When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

[AllStarDaDon]

I always considered Brandon Roy as a elite player. His game is complete and is a monster in the clutch. He's efficient, a game manager, clutch, fundamentally sound, good ball handling, good off the dribble shooter, court vision, good change of direction speed and incredible driving ability.

When he was Portland's go to guy, in the clutch etc the whole defense would be assigned to stop him and he'll just wander in for a simple layup. During game deciding shots, dude would be triple covered and still drain his shots, or somehow gets loose for left hand layups.

Underrated definitely, elite? You decide.

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[st0rmb11]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

I wouldn't say he's underrated. people just don't get a chance to see him as often as the Kobes, LeBrons, etc. I feel like for 2 or 3 years he was as good as it got at the SG position. It's a shame that injuries have hit him over the past couple of seasons. I still think he's a viable first option for the Blazers, but I can't see him being a franchise type player anymore. but, maybe, combined with Aldridge and a healthy Oden, he can help the Blazers continue to play at a high level.


EDIT - I loved watching him go off against Dallas this year in the playoffs in the 4th quarter. One of the best late game performances I've seen in the past decade.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

Not elite as in Top 7 or 8 overall. But he'd be Top 3 or 4 at the SG position.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

You could've omitted the last "When Healthy"

Spoiler

didn't contribute worth a damn, so here's my contribution...

He absolutely would be elite if he was healthy. Try Game 4 of the Mavs/Blazers series times two. Hopefully, he'll get back to his old self.

[HighRiser32]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

Remember when scoring 21 PPG meant you were a elite player in the NBA? No?, me either. When healthy he is a top 4 SG in the league so that might give him some elite SG cred. Still a great player though, no disrespect.

[mvspree8]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

I'd say a healthy Roy is about a top 20-25 player... so I guess it depends whether one would consider that "elite." I don't think he was good enough that he could be the best player on a championship team, but he was definitely as good as someone like Joe Johnson or Ray Allen.

[st0rmb11]

Re: When Healthy Is Brandon Roy A Elite Player When Healthy?

I'd say a healthy Roy is about a top 20-25 player... so I guess it depends whether one would consider that "elite." I don't think he was good enough that he could be the best player on a championship team, but he was definitely as good as someone like Joe Johnson or Ray Allen.

all 3 in their primes, I'd put Roy and Johnson on the same level. but, I think Ray Allen was better than them in his prime.

[J_Posse]

Prior to this past season you could've made a case for Roy being a top 5 shooting guard, but never a elite player. Now, that the knee injuries he's sustained in college & the NBA have robbed him of his athleticism he has less of an argument, IMO. He can still have scoring outbursts like against Dallas in the first-round, but he is strictly a role player now.

Plus, do people even realize that he's never been past the first round of the playoffs, yet? He's also tends to be - in my opinion - a malcontent and cries to the media about internal team issues. I wonder if that sort of behavior will continue now that he isn't the best (or second best) player on the team? He was always talented as heck, but it thought it entitled to "run the team" so to speak. The leash will be a lot shorter going forward I think.

Sent from Spurs Nation HQ