Abaka jumpers

[therealtruth]

Actually I remember Kenny Smith saying one time that good jump shooters can hit 80% of unguarded jumpers. It makes sense. Good free throw shooters can hit 80+%. If you're allowing a guy to catch the ball in rhythm and unguarded he's going to hit a much higher percentage than his season average.

[Seventyniner]

It's "Ibaka" with an "I" same as last year, according to the roster listing on espn.com. Has he changed the spelling?

We're just waiting for someone to call him Ubaka to complete the quintfecta.

[will_spurs]

It's "Ibaka" with an "I" same as last year, according to the roster listing on espn.com. Has he changed the spelling?

Search Abaka + Jackson on Google...

[Man In Black]

Didn't know if anyone saw this but I wonder if Ibaka's game has improved from last season.

Also, it would be cool if they did this for the Spurs.


http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...-analysis.html

[Sean Cagney]

The Spurs are relying too much on older, slower players and will get destroyed in the playoffs by a younger more athletic team. The Spurs will rack up enough regular season wins to have a top seed only to give their fans false hope for a le but will flame out again in the playoffs. They brought back the same team as last year so don't expect anything more then how far the spurs got last year.

Sadly it will probably turn out that way again. I would hope for different but you are right.

[daslicer]

The problem with Ibacka is that its all mental. I was watching a halftime special on the thunder network during the game in which he said on the special that when he plays the spurs that he feels like he's Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. He will always play great against the spurs because he has extreme confidence. The spurs have to find away to destroy his confidence obviously that won't be easy.

[boutons_deux]

Search Abaka + Jackson on Google...

The jersey he wore in the Wolves game said "Ibaka". Maybe he has several jerseys with different spellings?

[RD2191]

he's open most of the time he knocks them down, we need larry sanders so he can play him tough and maybe block some of his shots, that will mess with this head

[Dex]

I remember after Ibaka went 11-11 or whatever during last year's Game 5, an article came out with quotes from the OKC coaching staff that Ibaka can hit that mid-range jumper about as well as Durant can, and that he's even won mid-range shooting contests against Durant.

I know the primary focus playing OKC is Durant first, Westbrook second...but Ibaka has now proven twice that he is a threat that is worth paying attention to from that distance. I was okay with blowing it off the first time it happened, cool, whatever, shame on them...but after the second, shame on us....Spurs need to do something to figure that out.

[RD2191]

we have no one that can guard him, if timmy leaves his spot we have no interior defense and tiago isnt exactly a defensive force

[therealtruth]

I remember after Ibaka went 11-11 or whatever during last year's Game 5, an article came out with quotes from the OKC coaching staff that Ibaka can hit that mid-range jumper about as well as Durant can, and that he's even won mid-range shooting contests against Durant.

I know the primary focus playing OKC is Durant first, Westbrook second...but Ibaka has now proven twice that he is a threat that is worth paying attention to from that distance. I was okay with blowing it off the first time it happened, cool, whatever, shame on them...but after the second, shame on us....Spurs need to do something to figure that out.

That's the problem with relying too much on analytics. You can throw all the stats out once someone gets in a good rhythm or zone. In fact contesting shots doesn't matter that much at that point. The best way to avoid is to never let guys get a good rhythm. Basketball's a game of rhythm. You try to establish a good rhythm for your offense and making shots. You also try to prevent the other team from getting a good rhythm by being disruptive on defense. Till the Spurs apply that out they will keep loosing games where they think guys are making more shots than they think they should.