{"id":5259,"date":"2018-01-29T12:28:57","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T18:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=5259"},"modified":"2018-04-13T02:29:51","modified_gmt":"2018-04-13T07:29:51","slug":"thunders-loss-of-andre-dre-roberson-a-major-blow-for-season-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=5259","title":{"rendered":"Thunder’s loss of Andre “Dre” Roberson a major blow for season success……."},"content":{"rendered":"

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He was being recognized as a lock down defender in the Association and the first defensive option for the opposing team’s best offensive player.\u00a0 He was Oklahoma City’s\u00a0wing\u00a0protector. He was on his way to being a first team all-NBA\u00a0defensive player and a strong choice as the defensive player of the year\u00a0in the league (with respect to Draymond Green, Paul George and\u00a0any other two way player that is regarded as\u00a0best.)\u00a0 Never an all-star, a\u00a0very poor shooter, and even worse free thrower, Andre Roberson had made his niche as “the stopper” for OKC, not only this year, but in his total career on Reno Street<\/span>.<\/h4>\n

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Roberson tore his patellar tendon in his left knee. On Sunday morning, the Thunder formally announced that Roberson had in fact injured his knee, and that he would undergo season-ending surgery.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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With his surgery yesterday, Andre Roberson’s season for OKC is finished for 2017-2918.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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As Steven Adams OKC’s\u00a0starting center\u00a0stated in Detroit the evening of the injury:<\/span><\/h4>\n

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“It\u2019s s\u2014. It\u2019s real s\u2014,\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s a huge part of our team and why we win. It\u2019s a huge blow to us, but we\u2019re just gonna have to rely on some other players to step up.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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As of\u00a0Jordan Greer of The Sporting News<\/em>:<\/span><\/h4>\n

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Roberson’s abilities unlocked everything on that end of the floor for the Thunder, particularly when he worked with Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams. When Roberson is on the floor with that starting lineup, OKC’s defensive rating is 95.9, but that number drops to 114.5 with Roberson on the bench, according to <\/span>NBA.com<\/a><\/span>. And despite Roberson’s poor shooting, the difference on offense is negligible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Andre Roberson is not the Thunder’s best overall player. But as a starter and contributor on this current team, his role was as important as any.\u00a0 <\/span><\/h4>\n

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The Thunder will not be as good overall with the loss of this defensive stalwart.\u00a0 This hit on the team will be significant in the bad way.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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That is the way I see it sports fans.<\/span><\/h4>\n

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Feature Photo Credit:\u00a0 Carlos Osorio\/<\/span>AP<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Secondary Photo Credit:\u00a0 The Oklahoman<\/span><\/p>\n

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