[jerb2011Participant]

 This guy  in my opinion, is one of the most slept on players in the league. Unfortunately it’s because he plays with KD and Russ, but what is everybody’s opinion on the guy. He came to the league a completely raw athlete at 18, and is one of the best big man shooters in the league. I believe he could be a consistent 25/10 man on another team. He’s bone arguably the best shot blocker/help defender in the league and I see a lot of AL Horford in his offensive game. He’s really o ly lacking a reliable handle and thatncould take his game to that All Star level. How would you guys compare him? Who does he remind you of?

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

 Sarge Ibaka ain’t bout dis lyfe

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

 Sarge Ibaka ain’t bout dis lyfe

[Anton123Participant]

Without KD he needed to step up his game as the second option on the team and proved he isn’t effective in that role (FG% dropped from 54% to 48%). So I don’t know what team he can efficiently score 25 ppg on. His focus on the offensive side of the game has hurt him as a defender and rebounder and him shooting threes has really affected his offensive rebounding (something he was great at 2 years ago),

With the addition of Kanter and the return of Durant he will probably be the fourth offensive option on the team. I really hope he embraces this role and gets back to being an All-NBA defender. I would love to see him average around 14 & 9 with over 3 BPG next year on over 55% from the field, more like the 2012-2013 Serge Ibaka.

[Anton123Participant]

Without KD he needed to step up his game as the second option on the team and proved he isn’t effective in that role (FG% dropped from 54% to 48%). So I don’t know what team he can efficiently score 25 ppg on. His focus on the offensive side of the game has hurt him as a defender and rebounder and him shooting threes has really affected his offensive rebounding (something he was great at 2 years ago),

With the addition of Kanter and the return of Durant he will probably be the fourth offensive option on the team. I really hope he embraces this role and gets back to being an All-NBA defender. I would love to see him average around 14 & 9 with over 3 BPG next year on over 55% from the field, more like the 2012-2013 Serge Ibaka.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Ibaka is a good spot up shooting big…he can’t do anything in the way of creating his own offense. He’s not slept on at all. I think its fairly universal how valuable he is to OKC. He’s an elite defensive big man–which, he wasn’t always. He’s always been a good shot blocker, but he used to sacrifice a lot of other things chasing blocks, now he’s straight up excellent. 

There’s no way he’d be a second scoring option on a good NBA team though. He’s done a lot to improve his shooting, but an ideal game for Ibaka would involve less than 5 dribbles total probably. 

Really good player, not an offensive focal point. He impacts the game without scoring more than most players in the league, and that’s totally fine. 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Ibaka is a good spot up shooting big…he can’t do anything in the way of creating his own offense. He’s not slept on at all. I think its fairly universal how valuable he is to OKC. He’s an elite defensive big man–which, he wasn’t always. He’s always been a good shot blocker, but he used to sacrifice a lot of other things chasing blocks, now he’s straight up excellent. 

There’s no way he’d be a second scoring option on a good NBA team though. He’s done a lot to improve his shooting, but an ideal game for Ibaka would involve less than 5 dribbles total probably. 

Really good player, not an offensive focal point. He impacts the game without scoring more than most players in the league, and that’s totally fine. 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Ibaka is pretty much what Horace grant was to the bulls in the early 90s. He is a better shot blocker than grant ever was and has deeper shooting range but the way he fits with the thunder is very similar. He is not a guy you can really go to offensively and he wouldnt be 20 ppg scorer on any team, but he plays well off their superstars and anchors their defense. He fits perfectly in that role with the thunder, but he is not skilled enough offensively to have an extended role.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Ibaka is pretty much what Horace grant was to the bulls in the early 90s. He is a better shot blocker than grant ever was and has deeper shooting range but the way he fits with the thunder is very similar. He is not a guy you can really go to offensively and he wouldnt be 20 ppg scorer on any team, but he plays well off their superstars and anchors their defense. He fits perfectly in that role with the thunder, but he is not skilled enough offensively to have an extended role.

