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Love/Hate series: Glenn Robinson III

By Hunter Kuffel

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 08: Glenn Robinson III #40 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 08: Glenn Robinson III #40 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Throughout the offseason, we’ll be analyzing what we love and hate about everybody on the Pacers roster. Up next is fourth-year small forward Glenn Robinson III.

Last year was a pivotal season for Glenn Robinson III, but this next one could be even more crucial.

With more opportunity and playing time than he’d ever received (almost triple the previous year), Robinson III improved upon just about every statistical measure you can come up with last season. He transformed from a second-round pick with potential to the makings of an essential 3-and-D wing.

Oh, and he also became a slam dunk champion.

39.2 percent from 3-point range, 40.9 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s and 3.2 attempts per 36 minutes erase any ambiguity about it. Robinson can shoot. The D part isn’t quite as polished, but that isn’t to say that Robinson III is some slouch. More reps and increased chemistry with Myles Turner should help him slow the game down and improve his decision-making.

Love: 3-point shooting

This is Robinson’s calling card, his most useful skill. He will enter training camp as arguably the best 3-point shooter on the roster, with newcomers Darren Collison and Bojan Bogdanovich as his only real competition.

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Getting Robinson III open for a 3-pointer should be a priority for Nate McMillan’s offense next season. He showed during his tenure as a starter last season that he can be deadly in the corners and coming off of curls, but he can do more.

A standby of the team’s early offense last year was Paul George coming off a wide pin down and catching a pass up top to either shoot or make a play. Robinson isn’t going to create space or drive and kick like George could, but his shooting gravity can still warp the defense and force help that will open up teammates for easy buckets.

A big honorable mention is Robinson’s elite athleticisim, which makes up for his not-quite-ideal size. He’s crazy explosive (most dunk contest champs are), and his agility and strength inspire hope for more improvement as a perimeter defender.

Hate: Creating off the dribble

I don’t want to be too hard on Robinson, who did make strides last season as a playmaker. However, if there is anything that’s keeping him from taking that next step as a player, this is it.

I should be more specific. Creating for others isn’t really the problem. Robinson III is an alright passer for someone who rarely has the ball in his hands. He sees the floor well, like in this clip where he finds Thaddeus Young for a dunk.

The issue is mainly when Robinson III tries to create shots for himself. He still gets flustered by close defense, having a very limited arsenal of moves that could get him out of a jam. Too many times last season, the momentum of a play would evaporate because Robinson was stymied by a subpar defender in his face.

The bright side of all of this is that the Pacers already have more ball handling than they know what to do with, so Robinson III won’t be asked to do much more than catching and shooting on offense again. If he improves as an isolation player and a bucket getter, we probably won’t see it.

An honorable mention here is Robinson’s penchant for over helping on defense. After losing George and CJ Miles, Robinson’s defensive assignments are probably going to get harder next season, so he needs to be more disciplined about this. He’s too well versed in sticking to his man in the corner, sprinting into the lane to help stop a driver, then getting blindsided by a screen while his man swishes a wide open 3.

Glenn Robinson’s first task next season will be to battle for the starting job with Bogdanovich, a fight which might not be easy. Nate McMillan has declared Bogdanovic to be the presumptive starter, and the Croatian small forward likely chose the Pacers thinking he’d be taking an expanded role than one he found in Washington or Brooklyn.

Next: Should Thad stay or should he go?

Robinson III will need to take a leap if he wants the starting job. Luckily for him, leaping comes pretty naturally.

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