Granger: It's a 'Rookie Thing'

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It was long after a recent game had ended, and Danny Granger walked into the locker room with beads of sweat running down his body and his game shorts still on.
But he wasn't sweating because of the game. It came from his postgame workout, which has become his routine.
The 17th pick in this year's draft, Granger has gone from looking like a regular in the Indiana Pacers' rotation to spending a lot of time on the bench, watching and learning.
"I talked to coach (Rick Carlisle) about it and he said it's a rookie thing," Granger said. "We're so deep and we're such a veteran team, it's kind of hard for me to come in and play. I did have a good preseason, but I have to earn my spots here and there.
". . . Coach told me some nights I'll play a lot and some nights I won't."
Granger was regarded by some as the steal of the draft when he slid from a projected top-10 pick because of concerns over a knee that had required surgery earlier this year. He would likely be getting significant playing time if he was on a team that had picked in the top 10. Instead, he has played in six games with averages of 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 10.8 minutes.
"It's a rookie thing," said forward Jermaine O'Neal, who spent his rookie season on the bench in Portland. "When you're drafted where he's at, you're going to a playoff team. His time will come; he knows it. He's coming in and he's working hard.
"He wants to be in that Rookie All-Star Game, but you have to look at the bigger picture when you talk about the NBA. You can't get caught up in the moment and get down on the moment. You have to make sure you stay focused and continue to get better, and he's right on track."</div>

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