Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 pm  |  94 responses

LeBron James Calls Danny Granger’s Tactics ‘Stupid’


Time and again in their second round Playoff series, Danny Granger has put on a tough guy act when trying to slow down LeBron James. James, however, finds the whole shtick quite silly. From ESPN: “Granger has gotten called for technical fouls in each of the past three games for getting into both James and Dwyane Wade’s faces after fouls. Granger said he doesn’t intend to back down but several times he has appeared to be the one to instigate the confrontation. ‘Whatever he’s trying it is not working,’ James said Tuesday before Game 5. ‘He’s said he’s not scared of LeBron, I want to let (James) know. I guess he’s doing it for his own psyche. It’s stupid.’ […] ‘I’m all for standing up for your guys but certain things you just can’t keep doing,’ Wade said. ‘My message to Granger was that you just can’t keep running up into people’s faces for altercations. We’re not fighting on this basketball court so let’s not act like we’re going to fight. We can be physical and do all that but certain things got to stop. Are you out here to play basketball or are you out here to be a tough guy?’ […] Before Game 4 Granger said: ‘We just want each other to know it’s going to be an intense battle, and it’s going to be a fight.’ James seems to disagree. ‘Nobody is fighting on the basketball court, c’mon,’ James said. ‘I’m not going to fight because I mean too much to our team and I can’t afford to be suspended for a game or do something stupid to get thrown out of a playoff game.’”

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  • http://www.slamonline.com Red

    In other words, you damn lucky we’re on the basketball court.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    His tactics are borderline stupid, borderline smart. He should be showing he’s not scared (if he’s really the Pacers leader), but he shouldn’t be acting like he’s going to actually start a fight. That doesn’t do anything

  • http://www.newyorkshockexchange.com Shock Exchange

    Danny Granger is the type to get gully in a crowd or when he’s around his people. He knows he doesn’t want it. He would learn the true meaning of “pimp hand.” Lebron’s hand print would be permanently affixed to Granger’s cheek.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    Kinda disappointed in Granger in this series. This was his chance to let the world know he’s nice, and besides the fact that he’s playing like hot garbage, the fake tough guy act is lame as h3ll. Haven’t seen once instance where LeBron or Wades actions have warranted his responses. And now that he sees that he can’t bait Lebron, he should cut it out and just play ball.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Yeah, Bron is scared of Granger. Don’t ya’ll know?!
    LOL

  • http://kb24.com x-DrEw_MaiN-x

    Danny Granger == Ray J rant

  • http://www.newyorkshockexchange.com Shock Exchange

    x-DrEw_MaiN-x So you saying Danny Granger’s back in Vegas on the piano singing “One Wish” for Fiddy and Floyd Mayweather? You wild.

  • Rainman

    Danny granger has always been a fake tough guy, always getting into stupid fights where he all of a sudden is more eager to fight right when his teammates and/or the refs gets between him and whoever he pissed off, Im a suns fan, he’s tried it on a sun player numerrouss times, its a joke. Plus he playin like crap.

  • Marc

    LOL @x-DrEw_MaiN-x

  • http://nba.com GP23

    Danny Granger is clearly threatened by LeBron, and insanely jealous of him.

  • SixURRRS

    Danny Granger went from being a promising future star in 2008 to being a skinny Kenyon Martin. His scoring averages back then was clearly the case of a decent player being on an awful team. That’s clear as day now.

  • everything

    Danny Granger wants to be hated too. He did choke in that game vs orlando but no one seems to call him out for that. yep he is jealous. He is like the poor man’s injured reggie miller. ok thats mean

  • http://slamonline.com dma

    ^ Everything – chris duhon’s travel dance called him out for that enough.

  • fruizm

    Granger was about to get beat up by regular Magic fans in Orlando…so calm down Granger!

  • everything

    LOL i remember that

  • Hollywood26

    So people actually think that LeBron is a tough guy now?? Really? LOL

  • CDaTyrant

    well the law of averages say thos who talk the talk usually can NEVER walk the walk he lucky david west on his squad.