[jerb2011Participant]

 But nobody ever watches him play, he gets many points on fastbreak opportunities, but his post game has expanded and he can do more than face up and shoot. He has multiple 18-25 point games. Maybe it’s because he has multiple threats on his team, but when Russell went down and it was him and KD, check his stats. He had many 20 point 10 rebound games. A ball handle would definitely help him do more though, obviously.

[jerb2011Participant]

 But nobody ever watches him play, he gets many points on fastbreak opportunities, but his post game has expanded and he can do more than face up and shoot. He has multiple 18-25 point games. Maybe it’s because he has multiple threats on his team, but when Russell went down and it was him and KD, check his stats. He had many 20 point 10 rebound games. A ball handle would definitely help him do more though, obviously.

[PlatypusParticipant]

 As weird as it sounds for a guy at his size, as a big man he’s almost a D & 3 style player. Comparison wise for players in the past I almost compare him to a modern day Bill Laimbeer

[PlatypusParticipant]

 As weird as it sounds for a guy at his size, as a big man he’s almost a D & 3 style player. Comparison wise for players in the past I almost compare him to a modern day Bill Laimbeer

[ph90702]

He is a "3 and D" big man.  That alone gives him major value.

[ph90702]

He is a "3 and D" big man.  That alone gives him major value.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Ibaka is basically a sneak-preview to the future of big men; guys that can shoot it, run the floor and block shots (especially from the weak side). With the league becoming more guard- and 3pt-oriented teams need guys like him, as it allows them to operate on offense without giving up a wide-open lane on defense. Guard that penetrate after faking a long-distance shot will run into weak-side help from Ibaka-like players.
As far as other players that offer the same, I can see someone like Miles Turner, Towns and Porzingis developing in somewhat the same way; versatile big men, who can step outside, run the floor and block shots (from the weak side).

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Ibaka is basically a sneak-preview to the future of big men; guys that can shoot it, run the floor and block shots (especially from the weak side). With the league becoming more guard- and 3pt-oriented teams need guys like him, as it allows them to operate on offense without giving up a wide-open lane on defense. Guard that penetrate after faking a long-distance shot will run into weak-side help from Ibaka-like players.
As far as other players that offer the same, I can see someone like Miles Turner, Towns and Porzingis developing in somewhat the same way; versatile big men, who can step outside, run the floor and block shots (from the weak side).

[jerb2011Participant]

After watching some Horace Grant film, I can see the comparison. Serge is a better shot blocker too. I’ll have to watch some more Bill Laimbeer

[jerb2011Participant]

After watching some Horace Grant film, I can see the comparison. Serge is a better shot blocker too. I’ll have to watch some more Bill Laimbeer

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Serge isn’t an elite rebounder by any stretch. I could see him putting up 21-9 on a team that highlighted his strengths, but 25 and 10 is a bit rediculous. Those are Olajuwan numbers. He strikes me as a Rasheed Wallace type player, not Hakeem.

[jerb2011Participant]

 I could see Rasheed Wallace if he had a handle, but I already knew what kind of reaction that would get on here. I can tell you actually watch him more than just his fast break points/ game highlights. He does have some skill all over the court. A handle would make people play more honest on him and he could probably score easier if he is a threat to drive just as much as he is to shoot

[jerb2011Participant]

 I could see Rasheed Wallace if he had a handle, but I already knew what kind of reaction that would get on here. I can tell you actually watch him more than just his fast break points/ game highlights. He does have some skill all over the court. A handle would make people play more honest on him and he could probably score easier if he is a threat to drive just as much as he is to shoot

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Serge isn’t an elite rebounder by any stretch. I could see him putting up 21-9 on a team that highlighted his strengths, but 25 and 10 is a bit rediculous. Those are Olajuwan numbers. He strikes me as a Rasheed Wallace type player, not Hakeem.

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