DECEMBER 22: Terrance Ferguson #23 of the OKC Thunder and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers talk after game (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

The OKC Thunder has always boasted a defensive master. In the defeat of the Clippers, Terrance Ferguson sent notice he’s claimed the position.

Not long ago OKC Thunder fans were scratching their heads wondering when Andre Roberson would return to the lineup. After all the indications were he was soon to pull on the jersey and hit the hardcourt.

When the team announced he would be continuing his rehab and conditioning at home the immediate thought was – his career is over. Why when this team’s identity is so intrinsically linked to defense would the franchise let ARob go unless this was the case.

In hindsight, there was a very real reason why the franchise was able to let Roberson take this route to his return and that’s because there is another player who has taken over his top ranked defender role.

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A new defensive master for the OKC Thunder:

To say Terrance Ferguson is filling in is no longer the case. Rather, TFerg has replaced Andre Roberson to the point that even if the former All-Defensive, Second Team member returned fully healthy he’d likely be utilized as a reserve in spot detail.

That fact was driven home in the win over the Clippers as Ferguson’s primary defensive assignment was on Paul George. Of course, the irony of this situation is thick since it was Roberson and George who served as mentors to Terrance as he developed over his initial two years with the franchise. Now both are gone, one via trade and the other still working back to health.

Clearly, the knowledge bank, tips, and tutelage of ARob and PG13 was well spent time as Ferguson is bordering on becoming an All-Defensive recipient himself and George found that out the hard way in Sunday’s loss to OKC.

Ferguson locks down Paul George:

The majority of the former OKC Thunder star’s possessions were defended by Ferguson and the results are palpable. George knew he had to do more with Kawhi Leonard out for load management and Patrick Beverley also out. But, George failed to deliver shooting 6 for 17 from the field garnering 18 points (four of which came at the line).

And, it wasn’t like PG13 took advantage of being locked down by getting his teammates easy baskets as he registered two assists. Notably, George averages 5.8 assists this season. So, TFerg capably kept George below both his points and assists average. He had some help as his Thunder teammates assisted in running George off screens or in help situations and each of Dennis Schroder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and even Chris Paul spent some time on the All-Star wing.

Ferguson picked up four fouls in 29 minutes and missed all four of his shots. But he captured a B+ in Sinjin Snope’s post game grades based solely on his defensive brilliance in this game. This is a top player he was tasked with guarding and he did about as good of a job as we’ve witnessed by a single defender on George this season.

Next goal for Terrance Ferguson:

Moving forward, emphasis will be to find a way to contribute occasionally on offense, particularly on night’s when he’s not tasked with a top 10 to 15th ranked player.

In fairness to Roberson, at his peak, he had better overall numbers than Ferguson does at the moment but putting that in perspective the pace of the game has changed and TFerg still is a work in progress. When the offense is factored in Ferguson wins by a large margin not in terms of overall production but in his capacity.

Ferguson may not take many shots but by the same token, he’s far more reliable than Roberson ever was. Case in point, in his last full season and the year he made the second team All-Defense Dre shot 42.3 percent from the free throw line and 24.5 from the perimeter. In comparison, Ferg shoots 77.8 from the line and 35.8 from deep.

Sam Presti who places so much value on that pivotal defensive role can finally exhale as the position is in good hands with Terrance Ferguson.