  • http://www.soundcloud.com/tray-5 T-Ray

    Tougher than Grangers studio gangster ass

  • everything

    @Hollywood26: nah people just tired of this act granger is trying to pull

  • http://thahiphopcorner.com Kevin

    Why do everybody assume Danny Granger is fake? Dude from New Orleans, aint many fake people down there

  • IamYOU

    On Lion of Oz’ voice
    Granger: Put em’ up! Put ‘em up!

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Does it really matter? Wade and Bron should just ignore him if they think it’s bogus. Plus, with Wade committing suspension worthy flagrant fouls on people, I can see why Granger is pissed. It’s stupid, but it’s not really hurting anyone.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Y’all don’t really know about Danny Granger though. Dude is from one of the roughest neighborhoods in the country (Metairie, La.). From Danny Granger “We had train tracks that ran through the neighborhood, maybe 200 yards from my house, a small, grassy area, and people were always finding bodies there.” – And I do believe he’s been shot lol. Can’t come from a much tougher back ground than that, in the US.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    It doesn’t matter but it just looks silly. And Granger’s main issue seems to be with LeBron, even though, by all accounts, Lebron hasn’t done anything to him.

    @Kevin, I assume he’s fake because you’re only allowed to angrily jumped into a guys face, without actually hitting him, 2 times. If you don’t swing the 3rd time around, you’re a fake thug.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Metairie is not one of the toughest areas in the country. That is a freaking suburb of New Orleans. I have no idea what part of Metairie he lived in, and there are some rough parts, but murders in Metairie are very unusual.
    I live in New Orleans. I cover crime in New Orleans. I approve this message.

  • t-sizzle

    I would act tough too if I had David West backing me up

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    I have to agree with dfrance’s last statement. None of them will be on the court fighting so all of the posturing looks foolish. Tough guys get in other dudes’ faces when there aren’t cameras around or teammates and security to break it up. I understand the need to stand up for your guys, but Granger is trying extra hard to convince everyone he’s tough and it just looks stupid.

  • WEASAL

    Inknow yall from new york/miami cant handle it but hes just doing what number 31 used to and lebron is an easy target

  • Fat Lever

    Let’s be real. You’re not going to get a Chris Childs-Kobe type of altercation nowadays. So all this posturing, “sticking ya chest out/actin like ya in control” needs to stop. Just play the game.

  • LA Huey

    I like the WWE antics from anybody. It’s entertaining and it helps identify the ballers and the Spikes.

  • http://www.newyorkshockexchange.com Shock Exchange

    Other people have also survived tough environments. A big part of “surviving” is knowing a real gangster from someone simply “selling woof tickets.”

  • http://www.borntocompete.com Money$hot

    He’s trying tp get into yo head video game!! He is using a cheap code.

  • lakernation

    Danny Granger is no punk, I’m from New Orleans grew up in Algiers lived uptown in the Melph… Played basketball for OPW in 96-98, Granger was a Sophmore at Grace King my Senior year. although I didnt know dude but i can tell you this, just because he lived in Jefferson Parish dont make you weak…. co-sign that! I got ppl in Metairie its not like a suburb anywhere else. ITS NEW ORLEANS!

  • bike

    He’s geeting called for technical fouls so he’s not getting away with anything unpunished.
    The fact that LeBron is even talking about it suggests to some degree it is working.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Allen I got that from an Indianapolis tribune story… So idk what to say

  • ALD

    Danny G just wants LBJ to stop throwing elbows.. He did it twice!! lol but he should stop tryna fight tho… But i wish danny g would play like he did when he was MIP!!

