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"Ibaka, who said Saturday he had not practiced or even done any running, did end-to-end running on Sunday and a full shooting workout without any noticeable limp."
Yep
Nah.
Unfortunately most of us have also seen the Spurs have let downs for whatever reason on many inopportune occasions.
This could happen.
"Ibaka, who said Saturday he had not practiced or even done any running, did end-to-end running on Sunday and a full shooting workout without any noticeable limp."
he wasn't limping very much in a vine i saw. He may play 10-15 minutes.Did you guys see him walking at the practice facility yesterday? He had a hardcore limp. He may be out there for less than a minute so he can try to "rally: the thunder. He will come in the 2nd quarter, and then sit his ass on the bench as "precautionary". OKC still Clinging to the remote possibility some gimp giant can will them to prevent westbrook from chunking and lower the margin of victory from
35
Something very interesting I read in the ESPN article was that he said "it was my decision over the coach and doctors mainly" - meaning the doctors probably gave him some sort of incentive or opinion that he should not play. This is just a guess, obviously.
Spurs going into the Lion's den where they have lost aplenty of late. They will go in with the right mindset, and will only lose if Thunderef beats them. Spurs won't go in without being mentally prepared for a dogfight.
The league is so impressed with Ibaka's recovery, they take one of the first two wins away from us. OKC in 5.
Doctors probably said playing won't do structural damage, but it will hurt and hamper some speed, and so it's his call if he can deal with the pain.
I had a similar injury. I could play half court okay, but it hurt like crazy to run. I played a few games, but ultimately had to sit out of basketball for a few months for it to heal.
After all the hoopla he's at least suiting up. Could you imagine the emotional let down for OKC if he doesn't? They may have him start symbolically, but I can't imagine he'd play long.
The 3 day rest + Ibaka drama = golden opportunity for the spurs.
Unless they grossly exaggerated his injury, he'd be stupid to come back. Even if there's no risk of him injuring his calf further, he is going to have to overcompensate with the other muscles and will risk damaging those. For a guy whose defensive prowess is predicated on athleticism, he's throwing away his future if he loses any it.
SERGE IBAKA EXPECTS TO PLAY GAME 3
By Royce Young | Special to ESPN.com
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thunder forward Serge Ibaka participated in shootaround Sunday and said, barring any setbacks, he will play against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
"I'm trying to put my mind ready and if I'm going to feel better later, I'm going to go," said Ibaka, who has a left calf strain. "For now, we're going to see if I feel better, because normally when you do this kind of workout, sometimes you can have pain later.
"So I'm going to see how I feel later and then I'm going to decide."
Ibaka, who was initially expected to miss the remainder of the postseason because of the calf injury, which occurred against the Los Angeles Clippers on May 15, had his status unexpectedly upgraded to day to day on Friday.
While he's still listed as day to day, Ibaka is now essentially a game-time decision for Game 3.
"It is my decision. At this point, it is my decision more than Coach [Scott Brooks] or the doctor. So it is my decision," Ibaka said. "And like I said, I went through some offense and defense this morning with my teammates. I'm going to put some ice [on the calf] and see how I'm going to feel later."
Ibaka said Saturday that he would be willing to play through pain as long as he got clearance from the team's medical staff.
"It's 100 percent going to hurt," he said Saturday. "For sure if the doctor gives me the OK and I feel better tomorrow, I will be 100 percent with the pain for sure, but like I said, I'm going to do whatever it takes to help my team."
Ibaka, who said Saturday he had not practiced or even done any running, did end-to-end running on Sunday and a full shooting workout without any noticeable limp.
The Thunder trail the Spurs 2-0, the losses by an average of 26 points. The Spurs have shredded the Thunder's typically sound defense, scoring almost at will inside the paint in the best-of-seven series.
Ibaka, who has led the league in total blocks for four consecutive seasons, has been badly missed on the defensive interior.
"I would try to bring my teammates some defensive mentality," Ibaka said. "The most important thing against this team is defense. I'm sure you saw the last two games in San Antonio, so we really need defense tonight."
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014...-antonio-spurs
Ibaka won't be the difference of the Spurs winning or losing.
But even if he plays game 3...would he play game 4? Thunder need him to play 4-5 games lol. I honestly don't think he can deal with the soreness and pain for the rest of the series
I Knew it.
negative..let me tell you from a medical stand point why he won't play much. He is at risk for tearing the muscle further, and in a worst case scenario he can rupture his achilles if not careful. He will play limited minutes...just like david lee last season. They will clear him to give an "emotional" lift, to get the crowd in it , etc. don't expect him to play more than 20minutes. Not gonna happen. Having a hematoma to your calf if serious business even if it significantly shrinks 1 week later.
"Just give the Thunder game 3 for Ibakas he
But that's just it. I think they grossly exaggerated his injury.
Proud of that man. This is a great sports (and human) story. Go get 'em, Serge.
I totally agree with OS44. Media stint, that's all!
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