Examining which players benefit most following formation of OKC Thunder Big 3

Andre Roberson:

If the shooting talents of DeAndre Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal had a baby, they would end up with Andre Roberson. I get it. Dre can’t shoot. It kills me that teams mock Dre because his defense is world class. Check out the Houston Rockets bench in Game 5 of last year’s playoffs.

I am one of the few that believe Roberson’s struggles at the line are more mental than anything else. He shot 41 percent from three against Houston but made a poultry 3-21 on freebies throughout the series. Clearly, standing on the perimeter is not his game.

Involve Dre in the offense:

When Dre is active on both ends of the floor, he can be a special player. His 6’7 frame is complemented by a 6’11 wingspan, which allows him to hound opposing players on defense and play the passing lanes. If used correctly, his length is an asset on the offensive end if he is attacking the paint. On straight line drives, Roberson can finish with authority.

In the clip below, Dre takes on Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. Turner is one of the leagues premier shot blockers and Roberson drops the hammer on him to convert the and-1.

Bring back the Pick and Roll:

In the 2016 Western Conference Finals, coach Donovan made a surprising adjustment in game 3. The Golden State Warriors were sagging off Roberson and jamming the paint, daring him to shoot from the outside. Once Donovan bought Roberson in from the perimeter and incorporated him into the pick and roll, his contributions blindsided the Warriors. In Game 4, Roberson registered 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks in 40 minutes.

If OKC are going to be successful, this kind of production from Roberson is needed. With all the attention on Oklahoma City’s stars, he should be able to average 8-10 points per game along side his defensive work. Donovan needs to utilize him this season as Roberson will have far more straight line drives to the hoop than ever before.