you don't need to have a facilitator at the level of harden to be able to just play. The point was that he still needs other guys to give him the ball regardless of who is it in situations so he can score the ball. He's not going to create a shot on his own consistently. Just because Harden isn't there doesn't mean there aren't other players putting him in position to score. That doesn't make him "very good offensively" because probably at best he's probably solid as he is limited in ways he can score. His career game this year against OKC where he scored 31 pts. All of his pts came off the catch where it was either a jumpshot or a finish around the rim.
Yes, he tells on others to get his shots, but he also has a small face up game. He just isn't getting the amount of open looks as he would in this system. Non the less, my argument isn't about how much better Ibaka could be. My point is what do you honestly expect and wish Montrezl becomes? A good midrange shooter? A good 3 point shooter? Both? Ibaka is both offensively already, and would become our best interior defender. Im saying this and I like Montrezl and I'm not entirely sold on Ibaka. But you have to be realistic and not be blinded by homerism
oh don't get me wrong, I posted in this thread Ibaka at the 5 here would be very interesting to me. But the decline in play and other factors that some have posted puts a question mark on how much you should really give up for him for the rental for the rest of the year.
Absolutely agree. But with dumping brewer while getting better this year and maintaining flexibility. What's it worth to us? I'm willing to forgo our 1st and lose Montrezl in order to dump brewer and secure Ibaka. Would be curious if we could sneak their 2nd rd pick from them also since they are poorly ran and morey loves 2nds.
@heypartner @Fyreball @hakeem94 Everyone claiming Ibaka is some kind of stud postseason performer, where are you getting your information from? Here are the facts: Career: 11/7/3 on 51% shooting in 89 playoff games Last 3 postseasons: Essentially 12/6/2 in 33 minutes a game Are you really going to try to sell me Ibaka as a postseason stud when the guy's playoff peak is essentially putting up 12 points and 6 rebounds a night? Sure, he's been more efficient as a scorer in the postseason, but his USG% drops from from essentially 18% in the regular season to a measly 15% in the playoffs. If he wasn't efficient with a USG% that low, that would be pathetic. As for examples of Ibaka choking in big moments, how about these? - 2011-12 finals: In his only Finals appearance, Ibaka averages a whopping 7/5/2 on 42% shooting. He completely disappeared against the Heat. - 2012-13 postseason: Westbrook goes down against the Rockets (as you all should remember). Ibaka averages 12.8 points per game on 12.3 shots a night, shooting 44% from the floor in 11 games. Against Memphis, he was truly awful, shooting 38% from the floor and averaging 12.6 points on 13.8 shots. - 2014-15 regular season: Not a postseason failure, but the guy took a huge step backward that year despite Durant missing more than half the season. This was his chance to shine with only Westy to share the ball with and somehow his USG% dropped, he posted his career low WS/48 and his lowest PER since his rookie season. - 2015-16 postseason: I wouldn't say this postseason was a failure, but he disappeared a TON in the playoffs last year. He scored in single digits five times in 18 games. - Random fun fact: Since the 2011-12 postseason in which OKC made the finals, Ibaka has had ONE game with 20+ points in his last 48 postseason games. And, for the record, I'm totally on board with the idea of the Rockets trading for Ibaka. I like the guy. But my point is that he's hardly a star player, and if anyone is expecting him to be more than a No. 3 or No. 4 guy at best, they're sorely mistaken.
Let's say i like to see him more similar to Draymond Green than Ibaka but yeah...like i said, a deal can make sense, it's just that overall i'm not sold on Serge at this point -> age + contract...i don't know... If it's for 1st + Trez + trash maybe that's ok but i'm not sure it's the right move going forward, especially if from next season you're going to have something like 50 million on him and Anderson.
Not really, Ibaka shoots better than Amare ever did, but he's not as good in the paint and in the pick&roll, Blake Griffin would be the perfect Stoudamire for Harden.
But that makes even less sense Imo. They only share hustle and attitude(maybe?). Not similar at all. He was always defense hoping to improve offense. Trez is going to improve both.
Dude.... You're looking at his numbers per 100 possessions. In terms of per game production, he's basically been 12/6/2 the last three postseasons. Not remotely the same thing...
He's a role player. He doesn't have to be a stud to shine in the playoffs. Stop moving the goal posts. No amount of you trying to research games to prove to us otherwise will change that he known for shining in the playoffs. Even in your post you said twice in your bullets "not a playoff failure" It's clear to me you were referring to the Durant injury year as his moment to shine, and didn't realize how good of a playoff performer he is and absolute key to their dominance of the Spurs, so now you are researching his playoff career and trying to nick pick it.
Ok, fine. Regardless, 12/6/2 with a little over 30 minutes a night when you have Westbrook and Durant taking the majority of possessions is downright SOLID. I would HARDLY call that "shrinking in big moments."
I think Trez has also better handles than Ibaka, softer touch, he's just smoother...that's why along with size, attitude he reminds me of a "young" Draymond more than Ibaka.
If you were trying to use a player in the league that has a game completely opposite of Trez then yes Draymond is a good player to pick.
Wait... since when is "not failing" synonymous with "shining in the playoffs?" I don't think I'm the one moving the goalposts here, pal. And I didn't need to do that much research. I had actually totally forgotten about the Durant season. I was remembering how ineffective he was in that postseason after Westy went down and how he was essentially useless in the Finals against the Heat. I'm not nitpicking anything. The guy is a solid defender all around and was a big part of OKC's success because of that. I'm not disputing that point, but he has absolutely shrunk when asked to be a bigger contributor on offense. And on what planet is 12 points and 6 boards a game considered "shining in the playoffs?" If you want to call him a role player, I'm totally fine with that, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.
I'm saying that Trez overall reminds me more about Draymond in his first seasons than Ibaka, and that i like to think about him develop his game more ala Draymond than Ibaka, i have no doubt about that, if you think the opposite that's fine
