Heat notes: Granger has different perspective on Pacers rivalry

MIAMI -- Anyone who watched the Miami Heat's playoff battles against the Indiana Pacers over the years knew it was an intense rivalry born primarily out of competitiveness.

Sure, there was respect for the other side but there was also plenty of bad blood mixed in with hard fouls, chippy plays and harsh words spoken on and off the court.

With one of those main players now on the Heat's side and the Pacers coming to town to play the Heat on Wednesday, newcomer Danny Granger could only smile when asked after Tuesday's practice about the rivalry.

"It was intense, I'm not going to lie," he said of his time with Indiana. "We did not like the Miami Heat. It was nothing personal, that's the way it was. They had beat us a few years in a row and it was kind of that mountain that we were trying to get over at that time. It was a lot of dislike, I'll just leave it at that. I'm sure they didn't like us either."

Granger drew technical fouls in three consecutive games during their infamous Eastern Conference semifinals clash during the 2012 NBA playoffs while Udonis Haslem drew a suspension in Game 6 for a retaliatory hard foul on former Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough. More bad blood continued when the Heat outlasted the Pacers in seven games the following year in the conference finals as well as last season, when the Heat eliminated the Pacers once again to advance to the NBA Finals.

Both teams since then have changed dramatically. The Heat, of course, lost LeBron James in free agency and subsequently re-tooled their roster while the Pacers suffered the loss of both Paul George to a devastating leg injury over the summer and Lance Stephenson left the team to sign with the Charlotte Hornets.

Even though several names on the backs of the jerseys have changed, Chris Bosh still has plenty of respect for the Heat's longtime nemesis.

"It's still there," he said of the rivalry. "These two organizations have been fighting for a long time to try to get to the top. They still have their core group of guys together -- even though a bunch of them are out right now -- they're still a very strong team, especially when they get Paul back. They're going to be tough and they're going to stay the same organization they've always been."

BOSH EMBRACING ROLE

Through seven games, the one constant for Miami has been the steady play of Bosh on both ends of the floor.

Although it's a small sample size, his averages of 23.6 points and 10.3 rebounds are his highest numbers since his last season with the Toronto Raptors. Along with his spike in touches and shot attempts, there's much more than meets the eye that has led to his increased production and plenty of it has to do with what he absorbed in the four prior seasons in Miami.

"Just as far as knowing what to expect," he said. "Knowing how to prepare my mind and my body for everything ahead and really just knowing how to talk to guys, being a decent leader and just trying to make sure I give them what they need every night."

Bosh has repeatedly said he's a better player than he was in Toronto and didn't hesitate at Tuesday's practice to list the several ways in which he's improved his game such as his increased shooting range and his leadership abilities. Beyond his individual numbers, however, is the drive to be successful.

"I just wanted to be more of a consistent player and I wanted to translate it to more wins," he said. "That's what I'm focused about. I'm here now, I'm trying to lead this team to a bunch of victories and competing at a high level and that's what it's about."

INJURY UPDATE

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra indicated that Granger's conditioning was steadily improving as he rehabs his sore hamstring. Even though he said Granger would be available, he stopped short of confirming that Granger would definitely play against his former team on Wednesday.

Chris Andersen was much more active in practice on Tuesday and was able to complete the entire session including contact. During the portion of practice that was open to media, Andersen was busy firing 3-pointers with team trainers and looked healthy.

One player who will certainly miss Wednesday's game is center Justin Hamilton, who remains day-to-day with a groin injury. Spoelstra said Hamilton increased his workload on the court but is not ready for contact.

You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.