{"id":3712,"date":"2016-11-14T12:10:36","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T18:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=3712"},"modified":"2017-01-27T15:38:04","modified_gmt":"2017-01-27T21:38:04","slug":"serge-ibakas-return-to-okc-was-winning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=3712","title":{"rendered":"Serge Ibaka’s Return to OKC was Winning"},"content":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Orlando Magic were in sideline huddle for their final possession in last night\u2019s NBA tussle between the\u00a0visiting team from the land of Disney\u00a0and the Oklahoma City Thunder.\u00a0\u00a0My thoughts\u00a0from the\u00a0Loud City seat I have\u00a0sat\u00a0in from day one of this franchise on the South\u00a0Plains turned to Serge Ibaka.\u00a0\u00a0The sold-out crowd in the Chesapeake Energy (18,203)\u00a0had watched\u00a0\u00a0Serge\u00a0play one of his best games in recent memory with 29 points for the night and two consecutive\u00a0\u201cthumbs down\u201d stuffs of Steven Adams, our favorite big man in the middle\u00a0 I always pull for the Thunder but on this night I had\u00a0a problem.\u00a0 As I thought,\u00a0Serge was picked\u00a0to\u00a0be the man\u00a0to get the final shot and ultimately the\u00a0game winner\u00a0(this never happen in OKC in eight years).<\/h6>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the Magic\u2019s final\u00a0play\u00a0 Ibaka got the drop on his defender\u00a0on the right side of the baseline where he drained a nice eight foot jumper to give his new team a two point lead with\u00a0 0,4 left\u00a0on the\u00a0clock.\u00a0 The\u00a0Thunder\u2019s last try\u00a0to tie or win went bad as Russell\u00a0Westbrook tried a running catch and shoot on the inbounds pass that\u00a0came up dry.\u00a0\u00a0What is\u00a0new?\u00a0The failed play gave\u00a0the Magic a tight\u00a0119-117 win this Sunday night.\u00a0 It was OKC\u2019s third straight loss at home.<\/h6>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ibaka was traded for various reasons by the Thunder this summer. It was a good trade for OKC. \u00a0I had, in previous articles, questioned Ibaka\u2019s age (he might be older than what is listed), his hands (not the best), his basketball IQ\/on-court focus, and many times his\u00a0intensity.\u00a0 He could go complete games with little or no stats to mention.\u00a0 Yet in those last few minutes of close game as a Thunder\u00a0he was a defensive stalwart, something the Thunder miss today.\u00a0But he\u00a0was a limited player with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant (and others to be fair) in getting the rock in offensive sets in crunch time.\u00a0 It was Serge that complained, finally\u00a0developinh a very good three point shot, and becoming more of an shooter than inside power big,.\u00a0But can you blame him?\u00a0 I cannot.<\/h6>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Serge was the winner last night, with his 31 points, acceptable rebounding number\u00a0and the two block.\u00a0 He played significant minutes, never getting tired.\u00a0 The OKC media laughs at the trade Sam Presti made with Orlando, getting some young talent for Serge. But for one night Ibaka was the man. Russell Westbrook (who played a hell of a game) was the one that couldn\u2019t make the final play, for the second game in a row.\u00a0 How many game winners does Westbrook have?\u00a0 Not many if you really want to know.\u00a0 Sure, without Russell we wouldn\u2019t even get to a final shot for win.\u00a0 But on that last play, Russell is digging dry holes..<\/h6>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, the homecoming was bitter sweet for Thunder fans but for one night l left the Peak feeling pretty good.\u00a0 Serge Ibaka will always be a Thunder. I am sure the ovation he got last night\u00a0when\u00a0he was announced in the Magic starting line-up proved that.\u00a0 As for later in the year when Kevin Durant makes his first appearance in an opposing uniform, you won\u2019t be able to hear the applause at the introduction moment.\u00a0 The boo birds will make that a fact sports fans<\/h6>\n
.<\/p>\n
Serge, thank you and congratulations on an outstanding effort on your return to OKC. It was my pleasure to watch you do your thing again.<\/h6>\n
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