The Thunder are nothing without Ibaka

[313]

Goaltending every shot in sight

[Splits]

In the 148 minutes the OKC shot-blocking terror has been on the floor against the Spurs this season, San Antonio managed to shoot a putrid 42.3 percent from the floor with a true-shooting mark of 49.3, nearly 8 percent worse than its regular-season average. Near the rim, where Ibaka’s presence is most noticeable, the splits are even more dramatic. The Spurs shot 48 percent at the rim when he was on the floor during the teams’ four games against one another; when he was off, that number ballooned to 61.9 percent.

And get this: San Antonio managed only 93 points per 100 possessions in Ibaka’s shadow this season, compared to a staggering 120.8 offensive-efficiency rating in the 48 minutes his butt was on the bench. This news isn’t Durant- or Westbrook-level devastating for Oklahoma City, but it’s damn close. He’s been so incredibly important for that team against the Spurs this season, and his absence will greatly swing the forecast of this series.

[xtremesteven33]

Ibaka and Harden were the 2 guys that really killed the Spurs in 2012. If Ibaka indeed does not play the entire series, Spurs should win in 5.

[-21-]

Cool...

[poop]

Lmao whatever...this helps but they are far from 'nothing'...

Durant can score at will, chimpbrook can still go off at any time, jackson becomes allen iverson against us, and most importantly THE REFS WILL PARADE THEM TO THE LINE IF THEY START FALLING BEHIND

[hater]

the stupidity in these forum is reaching epic levels

LOL nothing without Ibaka. They are still the 2nd best team in the West without Ibaka, and they proved it yesterday.

[Malice]

I have a feeling everyone is being trolled by OKC right now. I can see him pulling a Willis Reed...

[ShoogarBear]

the stupidity in these forum is reaching epic levels

Hopefully no one here is actually on the Spurs.

[xtremesteven33]

the stupidity in these forum is reaching epic levels

LOL nothing without Ibaka. They are still the 2nd best team in the West without Ibaka, and they proved it yesterday.

Fountainhead of wisdom, who will win this series and how many games?

[poeticism707]

Ibaka and Harden were the 2 guys that really killed the Spurs in 2012. If Ibaka indeed does not play the entire series, Spurs should win in 5.

It's sill 8 on 5.

Spurs are still outgunned.

[Mikeanaro]

the stupidity in these forum is reaching epic levels

LOL nothing without Ibaka. They are still the 2nd best team in the West without Ibaka, and they proved it yesterday.

Funny because they didnt look like 2nd best against the Grizz but refs did damage control to keep Duracne and company in the series.

[poop]

They are psyching us out, ibaka will end up playing watch lolololl

[xtremesteven33]

Funny because they didnt look like 2nd best against the Grizz but refs did damage control to keep Duracne and company in the series.

Agred. The Thunder shouldve been eliminated in the first round. Theyve been getting away with terrible team play, so to say they are the best team would not be accurate IMO.
They probably have the best talent, but they have yet to find a great flow. Westbrook and Durant should be running way more 2 man game than they do. They are top 5 in the NBA and they cant seem to find a way to beat teams together. They are winning with individual talent and not cohesively.

[hater]

Funny because they didnt look like 2nd best against the Grizz but refs did damage control to keep Duracne and company in the series.

cry about the refs all you want, that ain't gonna change this coming series vs. San Antonio.

Also Ibaka was not a major factor in the Memphis series, if you remember correctly ZBo lost his cool due to Steven Adams. I still have OKC reaching the West Finals without Ibaka. 2nd best team in the West still. Yes, better than Clippers still, they proved yesterday Steven Adams plug and play works.

[313]

the stupidity in these forum is reaching epic levels

LOL nothing without Ibaka. They are still the 2nd best team in the West without Ibaka, and they proved it yesterday.

They didn't look like the best team when they were getting punked my Memphis and the MVP was getting locked down by a guy half his size. Then it took two epic chokes and a lil ref help to not lose in 6 to LA.

