Rockets: Breaking down Rockets vs OKC matchups

[thunderup]

We got beat by Harden/Durant, why would I be asshurt about Ibaka? That makes no sense.

He's a 10ppg player, anything over, it's a fluke. Facts don't lie.

bitter Spur fan STILL thinking 11/11 was a fluke
Serge licking his chops just at the thought of again facing an unathletic and immobile Spurs frontcourt

[ElNono]

59% from 10-16 feet. There you have it. Ive heard a lot of "fluke" talk surrounding Ibaka on this board, primarily from the 11-11 game he had in the playoffs. Sure, 11-11 is kind of a once in a year type shooting performance for the guy, but at some point, when a guy consistently shoots for 2 seasons near 50% in the 16-23 foot range, 59% from 10-16 feet...it goes from what you think is a fluke to a consistent aspect of his game that you can't just ignore. And it's not as if these high %'s are based on low attempts. Ibaka attempts as many 16-23 footers per game as KD does. Sure, he benefits from the players around him and being open enough to get off clean attempts, but either way, he's shooting at a % that forces a defense to keep close tabs on him. I think the word fluke should be officially retired in terms of using it to describe Ibaka's jumpshot.

bitter Spur fan STILL thinking 11/11 was a fluke
Serge licking his chops just at the thought of again facing an unathletic and immobile Spurs frontcourt

Of course it's a fluke. Going 11-11 isn't shooting 50% nor averaging 10ppg.. (13ppg at best). Math isn't that hard.

I mean, if he can go 11-11 no sweat, why didn't he save some of that for the Finals

[Monster1776]

*yawn* Are Spur fans still whining about how much of a fluke Ibaka's shooting is? Hold on a second... Ibaka tiene un buen tiro de salto. No es suerte. Tú todos consiguió martillado el año pasado y se consigue martillado otra vez. Deseando rasgando un culo nuevo.

[Monster1776]

Of course it's a fluke. Going 11-11 isn't shooting 50% nor averaging 10ppg.. (13ppg at best). Math isn't that hard.

I mean, if he can go 11-11 no sweat, why didn't he save some of that for the Finals

Maybe because we weren't playing a ty old Spurs team? Maybe because he had to go against an athletic Bosh instead of Tim? Common sense isn't that hard.

[thunderup]

Of course it's a fluke. Going 11-11 isn't shooting 50% nor averaging 10ppg.. (13ppg at best). Math isn't that hard.

I mean, if he can go 11-11 no sweat, why didn't he save some of that for the Finals

Like my good friend OKC said, expect more flukes partner.

[Latarian Milton]

ibaka ain't that good imho, dude's nothing more than a rich man's dejuan blair. if blair got similar level of D awareness and vertical jump ibaka has he would've been just as great with even better strength imho.

[ElNono]

*yawn* Are Spur fans still whining about how much of a fluke Ibaka's shooting is? Hold on a second... Ibaka tiene un buen tiro de salto. No es suerte. Tú todos consiguió martillado el año pasado y se consigue martillado otra vez. Deseando rasgando un culo nuevo.

Maybe because we weren't playing a ty old Spurs team? Maybe because he had to go against an athletic Bosh instead of Tim?

According to OKC, he can shoot 11-11 whenever he wants. No flukes there.

Maybe he was just too busy getting raped by Battier to actually make a shot, tbh.

[Monster1776]

ibaka ain't that good imho, dude's nothing more than a rich man's dejuan blair. if blair got similar level of D awareness and vertical jump ibaka has he would've been just as great with even better strength imho.

But he doesn't a big with that type of awareness and agility is rare in most big men. It's an instinct that can't be taught, plus Blair wouldn't even dream of attempting to shoot 3's.

Battier is a dirty mother er but I love him as a player. But really why even have this discussion when Serge is only 23 and in his 3rd year and showing consistent improvement. Reminds me of this list: http://www.sport kle.com/opinion/...about-you-2013

[ElNono]

ibaka ain't that good imho, dude's nothing more than a rich man's dejuan blair. if blair got similar level of D awareness and vertical jump ibaka has he would've been just as great with even better strength imho.

It's not fair, Latarian... you can speak your mind about Ibaka because you're a Heat fan, but nobody else can?

I'm with you. He's already overpaid at 23, and his ceiling is probably Boris Diaw without the belly... but I can't say it without coming across as some sort of dig, tbh

[Monster1776]

It's not fair, Latarian... you can speak your mind about Ibaka because you're a Heat fan, but nobody else can?

I'm with you. He's already overpaid at 23, and his ceiling is probably Boris Diaw without the belly... but I can't say it without coming across as some sort of dig, tbh

Name one current player in the NBA that would be a better replacement than Ibaka excluding the fact we need to change Perkins out with someone that can actually muscle the inside without being a lard ass.

[ElNono]

Name one current player in the NBA that would be a better replacement than Ibaka excluding the fact we need to change Perkins out with someone that can actually muscle the inside without being a lard ass.

Anybody that gives you 10/7 and can actually play individual defense against bigs. Plenty to select from that won't cost you $50m. ie: Asik, which makes half of that.

[Monster1776]

Anybody that gives you 10/7 and can actually play individual defense against bigs. Plenty to select from that won't cost you $50m. ie: Asik, which makes half of that.

Asik can't do half the that Ibaka can; you're forgetting the most critical part Ibaka plays on the team is his help side D. He covers our guard's horrible on ball defense, without him we would be blasted.

[thunderup]

Asik can't do half the that Ibaka can; you're forgetting the most critical part Ibaka plays on the team is his help side D. He covers our guard's horrible on ball defense, without him we would be blasted.

