Serge Ibaka: #1 in this draft over Blake Griffin.

[Blame Rasho]

Think about it. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

I see it as a more of a reflection that Ibaka wasn't good enough to be on the floor while Blair was having a beastly game, but each their own.

Or maybe the Thunder decided to sit their valuable prospect in a regular season game?
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that Dejuan Blair didn't score one point or grab one rebound against Ibaka that game.

[Blame Rasho]

The people who were quick to declare this thread a joke are getting defensive now... because a guy like Favors is consensus top 3 when Ibaka is about his equal as a prospect.

If there was a thread about Favors, Turner or Cousins being #1, it wouldnt be a joke... neither should this thread. The OP and a few others caught a gem way before anyone else did... give em props

Defensive? How about Dismissive? If you want to call out someone, at least quote me.
I have no problem being wrong, and will man up when I wrong. unlike other posters here.

Here are my quotes in the thread...

Um ok....

Is there something specific you disagree with? Or are you just obnoxious?

Sometimes some of the posts I read are just hard not to laugh at... that is all.

So it's obnoxious. Good to know.

Yes... Serge Ibaka would be drafted over Blake Griffin if he played in the NCAA... It is laughable that anyone would think otherwise.

Potential is the difference between how much you suck right now if you were to play in the NBA and how good people think you can be in X amount of years if everything falls right.

Where am I wrong?

[mid-post]

Laugh all you want. But he didn't have a "27/21 game vs Ibaka" like you tried to claim.

[Blame Rasho]

Laugh all you want. But he didn't have a "27/21 game vs Ibaka" like you tried to claim.

Yeah... it was a 28/21 game vs the Thunder...

[FNQ]

I know this might be hard for someone like you to realize... but there are other people in this thread besides you. You've spoken down to everyone who posted in this thread, most of which for the wrong reason... but I think your post above goes to show that you are being defensive.

even with the sonics fan guy... he never said anything other than comparing the kid to Kemp, and even then said it was a longshot he does that. And you responded with stuff responding to the title, which had nothing to do with the actual discussion...

Basically, people who bashed this thread or the people pimping Ibaka look pretty foolish... if they watched.

[FNQ]

Where am I wrong?

Mind you, this is the same Blair who had a 27/21 game vs Ibaka.

[Blame Rasho]

I know this might be hard for someone like you to realize... but there are other people in this thread besides you. You've spoken down to everyone who posted in this thread, most of which for the wrong reason... but I think your post above goes to show that you are being defensive.

even with the sonics fan guy... he never said anything other than comparing the kid to Kemp, and even then said it was a longshot he does that. And you responded with stuff responding to the title, which had nothing to do with the actual discussion...

Basically, people who bashed this thread or the people pimping Ibaka look pretty foolish... if they watched.

Interesting... that a poster would actually respond to the OP and title on thread. It has nothing to do with the discussion now.

I know you and others want people to say that Ibaka isn't a joke( which he isn't) but compared to whom?

I asked a question, would anyone pick Blair over Blake, Favors, and etc? I don't think it is unreasonable to say that Blair was more impressive in his rookie season compared to Ibaka at the same age.

[FNQ]

Its not unreasonable at all... problem is Blair has a very serious medical problem and a very limited game. His impact is almost purely offensive, because of his height and athletic limitations. I was one of very few GS posters that was 100% behind drafting Blair 7th because of his skills...

But his type doesn't go in the top part of the draft. The super athletic, multi-tooled, potential-laden PF/Cs do. And thats why the comparison came out... its as unreasonable as asking if Favors should go 1st overall, and thats not unreasonable at all.

[wiff]

but this was bumped by the Ibaka>Griffin camp? Really?

Since I'm the guy who bumped the thread, will you please point out where I claimed Ibaka was better than Griffin?

This is the question I asked.

So how'd the last year shape things differently?

Is the gap closer than you thought? Has the gap closed? Thoughts?

Honestly I'm getting really sick and tired of people claiming that Thunder fans over value Ibaka when we ask questions like the one I asked above.

NO WHERE IN THIS THREAD DID I SAY IBAKA WAS BETTER THAN BLAKE.

However, I do want to make a few comments.

