Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

[Peck]

Now understand I'm not asking who is the better player, this is specifically who is more important to the team in general. You may argue that the better player is more valuable and that is fine.

Also we are only going to consider these two for this debate because I know that there will be some David West's thrown out there as well. But let's just limit this to these two for the moment.

Basically this is a battle of defense. Roy is the interior and Paul is the perimeter, both IMO are elite level of defenders.

This is an continuation of the debate from the summer 2013 gathering (one of the best in recent memory's IMO).

[BlueNGold]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

That's like asking what's more important. Peanut butter or jelly.

Seriously though, Roy is the man. Paul is a luxury. But Roy is the man.

[Nuntius]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert is more important against the Heat while Paul George is more important against everyone else, imo.

In general, we need both.

[Jukeb0xHero]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy. His defense is the anchor for the whole team and when he is on with his hook shot, we do not lose.

[rel]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

That's like asking what's more important. Peanut butter or jelly.

Seriously though, Roy is the man. Paul is a luxury. But Roy is the man.

Peanut Butter.

And, yeah, gotta agree. I think Roy's rim protection is the most important asset we have. If we can keep the opponents hesitant to go to the hole and shoot jumpers, I'd have a hard time seeing us lose.

[croz24]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert is our most important piece by quite a bit IMO.

[Psyren]

Roy.

Everything else clicks when Roy is playing well.

[cdash]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy.

[Wage]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy is more important to our chances to have a really good team, but George is more important to our chances to have a truly great team, if that makes any sense at all.

[aamcguy]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

I think this is hard to quantify. Without either one we're not true contenders this year.

Imagine losing them to a big injury. Roy goes down and you are starting Mahinmi. George goes down and you are still starting Lance Stephenson and Danny Granger at the wings, a combo that is offensively a little better and defensively a little worse than last season. Advantage Roy.

Now assuming both are healthy, I still think you have to go Roy. When he's playing well offensively we have a dynamic inside-out offense and your changeup is...David West? Yes please. Paul George can have those games where he dominates on both ends of the floor and is a difference maker. However, on the defensive end Roy is that night in and night out. Not to say that Paul's defense slips. It's just that Roy's position in our defensive setup gives him more impact on more plays than George.

My one caveat is that if Paul makes another major jump (offensively or defensively), I might have to change. But it would have to be a sizable one such as him becoming an efficient scorer, or making solids strides in % and TOs both.

[J7F]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

This is a good question because it's so close that I don't think anyone can be really be wrong with their opinion... I wanted to reply to this question w a simple "both of em"... But I guess I'll try to decide...

It's a tough call because both guys are very important to both our offensive & defensive production... But since our team won more games due to our D last year I'm going to make my determination based on that side of the ball...

I've got to give the edge to the big man... And it's only because Roy's job as rim protector is really a one man last line of defense... Paul in general has to worry about his man more than anyone else's man (though on occasion I've seen Paul shut down an entire side of the floor with his length and defensive positioning)... But Roy in general has to worry more about everyone on the floor... If someone gets in the paint they become Roy's responsibility...

We play a very team oriented defense... But Roy is our main cog...

Roy Hibbert... Final answer...

[graphic-er]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

At this point You have to pin it on Roy. You have to hope him giving up the MMA work outs doesn't effect his mobility. He was moving pretty well for a guy that size, and those MMA work outs were a big reason for it.

But I think PG ability to lead the team will ultimately decide our fate this season.

But couldn't we also say that Granger is the biggest factor?

[lolwuttermelons]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

Roy JelloShot Hibbert

It would be interesting to see what non-Pacers fans think. I would bet that if this same type of thread was posted on RealGM or ISH, that answer would be heavily in George's favor.

[aamcguy]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

This is a good question because it's so close that I don't think anyone can be really be wrong with their opinion... I wanted to reply to this question w a simple "both of em"... But I guess I'll try to decide...

It's a tough call because both guys are very important to both our offensive & defensive production... But since our team won more games due to our D last year I'm going to make my determination based on that side of the ball...

I've got to give the edge to the big man... And it's only because Roy's job as rim protector is really a one man last line of defense... Paul in general has to worry about his man more than anyone else's man (though on occasion I've seen Paul shut down an entire side of the floor with his length and defensive positioning)... But Roy in general has to worry more about everyone on the floor... If someone gets in the paint they become Roy's responsibility...

We play a very team oriented defense... But Roy is our main cog...

Roy Hibbert... Final answer...

Defensive basketball is such a team-oriented concept though, that's where it gets tough. Roy has to be at the rim for every play, but having a defender like Paul George on one side shortens the ground Roy has to cover. Conversely, having Roy at his back allows Paul to play different angles. This usually results in a contested jumper, contested drive to the basket, or simply a deep kickout where they have to try to make something happen with 7 seconds left on the clock.

Ironically, a lot of the defensive "audibles" we make come from arguably our poorest defender, D-West. Numerous times Vogel has mentioned something to the tune of "David West is our middle linebacker" or "quarterback of the defense." There's so much going right with our defense. It's so hard to pick between our two guys.

What hasn't been mentioned is the fact that Hibbert is also more vocal than Paul George. It's always Hibbert or West rallying guys together or yelling instructions. They're the energy the team feeds off of.

[aamcguy]

Re: Who is more important to the upcoming season Paul George or Roy Hibbert

At this point You have to pin it on Roy. You have to hope him giving up the MMA work outs doesn't effect his mobility. He was moving pretty well for a guy that size, and those MMA work outs were a big reason for it.

But I think PG ability to lead the team will ultimately decide our fate this season.

But couldn't we also say that Granger is the biggest factor?

I'm sure he's still doing high intensity cardio/mobility exercises. Just trying to avoid the body impacts I think.