We're lucky...

[writerman]

despite the poor season we're having to date, we should count ourselves lucky. It appears we've got a gem at one of the two most difficult positions to fill.

In Roy Hibbert, I believe we've got ourselves something we haven't had in a long time--a genuine five with the talent to serve the needs of this team for at least a decade, maybe more.
That puts us ahead of quite a few teams in this league--including quite a few who currently are considered to be among the better teams.

He's got to keep working on improving his game, to be sure--but he's evidently got the work ethic and desire to learn, that, barring career ending or limiting injury, is going to make that happen.

Despite some inconsistency--and he's becoming more consistent--he's money offensively in the paint as well as a force to be reckoned with defensively there. He even converts his free throws at a respectable rate for a big. He's already a decent rebounder, and I think he's going to get better. He's also already a pretty good passer from what I've seen, and as he improves that aspect of his game our perimeter guys are really going to prosper.

We need to get a quality PG--and we may even already have that in Price--and I think we have the supporting cast for this team to rise rapidly in the standings next year or at most in two years.

I love to see a team with a genuinely top-quality center--and though I'm not commissioning a statue of RH for the HOF at this point in his career, it's exciting to think that it looks like my team actually has one.

Comments?

[kdawg531]

I love Big Roy.

With time, he will hopefully get his fouling problem under control and improve his lateral quickness.

[Dunthreevy]

My main issue with Roy is how soft he plays when he's at the basket. I've had about enough of him going for layups or getting his shots blocked by guys that have no business even bothering the shot of a guy 7'2". Other than that, I'm all over the Roy Hibbert bandwagon and I really do like the guy.

[Gremz]

My main issue with Roy is how soft he plays when he's at the basket. I've had about enough of him going for layups or getting his shots blocked by guys that have no business even bothering the shot of a guy 7'2". Other than that, I'm all over the Roy Hibbert bandwagon and I really do like the guy.

Yeah that's a good point. I've seen some brilliant footwork from him at times and he has the size and tools to get himself some much better looks than he settles for. I think he might be locked in a rhythm that has been attributed to his improvement. While it's not a bad thing, I too would like to see him bruise a bit more.

[mizzoupacers]

Best thing to come out of this season so far is that Hibbert is looking like a legit NBA center. As noted, there's room for improvement still, but up to this point he's exceeding my expectations for him.

[Starkiller]

I am liking Roy. I am not expecting him to be the next coming of Shaq or anything like that, but if he ends up being on the level of an Andrew Bogut or Andries Biedrins, I'd be really happy w/ that.

[writerman]

I am liking Roy. I am not expecting him to be the next coming of Shaq or anything like that, but if he ends up being on the level of an Andrew Bogut or Andries Biedrins, I'd be really happy w/ that.

I'll be honest--in the long run, I expect him to be better than that. While he's no Shaq, I think you're setting expectations for him too low. If he continues to improve, I think his being an all-star more than once is a definite possibility.

[kdawg531]

I think we can compare him to Rik Smits. Hibbert is more athletic, both are pretty goofy in my opinion.

Smits had a better rookie season, but a big reason Hibbert wasn't more productive was because of his foul troubles.

Smits was consistent throughout his career, but when it's all said and done, I expect Roy to have a much better career.

[Miller4ever]

Hibbert's defense alone (barring fouls) is better than Smits'

As to him being better than Bogut, have you seen Bogut recently? I'm not saying Roy won't be better, but I'm saying that if Roy is in the same tier as Bogut, it wouldn't be bad at all. It would be awesome to have 15-10-2 every night.

[Starkiller]

Plus, did you see Biedrins today? Wow! If we can get games like that out of Hibbert no way you can be mad at that.

[Gremz]

Hibbert's defense alone (barring fouls) is better than Smits'

As to him being better than Bogut, have you seen Bogut recently? I'm not saying Roy won't be better, but I'm saying that if Roy is in the same tier as Bogut, it wouldn't be bad at all. It would be awesome to have 15-10-2 every night.

That's what I'm hopiong he can routinely average. I'm sure he can be a 2-3 apg guy also. His passing out of the low post has impressed me.

[writerman]

I think he will be a consistent 15-10 guy (like Bogut currently) or maybe better, average a couple of blocks or a little more, and 2-4 assists, but play better defense than either of those guys mentioned.