OKC's Ibaka most likely out for playoffs
The Oklahoma City Thunder will not start their Western Conference finals showdown with the San Antonio Stimulates at anywhere near complete toughness.
Thunder power ahead Serge Ibaka is expected to miss the rest of the postseason after suffering a left calf injury in Oklahoma City's series-clinching gain Thursday night versus the Los Angeles Clippers, the group announced Friday.
Thunder basic supervisor Sam Presti called it a Grade 2 pressure of the plantaris, which takes some time to recover and build up because of a higher reinjury price.
"I simply intend to show our disappointment for Serge, which, as we all understand, is an exclusive rival and an individual that has actually proven to be a tremendous colleague," Presti stated. "He was playing great basketball throughout the season. He's had a significant impact on our period to date.".
Presti stated in a conference call with reporters that Ibaka is not likely to return even if the Thunder make it past the Spurs.
The 6-foot-10 energy ahead went through an MRI on Friday after enduring the injury in the 3rd quarter of Thursday evening's succeed.
Last year, Thunder All-Star point player Russell Westbrook was knocked senseless of the playoffs with a torn ACL in the first round against Houston. The Thunder rallied to win that collection just before losing to Memphis in the next round.
Presti thinks the Thunder can rally and be ready for the Spurs.
"We have had this group with each other for some time, and they've been through some ups and downs, and this is just an additional one that hopefully is only going to make us far better," Presti said.
Ibaka averaged 12.2 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in THIRTEEN playoff games. During the normal period, he scratched job highs with 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds each video game while leading the organization in complete blocks for the fourth successive season with 219.
During his psychological MVP acceptance speech, Kevin Durant identified Ibaka for stepping up and eliminating several of the group's errors while Westbrook recuperated from his most recent knee surgical procedure. While Westbrook was out, the Thunder went 20-7, and Ibaka's numbers leapt to 15.7 factors, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks each video game with 57 percent shooting from the area.
"For us, we as an organization have actually been in some circumstances in the past, and how we respond to those has always been the procedure of the groups that we have actually had in Oklahoma City," Presti stated. "Our assumption going ahead is that we'll respond very well.".
The Spurs will open up the collection in the home Monday in Game 1 with wellness worries of their very own, as celebrity guard Tony Parker remains to recuperate from a hamstring strain. However instructor Gregg Popovich shared Friday that Parker is confident of being ready for the opener, whereas Oklahoma City will significantly miss Ibaka, its interior protective secure.
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Oklahoma City swept its 4 regular-season conferences with the Spurs, that went 62-16 against the rest of the league for the NBA's ideal document this season.
