Sunday night, in the Pacers win over the Bulls that may have been the dagger shot in them winning the central division, Danny Granger played eight minutes in the first half. He didn’t see the court in the second half.

This was the second straight game Granger didn’t see the court in the second half.

That is concerning, especially when you add in this note from the Indianapolis Star.

Granger played 10 minutes in the first half against the Toronto Raptors on Friday before being shutdown with “above average soreness” in his knee.

The Pacers have hit their stride and moved up to the two seed in the East right now (passing the Knicks, who fell to the Heat Sunday). Roy Hibbert has been playing better as of late, looking like himself from last season, which is key. His size, David West’s ability to score inside and stretch the floor, plus the Pacers athletic defenders make them the toughest matchup for Miami in the East.

But if they are going to be a real threat to the Heat they need everybody scoring and playing well, and that includes Granger. The fact he is getting soreness like this in very limited minutes makes you wonder what kind of a role he can really play going forward? Can he even be an effective sixth man? Indy needs him to be at least that by the playoffs.