NBA
Thunder Look to Leap Defensively with Roberson’s Return
During the 2017-18 NBA regular season, Andre Roberson undoubtedly proved he’s worth to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s organization. As the starting shooting guard for one of the most entertaining teams in basketball, Roberson has received his fair share of criticism from analysts and fans alike. The sixth year, 6-7 guard out of Colorado is well known for being a below-average shooter. He has averaged a modest 4.6 PPG for his career, and even occasionally missing the entire rim on free throw attempts.
However, Roberson has more than made up for himself on the opposite end of the court. Despite his abysmal, and relatively frequent, offensive performances over the past few years. He is highly regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders throughout the league. Additionally, he is often tasked with picking up the opposing team’s most skilled guard on a nightly basis. Something which is no easy feat.
Andre Roberson
Roberson plays the passing lanes with the anticipation of a hawk. He also sets elite off-ball screens to assist his teammates in getting open. He also does the so called “dirty work” for the Thunder. Front offices value players who are willing to do the little things that they might not be credited for when the buzzer sounds, as long as it means helping their team win. You know, like hustling for loose balls, boxing out opposing players, or setting off-ball screens like I mentioned earlier. For Oklahoma City, that player is Andre Roberson.
The Thunder were on a six game win streak (going on 7), when Roberson landed freakishly in the 3rd quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 27th and ruptured his left patellar tendon. The lack of Roberson’s defensive presence was felt almost immediately by the Thunder. They went on to lose 6 of their next 9 games. Additionally, their defensive rating fell to 112.3. This latter was good for 27th in the entire NBA.
Roberson underwent successful surgery to repair the left patellar tendon in late January of 2018. Now, almost 9 months later, the Thunder’s lockdown shooting guard has recently been spotted running full speed on a treadmill. He is also prepping to be ready for the start of the 2018-19 season. OKC will look to regain its title as one of the elite defensive teams amongst the NBA, and compete for their ultimate goal, an NBA championship.
