Sophomore Report V1.05 : Serge Ibaka: Lynchpin of a Contender?

By Brendan McKay

8 points/14 rebounds/7 blocks/2 steals in 29 minutes of play. This is a role player's wet dream of a box score. This was the line a man they call Serge Iblocka put up against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 13th. A line like that makes you wonder exactly when a role player sheds the designation that often rings as a backhanded compliment. At what point can a player whose skills lie on the defensive end of the floor be so respected, that labeling him as a role player is as ridiculous as saying that all Kevin Durant does is light up the scoreboard? Ibaka's play this year, and especially as of late, begs that we ask the question.
Air Congo
Serge Ibaka is a huge reason that the 2010-2011 Thunder are firmly in the 4th spot of the Western Conference's playoff race. Furthermore, the newly formed low post duo of Ibaka and Kenrick Perkins makes pundits wonder if the Thunder are the league's best defensive team that doesn't reside in the state of Massachusetts.  Over the course of the season Ibaka has average 7.5 rebounds a game and 2.3 blocks (good for 4th in the league). He's done this while contributing 9.4 points on a super efficient 54% from the field (6th in the league). What has he done for you lately? Nine boards and almost four blocks per in the month of March. How have opposing big men fared during this run? The oppositions' starting power forwards and centers (Ibaka guards both) have averaged 10.4 points a game on 42.6% shooting. For a point of  reference, the Milwaukee Bucks are the worst shooting team in the NBA. They shoot 42.7% from the floor. Oh yea, the Thunder are 9-2 in March.

Drafting Serge Ibaka out of the Republic of Congo is one of the many moves that make, Thunder GM, Sam Presti look like an absolute master. Ibaka is a perfect fit on the Oklahoma City, as he be would on any contender. Athletic big men who work the boards and protect the rim, without bogging a team down offensively, are a dying breed in the NBA. Most players who fit the above description are at the very least a liability at the free throw line. Not Ibaka; he averages a respectable 73% from the stripe. I mean, let's be honest, the Miami Heat would kill to have a player like Ibaka doing dirty work, while the stars soak up the headlines. He is a throwback to the days of Charles Oakley and Horace Grant. It is the mistake of the Miami and New York's of the world to think they can win with stars and retreads alone. Players like Ibaka are the glue that creates the consistency required of any true contender.

So now you know all about what kind of player Serge Ibaka is right now. But let's remember, this is the Sophomore Report and Mr. Ibaka is still a baby, even by NBA standards, at 21 years old. What kind of player can he become? Unlike some on the Sophomore Report, it is hard to imagine Ibaka developing too much more physically. Also unlike some players on the Sophomore Report, there is no questioning Ibaka's heart or work ethic. Instead of spending his youth as a preordained basketball Messiah that has spoiled more than a few talents, Ibaka grew up in the Republic of Congo and experienced Civil War at the age of 8. Without knowing the man personally, it seems reasonable to say that he does not view his success as predestined or take it for granted. He is also positioned perfectly to grow on a Thunder roster that places the team above the individual despite having two legitimate MVP candidates. Kevin Durant went so far as to conditionally accept an offer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated for its preseason NBA edition. His condition being that two lesser known teammates (Thabo Sefolosha and Nenad Kristic) join him on the forefront. Individually, Ibaka has all of the physical requirements to be a defensive player of the year candidate. He stands 6-10 with a 7-4 wing span while sporting a 46 inch vertical leap. I would challenge anyone to realistically (Dwight Howard isn't realistic) design an individual better built to dominate the paint in the NBA. There is little doubt that Serge Ibaka has nowhere to go but up, and considering his starting point, that could be a scary thing.

1.    Stephen Curry
Is Stephen Curry starting to lose his grip on the #1 spot? Probably not, but he hasn't been his typical self as of late. Since the last Sophomore Report, Curry has put up a pedestrian (for him) 16.9 points and 5.5 assists a game. That sound you hear is the deflating playoff chances of Fantasy Basketball owners around the world. Something tells me Peter Gruber and Joe Lacob (actual Golden State owners) are much less concerned.

2.    Wes Matthews
Let's call his performance against the Lakers on Sunday an aberration. That game aside, Matthews averaged 17.5 points a game while shooting an absolutely scorching 61.5% from deep. The surging Trailblazers went 5-2 over the stretch and are firmly in the playoff race, currently sitting 6th in the West and 3.5 games ahead of the 9th place Rockets. Despite the return of Brandon Roy, Matthews's minutes have remained above 30 a game, and he has continued the same play that has kept the Blazers relevant in the West. A statement few thought would be true after the injury of the aforementioned Roy.

3.    DeMar DeRozan
DeMar's strong play continues to continue. Over the last 8 contests he's average 17.5 points a game, and the Raptors are actually winning a few games going 3-5 (look. I said a few, and I said the Raptors). He followed up a 30 point night against the Wizards by contributing 16 points and 8 rebounds in the most shocking outcome of the season, when his Raptors ended the Thunder's six game winning streak.

4.    Serge Ibaka
You need to only reread the first four paragraphs of this article to know how well Ibaka has played as of late. Instead of putting together more statistics to rehash what has already been said, let us use this space to celebrate Ibaka's accomplishment of becoming the first NBA dunk contest participant to ever dunk from behind the free throw line. While it might not have been the most graceful “free throw line dunk”,  first is first. Enjoy :

5.    Brandon Jennings
It seems safe to say Jennings is getting back to his normal self. Playing an exhausting nine games over fourteen days, Jennings averaged 16 points and 5.5 assists. Taking out two games in the middle of that stretch, his numbers jump to 19 and 6. Nothing eye popping (although his near triple double in a win vs the Knicks was nice), but it's good enough for me.

6.    Darren Collison
I was beginning to feel like a bit of a fool after just a few weeks ago all but preordaining Darren Collison as the second coming of Mark Jackson. Collison's play in the last seven games has made me feel much better, putting up 16 points and 7.5 assists a night. Indiana also went 4-3 over that run, a pace that all but gives them a vice grip on the 8th spot in the East. Three of the wins coming over fellow Eastern Conference playoff teams.

7.    Jrue Holiday
It appears that as Jrue Holiday goes, so goes the 76ers. Over the last two weeks Holiday has averaged 15 points, 6.5 assists and 52% shooting in their 5 wins and 9 points, 5 assists and 38% shooting in their 4 losses. If you've been keeping track, that means Philly has been 5-4 over the last 9 and remain above the New York Knicks with the 6th spot in the East.

8.    Tyreke Evans
It was not entirely intentional to drop Evans this far. Plenty of Sophomores have stepped it up over the last two weeks. Evans has begun participating in practices and is expected to return soon enough to ruin the hotly contested #2 spot for most ping pong balls in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery. Even in returning from injury, Evans refuses to be a team player.

9.    DeJuan Blair
Gregg Popovich, what are you doing? Oh, you're read the last installation of the Sophomore Report and decided to sit the reason for the Spurs resurgence? Ok, fair enough.

10.    Ty Lawson
The number one reason the Nuggets were the winners in the Carmelo trade? Ty Lawson is the truth. After taking a few games to find his groove, Lawson is averaging 16.5/8 in the last two weeks. Denver is 10-4 since trading Melo, and if you're looking a reason why, look no further.

As always thanks for reading. Any props/slops can be sent to @bmckay on Twitter.