Hibbert proves his worth by sitting

Photo Credit: Michael Conry / AP

By Jon R. LaFollette

We've heard it all season.

"Roy is garbage."

"Roy got paid, now he sucks."

"The Pacers need to trade Roy."

"Roy is useless."

Such near-sighted reasoning needs to stop right now.

If anything showed Roy Hibbert's worth to the Indiana Pacers, it was last night's 99-91 loss at home to the Los Angeles Clippers - a game Hibbert missed while serving a one game suspension for his role in the Warriors altercation Tuesday night.

True, the seven-foot-two-inch center is having his worst year offensively, shooting an abysmal 42 percent despite being the largest player on the court every night and appearing almost too sheepish when the ball is in his hands. But he's owned up to his glaring offensive struggles, often times taking the brunt of the criticism tossed his way and placing it square on his shoulders.

"It's on me," Hibbert has said on multiple occasions.

But I haven't taken much stock in all the chatter about Hibbert being useless or growing lackadaisical after receiving his 4-year $58 million contract this past summer, because while he has struggled mightily at times on the offensive side of the ball, he's actually improved on the defensive end, and is a big reason the Pacers sport one of the NBA's best defenses. In fact, he's the biggest reason. Literally!

Hibbert is an elite rim defender who averages 2.6 blocks per game (fourth in the league), and has amassed 151 total blocks this season - already a career high. When Hibbert is on the court, the Pacers allow just 95 points per 100 possessions. The Lakers with Dwight Howard, a perennial All-Defensive player, allow 102 points. The Thunder with Serge Ibaka allow 100 points. Without Hibbert, the Pacers defense sputters, allowing 104 points.

And while it should be noted that neither of the previously mentioned teams have a wing defender as brilliant as Paul George, a defensive-minded center who can clog up the lane, slow the tempo, consistently defend the paint and overshadow the opponent in size is a wonderful piece to have in a league that has gone small, fast and overly reliant on players who can penetrate.

You think it's a coincidence the Clippers scored five of their first six buckets at the rim? Or that point guard Chris Paul drove to the hoop with ease in the game's closing seconds to ice the game? Or that the Clippers shot 61 percent inside the three point arch?

Fact. The Clippers shot 4-of-24 from three-point range, yet still finished with 49 percent shooting from the field. They got almost whatever they wanted inside.

True, the Pacers turned the ball over 20 times and their bench was as invisible as it's been all season, but there were plenty of times when the team could have swung momentum their way with a defensive stand. Instead, it was almost always a layup, an and one, and easy points for the Clippers.

Some may still grumble about the size of Hibbert deal, that much money is a little too much for a player who can't take over a game and win with his offense, but last night's game shows Hibbert is worth something. A lot actually.