Following years of dreams deferred, the 2014-15 campaign quickly became a nightmarish one for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
First came Kevin Durant, derailed by a foot injury in early October. Then it was Russell Westbrook, beset by a broken hand mere minutes into the second game of the year—a pair of converging thunderclaps that cast the team’s very future into tempestuous doubt.
Through it all, though, one silver lining has shone through brightest: the transformation of Serge Ibaka from fine third fiddle into five-tool superstar.
It’s a metamorphosis that could wind up saving OKC’s season.
And what a climb it’ll be. At 3-12, the Thunder stand in sole possession of the Western Conference basement. They rank 29th in offensive efficiency (94.7), 28th in true shooting percentage (49.8) and 27th in assist rate (15.0)—a trifecta of futility rivaled only by those performance artists of woe, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Messieurs Durant and Westbrook will doubtless bring order to the OKC court. But it’s in how head coach Scott Brooks plans to parlay Ibaka&rsq ...
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Article written by Jim Cavan
Serge Ibaka’s Role as Thunder No. 1 Will Pay Off When Durant, Westbrook Return
November 25th, 2014 by Jim Cavan Leave a reply »
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