Serge Ibaka a failure in OKC?

[twix2500]

The Thunder decided to let two players go (Jeff Green and James Harden) with the faith that Serge Ibaka will blossom into an elite player and fill that third star role. Moments last year he looked as if his defense and his improve offense will raise to elite level, but it never happened. It would seem that his potential should be a perfect compliment to Westbrook and Durant. But 13 pts and 7.7 rbs season this year and not stepping up his role in the absence of Westbrook may be a sign that the hopes that OKC had in him will not be reached. That his potential may be just as a role player.
What do you guys think?
Is he so far a failure?
And do you still think he has potential?

[FinnTheHuman]

I think he's overrated. Defensively, he's a good shot blocker, but shot blocking is overrated and it's just one element of defense which he's good at. ZBo in these semis is a proof. Offensively, he hasn't improved much this season, but there's room for that, but not drastically, and not in a system where 2 players play iso the whole game.

[GeneralNbaFan]

The Thunder decided to let two players go (Jeff Green and James Harden) with the faith that Serge Ibaka will blossom into an elite player and fill that third star role. Moments last year he looked as if his defense and his improve offense will raise to elite level, but it never happened. It would seem that his potential should be a perfect compliment to Westbrook and Durant. But 13 pts and 7.7 rbs season this year and not stepping up his role in the absence of Westbrook may be a sign that the hopes that OKC had in him will not be reached. That his potential may be just as a role player.
What do you guys think?
Is he so far a failure?
And do you still think he has potential?

This part is not true. They traded Green for Perkins. They thought that Perkins was 1.) a good player 2.) lockerroom leader, to sum it up a good piece to the young core.
+ They make room for the improvements of WB, Harden and Durant.
So it was a brilliant move at that time. Of coure right now they would prefer Green, but they still had success without him.
And losing Harden. OMG, I cant still believe it. He is the perfect player for them. Talented and young.
And who saw something special in Ibaka? I will never get it. He is an elite shot blocker (not defender) and an good midranger Jumper ( not elite, like Dirk, Bosh etc.) he cant even dribble with the ball.

[sfernald]

Can you imagine this lineup today:


Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Ibaka


They could actually have had that lineup, lol. I still can't figure out why they never tried Harden as starting SG. I mean, wtf. The guy is scoring 25 now. Sometimes coaches overthink it. Put your best players on the floor.

[comingbacktousa]

This is extremely premature. Despite a poor playoff performance Ibaka is one of the better big men shooters in the league and is developing range out to the 3. How has he not improved much offensively this season? He had one of the highest fg% in the league despite over half his shot attempts coming from 10+ feet out.

He actually did a really good job on Z-bo. One of the espn guys even posted a stat line on twitter that showed Z-bo struggled with Ibaka on him but absolutely abused anyone else that guarded him.

Hes better than Jeff Green. And a better fit that Harden would have been and cheaper. To have 3 max perimeter doesn't make sense. They chose Westbrook over Harden not Ibaka over Harden.

[Carl25]

He's still only 23. This is a little premature, I'd say.

[Bodhi]

He's still only 23. This is a little premature, I'd say.

He's probably closer to 25 but it's not a huge issue

[twix2500]

The Thunder decided to let two players go (Jeff Green and James Harden) with the faith that Serge Ibaka will blossom into an elite player and fill that third star role. Moments last year he looked as if his defense and his improve offense will raise to elite level, but it never happened. It would seem that his potential should be a perfect compliment to Westbrook and Durant. But 13 pts and 7.7 rbs season this year and not stepping up his role in the absence of Westbrook may be a sign that the hopes that OKC had in him will not be reached. That his potential may be just as a role player.
What do you guys think?
Is he so far a failure?
And do you still think he has potential?

This part is not true. They traded Green for Perkins. They thought that Perkins was 1.) a good player 2.) lockerroom leader, to sum it up a good piece to the young core.
+ They make room for the improvements of WB, Harden and Durant.
So it was a brilliant move at that time. Of coure right now they would prefer Green, but they still had success without him.
And losing Harden. OMG, I cant still believe it. He is the perfect player for them. Talented and young.
And who saw something special in Ibaka? I will never get it. He is an elite shot blocker (not defender) and an good midranger Jumper ( not elite, like Dirk, Bosh etc.) he cant even dribble with the ball.

Ibaka development had plenty to do with Green being traded. OKC felt that could afford to trade Green for a needed piece because of the faith they had in Ibaka.

