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NBA: Player Rankings – Week 12

By Jared Jackson

Jan 19, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) walks on the court against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) walks on the court against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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19. Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers) 

Jan 18, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) is guarded by Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) is guarded by Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Per NBA.com, Hibbert holds opponents to just 40.9 percent shooting at the rim, the lowest number allowed by any center who has played at least 20 games this year. Everything the Indiana Pacers do in their league-best defensive scheme is designed to send offensive players to Hibbert. When they get there, the hulking center swallows them up or sends them away licking their wounds. Either way, possessions tend to end badly for opponents when Hibbert is involved. Being the best defensive player on the league’s best defensive team is at least as valuable as being the top scorer in the NBA’s most effective offense. It’s time we started acknowledging Hibbert’s value in those terms.