Indiana’s Hibbert Is ‘Most Improved’ No More

Early in the season, Roy Hibbert was a no-questions-asked candidate for the league’s most improved player award. Pacers Coach Jim O’Brien had elected to run his offense with Hibbert as the focal point, and the natural progression of Hibbert’s basketball skills made that decision a wise – if unexpected – one.

Indiana had ranked in the top three in pace and in the top four in 3-point attempts during each of O’Brien’s first three seasons, a testament to the fast-breaking system he installed in an attempt to maximize the Pacers’ limited offensive potential. That experiment failed; the run-and-gun Pacers never approached offensive solvency, and though they tried to run the break and throw up as many 3s as possible, Indiana was claiming the few victories to its name on the defensive end.

Then O’Brien opted for a change in approach. When given a talented but plodding center to work with in Hibbert, O’Brien proved to be a traditionalist at heart, after all. The Pacers  offense was restructured to feature Hibbert both in the high post and the low post, while Indy’s pace and 3-point attempts dipped accordingly. Hibbert played well, and for the first time in four seasons the blueprint for improvement in Indiana seemed clear.

Since that point, however, Hibbert’s production has plummeted.  After averaging 18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds a game in October and 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds a game in November, Hibbert has dropped to just 7.8 points and 7.6 rebounds a night in January.