First off the reason why I bumped the thread was because last year at this time Ibaka was a complete unknown and Blake was a given with the #1 pick.

I thought it was a bit ironic how things have flipped a bit.

Ibaka had a solid year 6pts and 5rebs doesn't really jump off the page but if you look closer, in the games where Ibaka played 24minutes or more he averaged 10pts and 10rebs. Very Biedrinsesque.

Now of course Blake hurt himself and now he is the unknown. There are some real question marks IMO around the kids game. How much is his knee injury going to take away from his hops? Watching the guy in College he was a man amongst boys but in the NBA all the starting PF are men. All the guys he will be going up against are just as tall, longer, as big if not bigger and they all have hops.

He isn't going to be able to bully his way around in the paint like he did in college.

I can tell you one thing is for sure about Ibaka, he is the better defender.

I find it interesting now how the media is fawning all over Pau Gasol, calling him the best skilled big man in the league right now. Funny how they waited until after the OKC series to annoint him that. Ibaka played very well defensively against Gasol all year. It's Jeff Green who gives it up against the taller longer opponents and DeJuan Blair. Ibaka makes life tough on those guys.

Oh and for the record Ibaka starts next season over Jeff Green.

[Esohny]

Oh and for the record Ibaka starts next season over Jeff Green.

As if that means anything.

[wiff]

Oh and for the record Ibaka starts next season over Jeff Green.

As if that means anything.

It was in response to this.

WTF has he proven Thunder still dont have a solid starting big

[dream_catcher_9]

I think us sonic fans/Ibaka fans need to let Iblocka do the talking. He had a very good rookie season IMO under the circumstances(new country, new language), and by the 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs he was a beast defensively, who made highlight reel dunks, and occasionally showed a smooth mid range J.

I think this year he will take the next step offensively and shut up a lot of people. Until then lets let Ibaka do the talking. All he is right now is a athletic freak who can defend, block shots, rebound, bring energy, foul a lot, and has a mid range J.

[slick_watts]

I think he would get picked after Favors, Cousins, and probably Monroe in this draft. Definitely after Blake Griffin last year.

But Ibaka definitely opened some eyes during the year, especially in the playoffs. I didn't expect him to make much of any impact outside of the D-League and he ended up being a key contributor to a suprise 50-win team, often getting run to close out games because his presence defensively was something I haven't seen on the Thunder / Sonics in a long time.

He's still not much more than an energy PF off the bench (albeit a fantastic one), and the key ingredient for Ibaka is still the potential to develop further, but he's sure established himself as at least a key rotation player on a good team. That was way more than most people expected of him this year, and probably makes him a lottery pick if he's re-drafted.

[BJ3stacks]

Ibaka is very good and showed some incredible promise during the season but to go on record and say he is better than 1 of the best college ball players in a very long time before he has even played in a pro game is kind of crazy.

If Blake has a career ending injury before the start of next season is the only way I see that shaping up.

If the 2009 draft was re-done now.. would the Clippers take Tyreke Evans or stick with Blake? Thats a legit question. Do the Clippers take Serge Ibaka and let Blake slide just sounds ridiculous.. Ibaka certainly has never shown anything that warranted this much respect.

But please dont get me wrong, Ibaka is very good and ultra talented, plus not to mention super young.. He has tons of promise and room to grow.. But the argument here is made with Blake Griffin who tons of "experts" are still sold on the fact that he will enter the league and dominate the competition. Now experts arent always pin point but its hard to go against such a large consensus is all im saying.

[Tirion]

I have no problem being wrong, and will man up when I wrong.

Mind you, this is the same Blair who had a 27/21 game vs Ibaka.

Where am I wrong?

Self-ownage.

[wiff]

I have no problem being wrong, and will man up when I wrong.

Mind you, this is the same Blair who had a 27/21 game vs Ibaka.

Where am I wrong?

Self-ownage.

Lol.

I keep waiting for him to man up but I guess Serge did play a whole 7minutes. He would have been wrong if Serge played 5 or less.

[richboy]

Ibaka does have a shot to be special. He reminds me a lot of Ben Wallace with more offense. I think Blake Griffin is a little overrated. I still don't think Ibaka would be taken over him though. He would go much higher in the draft. He would no question be a lottery pick if he was in this years draft.