Serge Ibaka on Vertical Podcast: He wanted to play small ball C

[SOUL]

https://art19.com/shows/vertical/episodes/768580c2-13cd-4ea1-b3b7-4fa8c9563be7

“Maybe you’re thinking, we’ll manage a little bit to play small ball. It’s time to change now. The game is fast now. You have a center who shoots threes now. The game has changed now.”

Saw this over on Reddit, thought it was interesting. Seems like he came over with the idea that he would play center more. Whose fault is this? Ibaka not hitting it off with his teammates? Hennigan for signing/having 3 bigs (including two centers)?, Vogel and his broken promises of not wanting to play big at the beginning of the season?, Vucevic for his public refusal of not wanting to play off the bench after his slow start?

[fendilim]

Vogel.

[cedric76]

Sick5

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[shadrock]

And to think we didnt even really try it with him at C.

Its just laughable.

[BadMofoPimp]

Well, the team couldn't have Vooch and Biz ($30 mil) both sitting on the bench. It is Henny's fault for blessing Vogel with a roster where he couldn't use Ibaka in more ways than he had to.

[rcklsscognition]

Vogel and Hennigan have both claimed responsibility in both the idea and execution of what went down from Oladipo onwards.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited. He's so consumed with proving himself a go to scorer when he isn't. There was a reason nobody on the team liked him. I'm glad he's gone.

[LBPTarHeel27]

Once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited. He's so consumed with proving himself a go to scorer when he isn't. There was a reason nobody on the team liked him. I'm glad he's gone.

You may not like the guy but nothing about what he said was wrong.

The game is getting smaller and faster, quick. His game would seemingly work well as a 5 that can stretch the floor.

When you say "once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited"....

Don't you think every player in the NBA wishes that their team would play a style that would maximize their own abilities? Isn't is a coaches job to put his players in a position where they are best suited to succeed?

I'm not supporting Ibaka over Vogel...or Henny...or vice versa...just seemed like an illogical comment.

[ChosenSavior]

Vogel and Hennigan have both claimed responsibility in both the idea and execution of what went down from Oladipo onwards.

This. It falls on both of them. There were certainly opportunities to utilize him as a small ball C and slide AG at PF but it was never explored. Oh well.

[tiderulz]

Once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited. He's so consumed with proving himself a go to scorer when he isn't. There was a reason nobody on the team liked him. I'm glad he's gone.

You may not like the guy but nothing about what he said was wrong.

The game is getting smaller and faster, quick. His game would seemingly work well as a 5 that can stretch the floor.

When you say "once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited"....

Don't you think every player in the NBA wishes that their team would play a style that would maximize their own abilities? Isn't is a coaches job to put his players in a position where they are best suited to succeed?

I'm not supporting Ibaka over Vogel...or Henny...or vice versa...just seemed like an illogical comment.

pretty sure I remember OKC wanting to do that and Ibaka stating on more than 1 occasion that he did not want to play center

[OrlandO]

It's on Henny, Vogel AND Ibaka. Hennigan for wasting so much money on a backup C when we would have been fine with just AG/Ibaka/Vuc splitting majority of PF/C minutes, Vogel for his bad coaching/decisions - managing to bring out the worst in many players and thus the team, and ibaka for trying to use small ball as an excuse for why he was a crap defender and looked checked out half the time.

That being said, giving Ibaka 30 mil would have been a mistake so I'm glad it all blew up and we were forced to trade him. He's not a full time center, his defense at PF is overrated, he's a bad rebounder and passer, he can't create for himself and his me-baka attitude is cancerous. He's a 15/7 player on the decline at best regardless of what team he's on or what role he's in. Overrated, good riddance.

[Nyce_1]

Well, the team couldn't have Vooch and Biz ($30 mil) both sitting on the bench. It is Henny's fault for blessing Vogel with a roster where he couldn't use Ibaka in more ways than he had to.

if Vogel asked for Biz, knowing Ibaka & Vuc were here, and Rob give it to him, who's at fault?

[MagicMadness]

If Hennigan was aware of this and still traded for Ibaka, it looks really bad on him.

Actually, it looks just as bad if he was NOT aware of this.

[cedric76]

Weird cause ibaka said in the past that he didn't like to play c. Also the fact that he doesn't rebound the ball anymore might be the reason why


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[PennytoShaq]

I said this when we traded for the guy. Maybe he is just now getting around to reading my posts.

But seriously, even if he did play small ball 5 for us, resigning him would have been a bad idea. We are not ready yet for that type of investment.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited. He's so consumed with proving himself a go to scorer when he isn't. There was a reason nobody on the team liked him. I'm glad he's gone.

You may not like the guy but nothing about what he said was wrong.

The game is getting smaller and faster, quick. His game would seemingly work well as a 5 that can stretch the floor.

When you say "once again he's trying to dictate how teams should play so that his game is benefited"....

Don't you think every player in the NBA wishes that their team would play a style that would maximize their own abilities? Isn't is a coaches job to put his players in a position where they are best suited to succeed?

I'm not supporting Ibaka over Vogel...or Henny...or vice versa...just seemed like an illogical comment.

So you think he's not wrong even though it only "seemingly" may have worked? He made an opinion based comment, some may agree with him while others may not, it doesnt change the fact that he was doing the same thing in OKC to the point where they shipped him out, just like Orlando did. Its pretty obvious he wants to be a go to guy when he is isnt. He wasnt even defending very well. Nevermind the fact that he verbally stated that he doesnt like to play center and he's a **** rebounder. Most teams do play their players to the best of their abilities, you're assuming no team does with your comment. The Magic were playing him to his strengths, the problem is Ibaka seems to lack the self awareness to understand his limitations.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Well, the team couldn't have Vooch and Biz ($30 mil) both sitting on the bench. It is Henny's fault for blessing Vogel with a roster where he couldn't use Ibaka in more ways than he had to.

if Vogel asked for Biz, knowing Ibaka & Vuc were here, and Rob give it to him, who's at fault?

Like I said in the offseason, both were panic moves by Rob.

[Bakomagic]

I don't think we would have won more games with Ibaka at center we would get killed on the glass !

it would have just shifted our weaknesses. Ibaka is not very valuable on a team without superstar playmaker/ scorers, maybe henny thought Elf,Fournier, or AG would take that great leap forward in improving there offense. I love the way AG and Elf are playing lately but we still aren't contending for a playoff spot without that great offensive weapon. Hopefully Elf and AG keep performing well (in losses) this year and take another step next year to go along with our lottery drafted offensive star and we get into the playoffs next year !

[Skin]

Egg on the face of Hennigan. Fire his ass.

Failed in knowing what positions to put our players.
Failed in trades.
Failed in FA.
Failed in the draft.
Failed in knowing how to put a team together.

[Bensational]

There was obviously a shift in thinking after Ibaka came in and then the team went on to sign Biz. Maybe Gordon was making a much bigger push to play SF, leaving Vogel without a PF? Maybe Vogel saw Biz/Ibaka as a quick way to replicate what he'd done in Indiana?

One of the shortfalls of a small ball team headlined by Ibaka would be who would've been playing the wings. Hezonja clearly wasn't ready (in Vogel's opinion), Meeks was injured and not due to join the team for a while. That just leaves Green. Knowing how much Vogel loves him some Green, Im surprised he didn't try it.

Ibaka
Gordon
Green?
Fournier
Payton

Either way, feels like the line of thought of Ibaka as a small ball 5 went out the window once we signed Biz.