  • Ldub

    I understand what Granger is “trying” to do…but I dont get it at the same time. Here you are, the Pacers best player, and youre getting in the face of James and Wade for what? Because you jumped all on LBJ’s back, and pulled his jersey and then Hibbert held on to Wades wrist and he swung his arm to let go? The techs were completely stupid and that shows the lack of maturity Granger has. Now, instead of being able to play as hard as you like, you have 1 tech under you belt and you gotta play a little bit softer. You cant react the way you would like to and in game 4…you basically pissed off a struggling Wade. Who (if i am correct) was like 2 for 8 at that point? What happened next? Ummmm 10 straight makes from Flash! Understand that both Wade and James have been in the playoffs and deep too. Therefore the little antics of trying to get in their heads dont work. Especially when they realize their own worth to the team! If Wade or James warranted the face to face conflict then by all means, make it happen…but when you and your team mate were the cause of the foul…legitimate “Ray Charles could have seen them” fouls…you dont put urself or ur team in harms way by potentially getting kicked out!

  • http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/3183/tex-winter-compares-kobe-bryant-and-michael-jordan Allenp

    Lakernation
    You can be hard anywhere.
    But Metairie is not one of the toughest places in the country. Come on man. They probably have fewer than 20 murders a year in Metairie. Metairie is where all the white people who left New Orleans moved before they moved to St. Tammany Parish.
    Grace King ain’t even a “tough” school in Jefferson Parish.
    I don’t know whether Granger is tough or not, but I know Metairie isn’t one of hte most dangerous places in America by any stretch of the imagination. That’s ludicrous.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I believe you Allen…you know anything about dude’s history? BC said he has been shot. Not saying that makes him tough, but that did make me believe he’s from a rough background. That and that story I quoted.

  • lakernation

    I understand that but what i’m trying to say is he is from new Orleans period, who says im from metairie …gretna ….harvey …westwego? He is apart of New Orleans culture no matter how you look at metairie…. Our mindset is different. You gotta understand it to know what im talking about. Im in the military now and been all over so I know New Orleans when I see New Orleans if you digg what i’m saying.

  • lakernation

    last comment was for Allenp

  • MJ

    Dear Fanny Danger (LMFAO)

    OOOO your so scary…especially those two scary stats 39% FG pct and 33% from 3, please be gentle on Bron and Wade you are way too much of a man, don’t hurt them please.

    The word is out Fanny lacks skills but boy he will pound you…your are hysterical good luck with your antics hopefully that will help you improve your 13.2 PER (average player = 15%) in these playoffs…

    As Bugs Bunny used to say what a maroon!!!

  • http://nba.com GP23

    Baltimore, Compton and Harlem are probably some of the toughest parts of America.

  • bike

    Where one hails from is at best, loosely correlated with how ‘tough’ you are.

  • lou

    Grangers “tactics” are perfectly normal for the under dog! He’s not afraid of Lebron or the Heat, Granger hasn’t put up his hands to fight nobody he just gets in their face, them pretty boy heat dudes don’t like that! and Dwade Needs to shut his mouth after what he did to collison game 2 that foul isnt even legal in football

  • http://www.slamonline.com Red

    Chicago doe.

  • SixURRRS

    Iverson’s upbringing was way tougher than Granger and he didn’t walk around the foul line looking for fights (not even to guards who were his size) because people already knew and respected his toughness by how he played. Granger is insecure with his NBA reputation. “Hey look at me i’m gonna be tough this month!!!”

  • T-Money

    harlem’s not that rough anymore. gentrified as a mother.

  • Red Star

    Wow! I actually agree with LeBron!

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    When is the last time you been to Harlem? With the exception of a few blocks here and there it’s still Harlem. Gentrification is still in it’s beginning stages there. Far from widespread…Personally, I don’t care where anyone is from. I was born and raised in the projects in Bed-Stuy and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be a punk even if I were from the ‘burbs, though my education makes me far from a thug. It’s the whole nature vs. nurture argument, which will never be solved. I’ve been to areas in the Dominican Republic and South Africa that will have the toughest U.S so-called tough guy pee his pants so I can’t really look at any of these NBA dudes like they’re anything but NBA players. Standing in some dude’s face with no intentions of throwing a punch isn’t tough.

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