Top 5 shot-blockers in the NBA

3. Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers)

Roy Hibbert (Getty Images)

Indiana beat Memphis by a small margin in the category of defensive efficiency and a large part of that reason has been this 7’2 center from Georgetown.

His shot blocking improved over the past two seasons with averages of 2 and 2.6 bpg. However, this ability came to the fore when the defensive strength of the Pacers and his presence in the paint made the Miami Heat sweat in the 2012 Conference Semifinals. He averaged a playoff and career high 3.1 bpg that series. Hibbert sets the bar really on how a man’s individual presence in the paint can help the team defense. Of course the team defense is also coach Frank Vogel’s philosophy.

This year he contributed once again to the team, being the big man in the paint that he is in the Conference Finals with the Heat; the absence of big men in the Heat being the weakness that led to the series going to 7 games. The Pacers will expect the same, if not better, performance from him this season too.