Safe to say Andre Roberson is the best defender in the League?

KyrieEarthing · Post #21 » by **KyrieEarthing** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 5:25 am

Roberson is good not great. But the thunder bench is terrible not bad.

They can't win many games without him

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NBAFan93 · Post #22 » by **NBAFan93** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 5:44 am

He’s very good. His defense is why he makes 10 mil a year in the NBA w/ shooting and FT ability worse than most of us on this board (or at least most of us when we were in our primes

)...

I’m not sure the Thunder would have won tonight’s game if he wasn’t injured (OKC players were all such a mess in the second half I think it was more dumb turnovers/plays and bad shooting than bad defense that caused their downfall), but they definitely would have won Washington and Denver games with him. It really sucks he’s injured and I hope Presti is working on some type of temporary help/fill-in by the deadline.

Adam Stern · Post #23 » by **Adam Stern** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 5:45 am

I think there is a better argument for Robeson as the most impactful defender in the league.

Djh7475 · Post #24 » by **Djh7475** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 6:01 am

It’s hard to say he’s the best just because there are a lot of incredible defenders in the league right now. He’s certainly elite, but would I say that he’s for sure better than the following: Kawai when healthy, Draymond, Marcus Smart, Covington, Jimmy Butler? Not for sure, but he’s in the mix. I find that versatile elite-level wing defenders that can switch everything are slowly becoming more valuable defensively than slow-footed rim protecting bigs.

However, if an elite versatile wing defender is surrounded by a bunch of undersized defensive seives, having a Gobert-type big man holds more value. The Celtics have been so successful defensively because Rozier, Smart, Jaylen, Tatum, Morris, and Horford are all great to elite defenders that switch everything and Baynes and Theiss tie it all together with size and rim protection. If the Celtics replace Horford with Gobert, I actually think their defense gets worse because of how differently we’d have to play. Gobert is a better defender, but a team full of switchy defenders needs a Draymond/Horford type that can switch at will.

I’m not sure if OKC runs a switch-heavy defense, but if so, losing Roberson is huge. He’s extremely versatile and elite defensively, and one defensive hole in a switch-heavy defense can be exploited to death. Replacing him with Avery Bradley won’t help because AB and Russ is too small of a backcourt to run that type of defensive system. Roberson and PG at the 2 and 3 gives plenty of size and versatility while Adams is mobile enough to tie a switchy defense together.

Russ is athletic and strong enough to handle most switching situations, and Melo is the right size/strength to at least be passable if surrounded by that sort of supporting cast. OKC would be better off defensively if they tried to acquire Smart since he routinely guards the 1-4 and even has some success against skinnier 5’s. That type of defensive impact and versatility is hard to come by, but Smart is about as close to Roberson as a player can get but with better playmaking ability and not as much size/length.

Gus McCrae · Post #25 » by **Gus McCrae** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 6:13 am

I'll say this. I didn't realize how much his injury impacted the thunder but when I watched the OKC/DEN game the whole time I was thinking...man if they could throw Roberson on Murray and shut him down this game would be over. Instead I was treated to Jeremy Grant low IQ basketball and Murray owning Westbrook. OKC wins that game for sure if they throw a defensive specialist on Murray.

rocketsfan100 · Post #26 » by **rocketsfan100** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 6:44 am

Only guy in the league that gives Harden problems at times.

wfiles · Post #27 » by **wfiles** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 7:01 am

Did Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Rudy Gobert died? :lol:

GregOden · Post #28 » by **GregOden** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 7:07 am

Scottie Pippen without the rebounding or scoring or passing

dodongo · Post #29 » by **dodongo** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 7:14 am

should have been DPOY :'(

tribulations · Post #30 » by **tribulations** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 7:55 am

Does Tony Allen have anything left in the tank? OKC need another defensive orientated wing.

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RalphSampsonJr · Post #31 » by **RalphSampsonJr** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 10:33 am

Best wing defender THIS SEASON. OKC fall aprt without him.
To be that bad on offense and still be that important in a starting NBA line up tells you all you need to know

_AIJ_ · Post #32 » by **_AIJ_** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 11:02 am

No. And hes useless on offense. Come on. Best in the league?

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Post #33 » by **magnumt** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 11:20 am

Gil wrote:OKC are elite defensively with him & one of the worst defensive teams in the League without him. 3 game losing streak since he went down & are 4-8 overall in games he's missed.

One of the most underrated players in the League & OKC's Draymond. People that claim he shouldn't be in the League because he can't shoot Free Throws should hang their head in shame.

Kawhi Leonard & Tony Allen disagree.

--Mags :beer:

batmana · Post #34 » by **batmana** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 11:29 am

Well, for what it's worth I had Roberson as my front-runner for DPoY before the injury. He's been amazing this season, to the point where his offensive ineptitude is almost unnoticeable. It will definitely hurt OKC's chances.

r0drig0lac · Post #35 » by **r0drig0lac** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 2:28 pm

KyrieEarthing wrote:You can game plan for a great defender. You can pull whiteside out of the paint by playing a stretch 5.

You can take Roberson out of the play by parking his man in the corner.

You can set picks on Chris Paul to stop him from harassing your ball handler.

Ultimately a team full of solid defenders is more important than an ELITE defender. A defense is like a chain link fence. Only as strong as your weakest link. You can have Chris Paul, Roberson, and Sefolosha but I'm still gonna put Enes Kanter in the pick n roll.

When a team has Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Horford on the court there is no weak link to pick on. That leads to contested midrange jumpers and lots of defensive rebounds.

Defense is significantly underrated on this board but it's MORE IMPORTANT to be solid across the board then have a guy who is great defensively but leaves you playing 4 on 5 on offense like Roberson.

But without him the thunder are nothing. They obviously have to make a deadline deal or they are meat. Not even red meat. Like flies circling rancid meat.

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nice

KayDee35 · Post #36 » by **KayDee35** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 3:19 pm

Asian Celtic wrote:OKC should get Smart while he's available IMO

Post #37 » by **Dadouv47** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 3:27 pm

Elite defender for sure. Also very important for our transition offense. We are screwed because our bench is so bad that no one can bring near 50% of what Roberson brought to our team.

ronnymac2 · Post #38 » by **ronnymac2** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 3:37 pm

He's a monster defender. Roberson/George/Adams is probably the best defensive trio in the NBA. I was of the opinion that the biggest threat to GSW was OKC before the Roberson injury. Sucks that he went down.

Brt19 · Post #39 » by **Brt19** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 3:58 pm

KyrieEarthing wrote:Roberson is good not great. But the thunder bench is terrible not bad.

They can't win many games without him

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He is great

KyrieEarthing · Post #40 » by **KyrieEarthing** » Sat Feb 3, 2018 4:22 pm

Brt19 wrote:
KyrieEarthing wrote:Roberson is good not great. But the thunder bench is terrible not bad.

They can't win many games without him

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He is great

Nah. He is such a terrible offensive player that it negates a lot of his defense

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