will hibbert be a howard stopper?

[billbradley]

i posted this in the ecf thread, then thought it could be a poll.

http://www.cleveland.com/

Monday Thoughts - June 1, 2009
Michael Curry

- Am I the only one who is thinking back to the 2008 NBA Draft and wishing Roy Hibbert had fallen to the Cavaliers at the 19th pick? Hibbert is one of the few players with the size to give Dwight Howard problems, and he went to Indiana with the 17th pick. I don't think there's any chance that the Pacers would part with him now, but there aren't many big men out there that are even possibilities.

hibbert's best game vs howard

R. Hibbert 14:58 6-10 (FT) 0-0 12 points 4 reb (BS)2 (TO)0
D. Howard 29:15 7-14 (FT)8-10 22 points 10 reb (BS)2 (TO)6

[Hicks]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Never, and that's not really me criticizing Hibbert, but this is just an unfair question to ask of any center. It's like asking about a Shaq stopper circa the late 90's early 2000's.

[Coop]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

I voted 'never' as well. I think he has the potential to do a better job than a lot of big men in the East, but there's no way he's going to stop Dwight.

[OakMoses]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Do I think Hibbert can do a good job defending Howard in the low post? Yes.

Do I think Hibbert can stop Howard from dominating the boards and making a huge impact defensively? Not a chance.

[d_c]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

There isn't going to be a Dwight stopper and it'd be unfair to Hibbert to expect that out of him.

The closest guy right now is Kendrick Perkins. I thought that guy did an amazing job on Howard, and he did it mostly one on one, without any double team help. He forced Howard into a lot of shots falling away from the basket thoughout that series.

That's about all you can ask out of anyone trying to guard him.

[OakMoses]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

There isn't going to be a Dwight stopper and it'd be unfair to Hibbert to expect that out of him.

The closest guy right now is Kendrick Perkins. I thought that guy did an amazing job on Howard, and he did it mostly one on one, without any double team help. He forced Howard into a lot of shots falling away from the basket thoughout that series.

That's about all you can ask out of anyone trying to guard him.

I was thinking the same thing about Perkins. Howard did average only 16 points a game during the Boston series on 54% shooting. Both are lower than his regular season averages.

[Swingman]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

what constitutes a howard stopper? The question is too vague and can have multiple interpretations.

Do you mean "Can he consistently take Howard out of his game to the point of being ineffective?" highly unlikely (at least until Howard is slowed by old age or injured)

or

"Can he slow him down enough so that he has a subpar game by Howard's standards and do a better job than most other big men in the NBA?" quite possibly

On certain nights, you never know what will happen but I don't think we can expect Hibbert to completely shut him down on any kind of consistent basis.

[ABADays]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Never, and that's not really me criticizing Hibbert, but this is just an unfair question to ask of any center. It's like asking about a Shaq stopper circa the late 90's early 2000's.

Absolutely correct.

[BlueNGold]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Howard is no Shaq, but this is like asking if Travis Diener could contain CP3. Hibbert is simply not going to be a defensive force. The best thing we can ask from Hibbert is that he become another Rik Smits...who was not a good defender either. At best, he will be adequate which leads to the obvious. He needs to be paired with a Dale Davis type player...or the closest thing the Pacers can acquire in that direction. Hibbert can be an important part of a good team, but he will never be good at protecting the paint.

[Swingman]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Why wouldn't he be good at protecting the paint?

Hibbert may be like Smits on offense but that doesn't mean he'll be as limited defensively. Hibbert seems to have all the tools to be a good defender. It's not like he's an uncoordinated, molasses that has no drive to improve his game.

Never is such a very long time and Hibbert just finished his rookie season.

[Trophy]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

We were able to stop Magic last season. I wouldn't say Hibbert was a Dwight Howard stopper he still had a pretty good game. We just had a good shooting night and were prepared for their shooting.

[Tiny Archibald]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

What Perkins did a great job with is using his bulk to keep Howard
from getting the kind of deep position that he likes.

I don't see Hibbs ever having the heft or a low enough center of
gravity to ever accomplish that.

[Kid Minneapolis]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Howard is only 23 --- I get the feeling he still has a lot to improve and will. That's the scary part.

[jmoney2584]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

Yea, I too think Hibbert/Smits is a bad comparison. I think most modern Pacers fans have known Rik Smits as the only legit, all-star center the Pacers have had and Roy is going to be unfairly compared to him since he is our first young center prospect in ages. Hibbert did a great job vs. Oden in college, and as he fills out and develops in this league I feel confident that his defensive abilities will surely exceed that of Rik Smits. At the end of the year Roy had some tough, hustle plays that suprised the bejeezus out of me. Roy has a lot between the ears and when you combine that with his impending physical development you have a 7'2" center that while isn't the most athletic player on the court, contributing his size and length to a TEAM defensive concept will be exponentially beneficial to future title hopes AND he will be a serviceable 1-on-1 defender as well. No one is going to STOP Dwight Howard, but when Hibbert gets stronger he wil certainly be able to bother him with his length and positioning.

[dohman]

Re: will hibbert be a howard stopper?

In another 2 years there will be no one in the world that will be able to stop howard. With his build / athletic ability he is going to be the best big man in the nba for a VERY VERY long time.

Hibbert will be a good player though. I can honestly see him at 16 ppg and 6-7 rebounds a night.