[mr_sunshine]

Can you imagine this lineup today:


Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Ibaka


They could actually have had that lineup, lol. I still can't figure out why they never tried Harden as starting SG. I mean, wtf. The guy is scoring 25 now. Sometimes coaches overthink it. Put your best players on the floor.

Scott Brooks is a moron. And the Green for Perkins trade was HORRIBLE. Perkins is one of the worst players in the NBA. They also should have kept Harden for the season - but hey what do I know? No way they should amnesty Perk!

The more I see, the more I realize their GM kind of sucks and really just luckboxed some early picks in the draft.

[Bodhi]

Can you imagine this lineup today:


Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Ibaka


They could actually have had that lineup, lol. I still can't figure out why they never tried Harden as starting SG. I mean, wtf. The guy is scoring 25 now. Sometimes coaches overthink it. Put your best players on the floor.

Scott Brooks is a moron. And the Green for Perkins trade was HORRIBLE. Perkins is one of the worst players in the NBA. They also should have kept Harden for the season - but hey what do I know? No way they should amnesty Perk!

The more I see, the more I realize their GM kind of sucks and really just luckboxed some early picks in the draft.

I get the impression that Garnett tricked people into thinking Perkins was good by covering up all his deficiencies and locking down every pick and roll. Even 38 year old Shaq looked really good playing next to Garnett

[twix2500]

Yeah I was amazed that the Thunder fell for that Okie Doke. They could of found a way to get a role player like Perkins for less money without giving up on a talent like Green. Ian Mahinmi for the Pacers is the exact same player. Hell Collison is as well.

[MrSparkle]

The more time passes by, the more foolish all of OKC's moves seem...Sub-par coaching influenced some of those decision.

Before letting Harden and Green go, and before Westbrook got injured, that was a 5+ rings in 10 years dynasty. All they needed to do was wait a few years for their 23 year old superstar to mature a little more.

I don't know why franchises get impatient and put championship expectations on their sub-26 year old players. I can't think of ANYBODY besides Magic or Bird (who joined stacked teams anyway) in the last 30 years who was able to lead his team to a ring before having atleast 6 or 7 years of failure. Jordan went through it... Lebron... It wasn't Kobe's team in 00-03, it was Shaq's... I guess Duncan had early success, but again, he joined a stacked veteran team...

Thing with OKC, they basically had the Bulls 80s model in place. 1-2-3 all-star punch. Ibaka, Perkins, to me, are the expendable parts. There's Taj Gibson.. Varejao... Asik... Lots of good dirty work guys who could be traded for at a modest price.

Seems insane that they dropped 2 fine offensive talents for short-term defensive help or cap savings, or future assets. Good luck with that #12 pick.

[Shv3d]

Can you imagine this lineup today:


Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Ibaka


They could actually have had that lineup, lol. I still can't figure out why they never tried Harden as starting SG. I mean, wtf. The guy is scoring 25 now. Sometimes coaches overthink it. Put your best players on the floor.

That lineup would have such great spacing on offense too. All 5 of those players can hit a 3.

[comingbacktousa]

He's still only 23. This is a little premature, I'd say.

He's probably closer to 25 but it's not a huge issue

You have any sources for that or is that just a racist comment since hes from Africa?

[bledredwine]

uhhhh Ibaka is quite sound offensively and obviously is defensively as well.....

I don't understand this thread.

[Doddage]

I think he's overrated. Defensively, he's a good shot blocker, but shot blocking is overrated and it's just one element of defense which he's good at. ZBo in these semis is a proof. Offensively, he hasn't improved much this season, but there's room for that, but not drastically, and not in a system where 2 players play iso the whole game.

"Good" shot blocker? I'd say he's a great shot blocker. I agree with the rest though.

[Bodhi]

He's still only 23. This is a little premature, I'd say.

He's probably closer to 25 but it's not a huge issue

You have any sources for that or is that just a racist comment since hes from Africa?

@andrewmohr: Think Ibaka is older than his stated age?

@DraftExpress: Yes, but no more than a year or two. Don't think he knows his actual age either.

[mr.ankle]

I never understood why Thabo Starting over James Harden

[sonictecture]

I never understood why Thabo Starting over James Harden

Not even with Manu Ginobili and the Spurs writing the successful blue print for the last 10 years?

[mcfly1204]

It is a little difficult to judge Ibaka until he plays with a starting caliber center.