing by 15 after three quarters. Entering the game, Granger was in the top five in scoring, hanging with the likes of Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh and LeBron James, but he was hardly mentioned in the same breath elsewhere among those All-Stars and Olympians. That changed with his fifth 30-point performance in only the 16th game of the season. Advantage:
Granger
leadership Dirk is the unquestioned leader of the Mavs in the locker room, and with Kidd now in town full time, he is the unquestioned floor general. So where does that leave Howard? Unfortunately, he's kind of the odd man out. His behavior comes off as reactionary at times. But what's especially troubling is his lack of a killer instinct, since Dirk has also displayed a lack of such qualities in the past. It's safe to say that without it, the Mavs are likely doomed to one-and-done playoff scenarios for the foreseeable future. Granger arrived in Indiana on the heels of Reggie Miller's exit and the team's long run of playoff appearances. As a rookie he took his lumps but showed signs of maturity early on. He has missed only six games his first four years in the League, displaying the kind of leadership Larry Bird loves. That's probably why he signed him to a five-year extension before the season began. Earlier this season he knocked out two front teeth hustling for a possession but continued to play and helped the Pacers to a 95-79 win over the reigning champion Celtics. A few weeks later he sprained his ankle against the Heat but returned two minutes later and hasn't missed a game since. It's becoming clear that they love him in Indiana, but this kid's got the kind of moxie and bravado that any team would love to follow into battle. Advantage:
Granger


The Verdict:
Danny Granger

Though he has toiled in the relative obscurity of Indiana while Howard has evolved under a more public microscope, Granger at this point has become the more elite scorer, capable of providing genuine leadership and a willingness to take big shots. That's all he needs to edge Howard, 3-2.