Don't hurt him with your truth bombs partner.

[ElNono]

Asik can't do half the that Ibaka can; you're forgetting the most critical part Ibaka plays on the team is his help side D. He covers our guard's horrible on ball defense, without him we would be blasted.

That's about the only thing Ibaka does well. He's a terrible individual defender. He's also a one trick pony on offense. You can probably replace Perkins AND Ibaka with Asik. You won't get as many blocks, but you get the same amount of production on both ends.

He's way overpaid too. You can replace average talent like Ibaka, you can't replace a guy like Harden.

[thunderup]

[ElNono]

Don't hurt him with your truth bombs partner.

you just gonna be a cheerleader, or actually have a take?

[ElNono]

this reminds me of Spursfan when they thought Roger Mason JR was anything special when he was hitting 50% from downtown... It's the star players that make the scrubs look good, not the other way around.

[Monster1776]

That's about the only thing Ibaka does well. He's a terrible individual defender. He's also a one trick pony on offense. You can probably replace Perkins AND Ibaka with Asik. You won't get as many blocks, but you get the same amount of production on both ends.

He's way overpaid too. You can replace average talent like Ibaka, you can't replace a guy like Harden.

We did, we replaced him with Martin and Martin has done just fine as that offensive spark off the bench. Do I wish we still had Harden? Holy yes. But having a dynamic big defender took more precedent over keeping a third offensive minded player whose only scoring ability comes from penetration. Our offense would get stagnant because we would have KD, Westbrook, AND Harden driving the paint, all the other team would need is a sturdy interior to counter this. You still haven't given me a single player that can out do what Ibaka does for the Thunder. Only reason I disagree about Asik being even a serviceable big is because we wouldn't blow out the Rockets like we did of he was truly a defensive presence coupled with the offensive force that is Harden.

[thunderup]

you just gonna be a cheerleader, or actually have a take?

I don't take you seriously. You're seriously undermining Serge's impact on the game by using a superficially driven argument based on stats.

Face it partner. Serge is a better all around player than Asik. He repeatedly s on your team not just by scoring but by doing other things. I can't wait for another matchup between our teams. I'll be here laughing at you day and night for your takes.

For s and giggles:

[Monster1776]

Just putting this out there, I would give my left but if we could get Zack Randolph in a trade for Perk.

[thunderup]

this reminds me of Spursfan when they thought Roger Mason JR was anything special when he was hitting 50% from downtown... It's the star players that make the scrubs look good, not the other way around.

this reminds me of Spur fan crying all over the internet when Serge repeatedly on your team

still butthurt

[thunderup]

That's about the only thing Ibaka does well. He's a terrible individual defender. He's also a one trick pony on offense. You can probably replace Perkins AND Ibaka with Asik. You won't get as many blocks, but you get the same amount of production on both ends.

He's way overpaid too. You can replace average talent like Ibaka, you can't replace a guy like Harden.

I'll bookmark this for the perfect bump in a couple of weeks from now.

[ElNono]

We did, we replaced him with Martin and Martin has done just fine as that offensive spark off the bench. Do I wish we still had Harden? Holy yes. But having a dynamic big defender took more precedent over keeping a third offensive minded player whose only scoring ability comes from penetration. Our offense would get stagnant because we would have KD, Westbrook, AND Harden driving the paint, all the other team would need is a sturdy interior to counter this. You still haven't given me a single player that can out do what Ibaka does for the Thunder. Only reason I disagree about Asik being even a serviceable big is because we wouldn't blow out the Rockets like we did of he was truly a defensive presence coupled with the offensive force that is Harden.

That's a terrible argument. You always take the special talent, and that player is Harden by a long, long mile. I already stated players that would do what Ibaka does on offense just as well or better (Jamison, Bonner). They're the premier stretch-4, but they're average players. On defense, sure, Ibaka is probably the league's best help defender, but he's also a weakness when you he has to defend bigger guys, and that's exactly why Perkins is there. Fact is your team would miss Ibaka very little, because KD is a solid defender and he has enough height to swat shots too.

[ElNono]

I don't take you seriously. You're seriously undermining Serge's impact on the game by using a superficially driven argument based on stats.

What's superficial about it?

Face it partner. Serge is a better all around player than Asik. He repeatedly s on your team not just by scoring but by doing other things. I can't wait for another matchup between our teams. I'll be here laughing at you day and night for your takes.

I don't know you're getting past the Rockets or Clippers, tbh... also, we'll see if the Spurs get that far.

[Monster1776]

That's a terrible argument. You always take the special talent, and that player is Harden by a long, long mile. I already stated players that would do what Ibaka does on offense just as well or better (Jamison, Bonner). They're the premier stretch-4, but they're average players. On defense, sure, Ibaka is probably the league's best help defender, but he's also a weakness when you he has to defend bigger guys, and that's exactly why Perkins is there. Fact is your team would miss Ibaka very little, because KD is a solid defender and he has enough height to swat shots too.

Not a terrible argument, just a terrible situation; we shouldn't of had to be in that situation to begin with. And as much as KD is an athletic defender, he would get absolutely bullied by any true 4/5 guy in the post. I think we made the best decision in a horrible situation for the future of our franchise and I think we'll do marginally better than last year. I don't think clear evidence of wether we screwed up or not on our decision to choose Ibaka over Harden will be evident until after a couple of years. The only way we could improve on this team is finding a true pg like Chris Paul and finding a mobile big to replace Perk (which isn't that big of a priority)