Sunday, April 14, 2013

Why Serge Ibaka Will Be the Key to OKC Thunder's Postseason Success

The Oklahoma City Thunder have high hopes for the 2013 NBA playoffs. While Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook may seize the most points and headlines for the group, it will function as play of energy forward Serge Ibaka that determines how successful the Thunder have reached achieving their high hopes. Ibaka signed a, $48 million expansion during the 2012 offseason, and he has lived as much as the nonsense during the 2012-13 NBA season. The 23-year-old is putting up career-highs in points per game, rebounds per game, free-throw percentage, field-goal percentage and minutes. Any group will want one of their advanced participants to answer like that after receiving this kind of lucrative deal. However, Ibaka also can disappear at times, particularly against he that is forced by teams out of his comfort zone. One of many biggest reasons for Ibakaas improved rating productivity is his much-improved jump shot. He's shot an extraordinary 49 per cent from middle variety this year. That enhanced firing mark has specially benefited the Thunder in regards to the pick-and-roll. Opposing clubs had enough trouble attempting to guard Russell Westbrook coming from those displays. Now, they could no further however focus on him. If they do, Ibaka will soon be ready to sink a jumper and place following the display. Rob Carr/Getty Photos While that's a fantastic duality to own in a point guard and big man, Ibaka has to continue to increase his skills of this type. There are teams that are able to hold Westbrook out of the lane and still protect Ibaka going off the screen. Something he must learn how to do is throw to the hoop for alley-oops and clear looks at the side. The only real place in which he shoots better than mid-range reaches the edge, where he makes 73 per cent of his field-goal attempts. In is his rebounding still another big aspectAIbaka can increase. His present mark of 7.8 per game is good, nevertheless the truth is he is capable of much, much more. This issue generally needs to do with how natural Ibaka still is really as a player; he's still learning how to utilize his silly athletic ability in the absolute most effective ways. Nevertheless, he can simply take steps to do better this postseason. One big problem the Thunder have experienced in their recent losses are stopping offensive boards. While Kendrick Perkins has received a lot of the fault among fans, Ibaka can be responsible. He's to return to the fundamentals of stopping out. He is also athletic to be quitting unpleasant boards with a of the people he is been fighting under the post. The Thunder have a fantastic shot at winning the West for the second straight year. However, Ibaka needs to provide them with a scoring threat and a greater rebounding energy. Several clubs could match the Thunderas size, because they are greater than normal across their starting five. But nothing will be meant by that advantage if Ibaka can not cause the destruction he's capable of.

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