Granger says he will not make debut Friday

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger said he's "literally day-to-day" with his return from an injured left calf, but today won't be the day, he said after Thursday's practice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

"I don't like where I'm at with my timing and my rhythm and obviously my conditioning," he said. "I don't think I will (play) Friday.

"I practiced today, a full-on practice, but I don't feel like I'm ready yet. I dribbled the ball off my foot a couple of times, just things you do when you haven't played. (I) lost the ball in transition on a pass. My rhythm isn't there yet."

Granger said he's had no physical setback.

"No, no, no," he said. "Just all game legs. I'm not going to go on the court until I'm ready."

Granger hasn't played since the fifth preseason game Oct. 18. He missed all but five games last year with an injured left knee. He said earlier this week that there was "a good chance" he'd play against Charlotte.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Granger's conditioning is as important to his return as the calf.

"He's got to get back to all the things — conditioning, timing," he said. "We'll sit down and we'll meet and figure out when the best time is."

Tonight made sense because Charlotte is one of the Eastern Conference's mid-pack teams — the Bobcats are 10-12, the fifth-best record in the conference — and it's a home game with familiar surroundings. The Pacers (19-3) are unbeaten at the fieldhouse this season (10-0).

Vogel said the franchise won't rush Granger back before he's ready.

"I think we're excited about (his return), but I don't think we're overly eager," he said. "I think we're excited about what Danny will bring to this team; he strengthens everything we're doing.

"We've got to be smart about it, make sure it's the right time. We've got to make sure his calf is healed and his timing and conditioning is up to speed."

Granger was an NBA All-Star in 2009 and the team's leading scorer for five seasons. Paul George, who has become the Pacers' go-to player in Granger's absence, said the 6-9 veteran will add a key piece when he returns.

"I think all the things we've been lacking as far as offensive execution — us having a dip in offensive numbers — (his return) will lift us from all of that," George said.

Granger looked solid in the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, cutting hard and defending with the same voracity his teammates have shown this season.

Granger practiced some with the first unit and spent time with the second too. After the Pacers beat Miami 90-84 on Tuesday, Heat forward LeBron James seemed to think Granger fit better with the second unit because of the first unit's cohesiveness.

"They're a starting-lineup team; plus-90 (in efficiency) for a reason," James said.

If Granger returns and starts, Lance Stephenson would be the one to play off the bench. Granger said he is close to putting Vogel in a position to make a decision.

"By all means I could physically play, easily," Granger said. "But like I said, it's more of a rhythm thing. When you're playing at those types of speeds you have to do it for a while to get used to it again."

Granger said he's played five-on-five the past two days. He said his shot hasn't been compromised.

"The shot's always there, it's just getting your legs into the shot," he said. "That's where the conditioning comes in.

"There's a big difference between shooting and running up and down the court four times and then shooting the jump shot. That's what you have to condition your body for."

Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409.

BOBCATS AT PACERS

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

TV: Fox Sports Indiana

Radio: WFNI-107.5 FM, 1070-AM

THE BOBCATS (10-12)

Pos. Player Pts Key stat PG Kemba Walker 17.0 4.5 apg SG Gerald Henderson 15.0 4.6 rpg SF Josh McRoberts 8.5 5.8 rpg PF Jeff Taylor 8.5 2.4 rpg C Al Jefferson 15.1 9.2 rpg

THE PACERS (19-3)

Pos. Player Pts Key stat PG George Hill 11.3 4.1 apg SG Lance Stephenson 12.1 6.2 rpg SF Paul George 24.7 5.7 rpg PF David West 13.0 7.2 rpg C Roy Hibbert 13.0 9.0 rpg

Welcome home: The Bobcats bring Washington High School and Indiana University standout Cody Zeller, the No. 4 pick in the recent draft. Zeller is averaging 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds. Not to be overlooked is former Pacer Josh McRoberts (Carmel).

Good to be home: The Pacers are one of two NBA teams unbeaten at home (Oklahoma City is the other, both 10-0). The Pacers' schedule softens heading to the holidays with four of the next five games at the fieldhouse against three sub.-500 teams; Charlotte, Detroit and Boston. The road game in the stretch is at Miami.

On the Bobcats: Former Kentucky standout Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is out four to six weeks with a fractured left hand. The starting backcourt of Walker and Henderson had averaged 38.0 points in December before going 7-of-32 for 22 points in Wednesday's 92-83 home loss to Orlando.

Prediction: Pacers by 25, the same margin they had over the Bobcats in a Nov. 27 game in Charlotte (99-74).

— Curt Cavin