Roy Hibbert Discussion 2015-16: No Buyout

In a three year span with Hibbert as their anchor, they won 64% of their regular season games and won 55% of their playoff games. They were the #1 team in defensive rating in two of those seasons. I don't see that he cannot be the starting center on a competitor.

 

I think he can as well because even though he isn't a big offensive threat he can still average 10-12 points and has a nice jumper. And most importantly for a contending team IMO on the offensive side, he can be on the floor to close games because he can make his free throws. On defense he is good, but he needs help and for guys to play smart team D. Last night the effort on D was maybe the best I've seen all season from our perimeter guys. Guys were staying with their men, but rotating, collapsing in the paint when they could (even caused a turnover or 2 this way walling off a player's drive, think it was actually Kobe's help on that play) while someone still covered the shooter outside, it was like I was watching a different team. This allowed Hibbert to just do his job down low, and talk out there on D and guys seemed to be listening, and he looked more energized because of it. I dunno, maybe a lot of this was just me, but that's what I took away from that performance.

 

I have mixed feelings about Hibbert but overall very positive. I love his attitude off the court, helping the young guys out. He's a great locker room guy. He's a great rim protector as we all know but he has his faults. He's slow, so his pick and roll coverage isn't great. He's also about as bad offensively as he is good defensively as a rim protector.

 

I don't know, that 10-15 footer is money

 

I agree and the price tag is the biggest thing to me. Yes, we have loads of money to spend this upcoming off-season but the differences (pros & cons) of both Hibbert and Whiteside are not worth the incredible differences in pay they are expected to receive. Sign me up with Hibbert any day.

O and him hitting free throws at 85%+ is very nice (added bonus)

With this said, I do agree that I'm not sold that he should be a starter for our young players.

 

Yeah the Pacers were pretty good, but I'm not sold he's the right fit on a championship level team. I really do like him though and if we can get him at a solid price while filling out other needs, then we could certainly do worse.

 

And thats all he has. He has no post up game, he can't roll to the basket, can't finish, has stone hands. I like him but he's a liability on offense.