[hater]

They didn't look like the best team when they were getting punked my Memphis and the MVP was getting locked down by a guy half his size.

and we didn't look like the best team when Dallas the 8th seed was punking us.

Then it took two epic chokes and a lil ref help to not lose in 6 to LA.

you said it, chokes. Clippers would still choke with or without Ibaka

[xtremesteven33]

Of course the Thunder can still win this series. Spurs could lay a major egg. These playoffs have been really weird. Theres no way anyone can truly know how the rest of the season will play out. The Pacers could beat the Heat. We could see a Thunder/Pacers Finals for s sake.

IF Ibaka is truly out it does change the landscape. Steven Adams will be a big time contributor IMO, but no way in he contributes not even 20% of what Ibaka does for the Thunder.

[z0sa]

Abaka aint bout dis life imho

[Mikeanaro]

cry about the refs all you want, that ain't gonna change this coming series vs. San Antonio.

Also Ibaka was not a major factor in the Memphis series. I still have OKC reaching the West Finals without Ibaka. 2nd best team in the West still. Yes, better than Clippers still.

Lol refs Spurs are the better team with or without them, is not about crying obviously there is a circus out there don´t you see it?
You have it bad... factor or not they had help vs Grizz and Vs Clips (36ftvs20) even when Cp3 choked they should have won that game, and yesterday 32ft vs 20ft was lame. Without Sergei Kaka I don´t think they could get past Grizz and Clips that seems too much even with ref help.
But we´ll see now how is a Thunderless Kaka team.

[hater]

Of course the Thunder can still win this series. Spurs could lay a major egg. These playoffs have been really weird. Theres no way anyone can truly know how the rest of the season will play out. The Pacers could beat the Heat. We could see a Thunder/Pacers Finals for s sake.

IF Ibaka is truly out it does change the landscape. Steven Adams will be a big time contributor IMO, but no way in he contributes not even 20% of what Ibaka does for the Thunder.

On offense I agree. But Thunder is easily the best offensive team in the league. They can find other guys to makeup Ibaka's loss.

But defensively, IMO Adams is just as capable as Ibaka. Sure he's not the shotblocking presence that Ibaka is, but he is more crafty similar to RobinLopez.gif. They wont' miss a beat in the defensive end.

[xtremesteven33]

On offense I agree. But Thunder is easily the best offensive team in the league. They can find other guys to makeup Ibaka's loss.

But defensively, IMO Adams is just as capable as Ibaka. Sure he's not the shotblocking presence that Ibaka is, but he is more crafty similar to RobinLopez.gif. They wont' miss a beat in the defensive end.

You think Tim Duncan is going to let Steven Adams get the better of him on his trip back to the Finals?

[Sean Cagney]

Lmao whatever...this helps but they are far from 'nothing'...

Durant can score at will, chimpbrook can still go off at any time, jackson becomes allen iverson against us, and most importantly THE REFS WILL PARADE THEM TO THE LINE IF THEY START FALLING BEHIND

^^^^^ This is the truth.

You think Tim Duncan is going to let Steven Adams get the better of him on his trip back to the Finals?

I saw him last night more than ever and the sight of this dudes face just got on my last nerve. I already have my faves for this series

[313]

On offense I agree. But Thunder is easily the best offensive team in the league. They can find other guys to makeup Ibaka's loss.

But defensively, IMO Adams is just as capable as Ibaka. Sure he's not the shotblocking presence that Ibaka is, but he is more crafty similar to RobinLopez.gif. They wont' miss a beat in the defensive end.

You're overestimating Adams on defense tbh he's good, but he's still raw. He can't bring what Serge brings on the defensive end or stretch the floor like Ibaka.

The Thunder can still win the series, but this went from a toss up series, to about 67/33 in favor of the Spurs imo. OKC has been underwhelming on the defensive end. They held the Clippers under 100 once and while Memphis didn't look great offensively, whenever they needed a bucket, they got it.

[sook]

OKC is ed

[DarrinS]

Spurs could beat them WITH Ibaka, IMO.