Start Ibaka?

wiff · Post #1 » by **wiff** » Wed Jan 6, 2010 7:53 pm

I know this team is winning right now. They are playing fairly well. Beating the teams they should beat and competing against the teams they should lose too.

I really like Jeff Green and have no interest in trading him because I think he would be a great 6th man.

But seeing Jeff Green jump for tip off is painful. So is seeing him getting abused but longer players.

Anyone remember when the Sonics won 52 games and they had Reggie Evans starting then they would bring in Vlad Radmanovic at the 5 minute mark and he would start to bomb from the outside?

Why not do the same kind of thing with Ibaka and Green?

Overall I think most of us feel Green is the better player. However Ibaka could really give this team a needed boost on the glass and defense at the start of the game. Plus we might actually win a tip off.

Radman was getting starter minutes, but he was coming off the bench. I don't see why they can't do something like that with Green.

Is their current chemistry to good to mess with right now? Would Green be bitter coming off the bench? Personally I think Green is a team first kind of guy so he would ultimately get over it.

They brought in Maynor and he has fit in seemlessly.

I definately see a place for Jeff Green on this team as long as he chooses to play in OKC but I think it is 6th man not starting PF. I actually think his game would improve coming off the bench.

So is it time to start Ibaka?

Post #2 » by **slick_watts** » Wed Jan 6, 2010 8:44 pm

C'mon wiff there's an Ibaka topic right near the top of the page

At this point I'd start Ibaka or Collison over Jeff in a heartbeat..

Balkman32 · Post #3 » by **Balkman32** » Wed Jan 6, 2010 9:13 pm

I aggree w/ Jeff Green is going to end up being the 6th man. But, I dont think Ibaka is ready for starting. Especially since I think the organization is going to make a splash @ the trade deadline.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #4 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Wed Jan 6, 2010 11:49 pm

he isnt ready yet. that said I love him and think he is going to be a stud.

Clangus · Post #5 » by **Clangus** » Thu Jan 7, 2010 12:22 am

Lets give him a few more mins first to see if he can handle the grind.

Bump him to 28mins between C and PF then if he goes well, start him

Joel Embust · Post #6 » by **Joel Embust** » Thu Jan 7, 2010 3:17 pm

He's constantly putting up 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block numbers in his last few games in around 18 minutes.

He's a future double double guy. Start Ibaka.

wiff · Post #7 » by **wiff** » Fri Jan 8, 2010 2:30 am

Eleqtrique wrote:He's constantly putting up 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block numbers in his last few games in around 18 minutes.

He's a future double double guy. Start Ibaka.

I think he can be a double double guy too. And what he lacks in points compared to Green he would make up with boards, blocks and D.

Anyone notice the way West abused Green in the post? The first play of the game West had Green in the post backed him down and layed it up right over him. It actually happened a few times during the game.

Later in the game Serge was covering West and in a crouch basically saying "come on lets go", and West decided to swing the ball to the other side of the court.

Guys see Green and they lick their chops to punish him in the paint. Guys see Ibaka and the thought at least crosses their mind to pass the ball.

Post #8 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Jan 8, 2010 2:49 am

Ibaka is gaining valuable experience and will end up a decent defender. I still think he's too much of a liability against pick and roll offense and anything more complicated than just guarding his man. He's getting better, but he's not there yet. I still saw a lot of mistakes last night.

Green guarding West was hilarious. He even struggled a bit with Songaila.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #9 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Fri Jan 8, 2010 5:41 am

slick_watts wrote:Ibaka is gaining valuable experience and will end up a decent defender. I still think he's too much of a liability against pick and roll offense and anything more complicated than just guarding his man. He's getting better, but he's not there yet. I still saw a lot of mistakes last night.

Green guarding West was hilarious. He even struggled a bit with Songaila.

You think he will only end up a decent defender? He needs to learn the pick and roll defense, but in terms of 1v1 and weak side help he is pretty good already.

wiff · Post #10 » by **wiff** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:47 pm

It's time to start him.

He might make mistakes but considering the whole picture he'd give the Thunder more than Green currently is.

Green has just been so bad lately. They need to change it up and give him a chance to come in off the bench to jump start his game. He can't match up defensively and he has simply lost his shot. He needs to be given a different role.

I think he might need a change of scenery but before trading him they need to give him a shot at coming in off the bench.

But Ibaka has played well enough and hard enough to earn a start.

Back in the day George Karl would switch up between Big Smooth and Micheal Cage. Perkins would start about 80% of the time but on nihts when the Sonics would go up against Hakeem, Robinson or Ewing he would start Cage to start the game off with a little more muscle.

