Ibaka intimidates TP and TD so they should do better. Also no longer have to worry about goaltending.
can't say the Spurs lost any les because of injuries. Duncan hasn't missed a playoff game since 2000 which is unreal good luck and Parker hasn't missed anything. Manu is the only one who has been banged up and none of those teams were any good to win a le those years. The Spurs caught a big break in the Phoenix series with suspensions and injuries.
Ibaka intimidates TP and TD so they should do better. Also no longer have to worry about goaltending.
Let's not underestimate Nick Collison in this upcoming series.
He may be undersized, but he's a solid halfcourt passer, heis a decent defender and is excellent at holding his ground and drawing offensive fouls.
Losing Ibaka will be big, but Collison's savvy play cannot be overlooked.
OKC will still be a tough out. No guarantees. I'll be excited if and when we win the series.
Ibaka is a fierce menace but OKC still has Adams and Collison and those guys are all kinds of threats not to mention thug Perkins. Series might be even more physical now. Lock this up.
No doubt. Health hasn't been a non-issue for this team in like 10 years.
Its not going to be the difference between a Spurs series loss and a series win, like so many around here seem to believe. Ibaka is a defensive nightmare for the Spurs' penetration, altering or blocking shots and using his length to break up interior passes. That, plus he's notorious for hitting his shots against SA. Take his shot blocking and his 15 points per game and the Thunder suddenly have to turn elsewhere for interior defense AND floor spacing. His absence doesn't guarantee the Spurs a victory by any means, as Adams and Collison present their own issues. However, considering the impact he has for OKC, the loss of his contributions is a major momentum swing for the Spurs.
Somewhere, Doc Rivers is laughing.
Ibaka injury is not good, now Thunder gonna go small and we don't have the answer for that, it will force pop to play pussynelli more and we are ed!
i hate, hate this injury . but i think most real NBA fans do.
this is the team i wanted to face, this is the real test for a team i consider the best in the world. we don't have so many years left, and opportunities for revenge like this are rare. i really want the spurs to face the toughest possible opponents - how much sweeter victory tastes
That's the reality of the game. Frankly, though, I don't understand posters here whining about how the Thunder are suddenly undermanned and that a Spurs victory won't be as sweet. Ibaka is a huge threat to the Spurs on his own, but let's not forget who else is on that roster. This series didn't just turn into a cakewalk all of a sudden.
Lol look at the Spurs' offensive stats when Ibaka is on the floor vs. when he isn't, and tell me if you still think it's a bad thing that he won't be lining up against the Spurs.
don't get me wrong, like someone said- these games have to be played. we're facing KD and co. the spurs have acted completely terrified of Chesapeake Arena. win with some confidence and it'll wash away 2012 for me, no problem.
wouldn't be surprised to see OKC play small ball with Durant at the 5 and chucker butler at the four.
Like other said, I can't be happy about Ibaka being injured.
Now if it was WestChimp instead, yes, I'd be delighted. I hate that POS.
A bit like you being scared of la migra... right?
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This flip flopped since the last time I looked at it.
I'm neither happy nor sad about the news.
Just ing win, San Antonio. Let the rest of 'em cry about who was injured later after we get another Larry.
I'm sure that Portland fans were saying the same thing when Tony got injured in Game 5.
OKC will make adjustments.
The paint will be open though. Tiago and Tim can go to work down low. Adams is good, but he's not Ibaka. Still, OKC can beat you without Ibaka.
Ibaka is not Durant or Westbrook. Sure he goes beast on us, but clearly he was not the biggest factor in these games... It's still anybody's series.
, if anything, Adams will awaken and go Ibaka on us and make us feel worse because Ibaka is a way better player.
One hit wonder.
Premature thread is premature. OKC can still beat us without Ibaka, although it will be more difficult.
Let 'em play the games.
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