Everything Serge Ibaka

[Nilanka]

Nilanka bringing all the hype man Tweets today. When does the season start???

Lol, it's around this time every year that I tell myself, "next year, I'm buying tickets to Summer League and flying down to Vegas for a week".

[Ebonhawke]

Lol, it's around this time every year that I tell myself, "next year, I'm buying tickets to Summer League and flying down to Vegas for a week".

And then realize that Vegas in July is a BAD idea if you don't want to spend all your time in a casino losing money

Today: 46C
Saturday: 44C
Sunday: 42C

[lewro]

Lol, it's around this time every year that I tell myself, "next year, I'm buying tickets to Summer League and flying down to Vegas for a week".

Me too.

[lewro]

And then realize that Vegas in July is a BAD idea if you don't want to spend all your time in a casino losing money

Today: 46C
Saturday: 44C
Sunday: 42C

That's the price of admission to watch Bruno loaf around some 4ft airballs, ok!?

[Rudy Bargnani]

So a bit random, but it's the offseason:

3 Eastern Conference Forward All Stars moved to the western conference this summer. (Millsap, Paul George and Butler).

Odds that Ibaka can become an all star this year? I think it's unlikely but possible.

There's going to be some perennial all stars in the west not making the team this year. The talent out there is crazy.

[LJ2]

Gonna be tough with LBJ and Love sure to get a spot. I wonder if JV has a better shot of getting in this year?

[DanH]

Gonna be tough with LBJ and Love sure to get a spot. I wonder if JV has a better shot of getting in this year?

With C's rolled in with forwards, I'd expect Serge to have a better shot based on name recognition alone.

[GOLDBLUM]

[Chr1s1anL]

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/11/to...-list-rankings

56. SERGE IBAKA, RAPTORS
The Magic traded for him in hopes that he would provide a clear defensive team identity. Then, the Raptors acquired him with an eye towards substantially improving their lineup versatility against the East’s top playoff contenders. On both counts, the 27-year-old Ibaka (14.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG) left his new teams wanting more. In Orlando, he proved unable to solve the many fit questions around him and failed to transform a space-deprived offense that needed more than a complementary frontcourt scorer. In Toronto, he couldn’t recapture the game-changing, two-way play he regularly showcased during his Oklahoma City tenure.

Taken together, the two chapters of Ibaka’s underwhelming 2016-17 season strongly suggest that his most effective and forceful days are behind him. Once a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and shot-blocking leader, his block rate has now decreased for five straight seasons. Surprisingly, both the Magic and Raptors posted better defensive efficiency ratings with Ibaka off the court than with him on, and Toronto’s small-ball units with Ibaka at center did not fare well defensively against the Cavaliers in the second round. Ibaka’s three-point shooting range and his ability to play both the four and five helped him pull down a three-year, $64 million contract from the Raptors this summer, but even that payday was a reminder of what could have been. Had the 2014 version of Ibaka hit the market this summer, he would have easily commanded a nine-figure deal. — BG

[Maury]

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/11/to...-list-rankings

That's pretty fair, but I think Serge is incredibly valuable for us, which isn't being appreciated here. He's our only competent defensive big unless you count Jakob who isn't quite ready yet. He's our second best three point shooter. He's a very reliable third option on offence and can keep the team afloat when they're hitting a dry spell. His defence has gotten slightly worse, but he remains a presence at the rim who can hold his own on switches. He is and will be an integral part of this team for likely the next three years.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

That's pretty fair, but I think Serge is incredibly valuable for us, which isn't being appreciated here. He's our only competent defensive big unless you count Jakob who isn't quite ready yet. He's our second best three point shooter. He's a very reliable third option on offence and can keep the team afloat when they're hitting a dry spell. His defence has gotten slightly worse, but he remains a presence at the rim who can hold his own on switches. He is and will be an integral part of this team for likely the next three years.

Think he's our 3rd best shooter, if Miles can actually replicate what he did last year (which I somewhat doubt), but I totally agree on the rest.

[Scraptor]

That's pretty fair, but I think Serge is incredibly valuable for us, which isn't being appreciated here. He's our only competent defensive big unless you count Jakob who isn't quite ready yet. He's our second best three point shooter. He's a very reliable third option on offence and can keep the team afloat when they're hitting a dry spell. His defence has gotten slightly worse, but he remains a presence at the rim who can hold his own on switches. He is and will be an integral part of this team for likely the next three years.

While true, one of the most disconcerting aspects of Serge is that his advanced stats have been on a steady downward trend since 2012-13. He posted career lows in PER and WS/48 as a Rap, though it was only a 23-game stretch.

Really hoping he bounces back with a big season after a full training camp.

[GLF]

While true, one of the most disconcerting aspects of Serge is that his advanced stats have been on a steady downward trend since 2012-13. He posted career lows in PER and WS/48 as a Rap, though it was only a 23-game stretch.

Really hoping he bounces back with a big season after a full training camp.

That's kind of what I'm banking on. That a full training camp with the team and a full preseason will get him back on track. Especially playing on a good team like the Raptors because Orlando was just terrible.

[Maury]

Everything Serge Ibaka

That's kind of what I'm banking on. That a full training camp with the team and a full preseason will get him back on track. Especially playing on a good team like the Raptors because Orlando was just terrible.

The advanced stats may be declining, but the eye test was very promising and I agree it is possible that these depreciations in advanced stats will go back to normal for him when he's on a competent team and can play off of two very good offensive guys similar to KD (Lowry) and Russ (DD). Obviously they aren't nearly as good but they can somewhat replicate the setting he was in in OKC. He still has good lateral quickness and clearly guys think twice about driving when he's at the rim still. Intimidation is a big part of rim protection.

[GLF]

The advanced stats may be declining, but the eye test was very promising and I agree it is possible that these depreciations in advanced stats will go back to normal for him when he's on a competent team and can play off of two very good offensive guys similar to KD (Lowry) and Russ (DD). Obviously they aren't nearly as good but they can somewhat replicate the setting he was in in OKC. He still has good lateral quickness and clearly guys think twice about driving when he's at the rim still. Intimidation is a big part of rim protection.

Agreed. To me the eye test looked good. People were saying he fell off so much but he looked pretty good to me or at least not as bad as people made it seem. Also on Orlando he was the number one option and we know Serge is no number one option in todays NBA. He'll do a lot better playing off Demar and Kyle and playing in a more natural role for him. Especially when he gets more comfortable with them and gets more comfortable with the system and the coach. He was asked to do to much on Orlando I think.