Brooks needs to do that now. If the starting PF is Boris Diaw sure feel free to run out Green. But if the starting PF is Pau Gasol run out Ibaka.

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:57 pm

I'd rather start Nick Collison. Starting Serge would make an already horrible starting lineup offensively even worse.

Post #12 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:57 pm

I would start Serge if James Harden also was inserted into the starting lineup.

Joel Embust · Post #13 » by **Joel Embust** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:52 am

Starters: Westbrook - Harden - Durant - Ibaka - Collison

Rotation guys: Maynor - Sefolosha - Green (at the 3/4) - Krstic

That's great balance between offense and defense in both the starting lineup and second unit, especially with Durant playing some minutes with the reserves.

Post #14 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:35 am

Eleqtrique wrote:Starters: Westbrook - Harden - Durant - Ibaka - Collison

Rotation guys: Maynor - Sefolosha - Green (at the 3/4) - Krstic

That's great balance between offense and defense in both the starting lineup and second unit, especially with Durant playing some minutes with the reserves.

I do like those lineups. I'd like to give Collison a shot at starting before Serge though... I do like Serge and cheer for him every time he's on the court... however, I think that Collison is vastly underrated and can be a huge asset on both ends of the floor. Collison/Kristic lineup is pretty bad looking though!

Drehova · Post #15 » by **Drehova** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:21 pm

wizkid27 wrote:
Eleqtrique wrote:Starters: Westbrook - Harden - Durant - Ibaka - Collison

Rotation guys: Maynor - Sefolosha - Green (at the 3/4) - Krstic

That's great balance between offense and defense in both the starting lineup and second unit, especially with Durant playing some minutes with the reserves.

I do like those lineups. I'd like to give Collison a shot at starting before Serge though... I do like Serge and cheer for him every time he's on the court... however, I think that Collison is vastly underrated and can be a huge asset on both ends of the floor. Collison/Kristic lineup is pretty bad looking though!

My ideal lineup is exactly what Eleqtrique posted except I would exchange Nenad for Collison (one of the energy bigs need to come off the bench .

Westbrook/Maynor
Harden/Thabo
Durant/Green
Ibaka/Green
Nenad/Collison

OzThunder · Post #16 » by **OzThunder** » Wed Feb 3, 2010 2:28 pm

i just saw this on the Atl game thread. Apparently Nique called Ibaka Chewbacca accidently. Has anyone heard this (obvious) nickname before?
I think it should stick.

wiff · Post #17 » by **wiff** » Wed Feb 3, 2010 3:58 pm

I heard an announcer jokin around calling him Chewy before.

I like Chebacca but I'm kind of partial to something that has to do with electricty/energy. In the same vein as "Power Serge".

wiff · Post #18 » by **wiff** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:14 am

So I just wanted to say that as well as Green has been playing lately that he still got abused by West. To cut Green some slack West was on fire.

Then low and behold Ibaka came in and was banging with West in the low block. Not just simply giving West low post position but doing everything he could to keep West as far from the hoops as he could. It worked, West eventually ended up getting the ball out at the top of the key. He still made the shot but I would rather have West get the ball 15ft out then 8ft out from the rim. Plus there were all the times down the floor that West simply didn't touch the ball.

You could see West getting frustrated by Ibaka.

But one of the biggest reasons why I like Ibaka is that he has a mean streak. There was a possesion where he grabbed the rebound and brought his elbows up to clear some space. The Elbows were for West. Let him know a little "what's up".

We all know Nick is a tough guy and rugged. But Ibaka can be a little chippy too. I like a team with a back bone. Even if it is just a couple guys, at least you know they have your stars back.

Because Nenad and Durant don't really put fear into anyone physically.

Ibaka gives this teama big boost of what they were lacking last year. Obviously he is still soooo young but he is giving this team some interior toughness with rebounding and blocked shots. If he keeps improving that jumper he is going to be a tough player to play against.

Post #19 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:32 am

Ibaka holds position much better than Green. He's also longer. It's not surprising he was more effective against David West..

If Ibaka devotes this summer toward learning and increasing his BBIQ (i.e. boxing out properly, finishing strong at the rim, rotations, not biting on pump fakes) he'll be a great player..

mcmokken · Post #20 » by **mcmokken** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 6:54 pm

seattlefan35 wrote:i just saw this on the Atl game thread. Apparently Nique called Ibaka Chewbacca accidently. Has anyone heard this (obvious) nickname before?
I think it should stick.

wiff wrote:I heard an announcer jokin around calling him Chewy before.

I like Chebacca but I'm kind of partial to something that has to do with electricty/energy. In the same vein as "Power Serge".

Power Serge Chewbacca

Awesome.

8-)