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NBA Rumors: OKC’s Andre Roberson hopes to return by Christmas

By Michael Saenz

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Andre Roberson #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a rebound during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Andre Roberson #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a rebound during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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NBA Rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson is targeting Christmas as the point where he can be full strength again

The Oklahoma City Thunder were two different teams last season. There was the version of them when Andre Roberson was healthy and then the version of them when he wasn’t.

And when he wasn’t healthy, they were a much worse defensive team. In fact, prior to his injury, Roberson was putting together a defensive season that had him in the conversation to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Due to patellar-tendon injury, though, missed the latter portion of the NBA season.

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Interestingly, while many were quick to blame Carmelo Anthony for their disappointing end to the playoffs in the first round at the hands of the Utah Jazz, there could be a decent argument that the biggest reason why the Thunder didn’t make more noise in the playoffs was because of the injury to their best defensive player.

And now that Melo is no longer on the team, the expectation is that OKC will be better this season. On the contrary, I’d suggest that the biggest reason why the Thunder will be better this season is because of the return of Roberson.

Having Roberson and Paul George defensive on the perimeter gives this team so many options on the defensive floor. Even though he’s not a game-changer on the offensive end, Roberson is good enough where he isn’t a huge liability when he’s locking up an opposing scoring threat.

Roberson being back to full strength by Christmas, as he hopes, should help this team come together and take the next step corporately this season. Last year, many expected OKC to be a team to potentially challenge the Golden State Warriors. Instead, it was the Houston Rockets.

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"[via Fox San Antonio]I’m not really putting a particular timeline on it, but I want to come back to myself somewhere in, like, December. It would be great if it happened before Christmas."

However, perhaps the Thunder can finally grow into that role this season.

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