2014 NBA Playoffs: Serge Ibaka to miss remainder of postseason due to calf injury

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is expected to be shelved for the remainder of the postseason with a left calf injury sustained in Game 6 of the Thunder's second round series with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Ibaka hobbled off the court in the third quarter of Game 6, and did not return as the Thunder clinched the series with a 104-98 victory over the Clippers. Ibaka underwent an MRI on Friday, and the team proceeded to announce his status after learning of Serge's crippled state. 

The injury has been classified as a grade two strain of the plantaris, an injury that must be nursed carefully as it has a high reinjury probability according to OKC general manager Sam Presti.

In a statement issued by Presti, he stated the following: "We are obviously disappointed for Serge, as he is a tremendous competitor, and we know how badly he wants to be on the court with his teammates. At this point it is important that our team directs its concentration and energy towards preparation and execution for our upcoming series. As with all teams, our group has confronted different challenges. It is our collective experience that we will call on to ensure that we play to our capabilities."

A return to the Thunder is highly unlikely for Ibaka Presti announced on Friday evening in a conference call with reporters, providing the Thunder with a multitude of questions in the avenue of who their third legitimate scorer will be.

Last year, Oklahoma City was dealt a mammoth blow, as superstar Russell Westbrook was sidelined for the entire postseason with a torn meniscus in his right knee. This year is Ibaka, greatly slimming down the Thunder's chances of claiming victory against the Spurs in this series.

These injuries simply highlight the fragility of championship hopes, as one simple misstep or tweak can transform the brightest burning championship fire to an unanticipated flameout. 

Serge Ibaka was averaging 12.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 2.2 BPG through 13 playoff games. He also had a career year, posting highs in points with 15.1 a game and rebounds with 8.8 during the regular season. 

The Thunder will surely miss Ibaka and his intimidating interior defensive presence, as they attempt to slow down the sly and crafty Tony Parker and the extreme fundamentalist maneuvers of Tim Duncan. 

The Western Conference Finals begin on Monday in San Antonio, as Oklahoma City hopes to build on the fantastic regular season success it had against the Spurs.

The Thunder swept the season series 4-0 against the Spurs, who's 62 wins provided them with the best record in the league this year.


Does OKC still have a chance without Ibaka? Hit me on Twitter with thoughts and opinions (@wcboyer24) and continue to support The Basketball Society.

Top 5 Active NBA Point Guards- #3

3. Tony Parker 

Many people may wonder how and or why Tony Parker is a top 3 point guard. Some may tend to challenge this notion, as his numbers are as modest as the Spurs seem to be as a collective unit. A quiet and reserved squad that pounces on its foes with precision, fantastic coaching, flawless execution and top notch communication.

At the helm of this attack is none other than Tony Parker, and the San Antonio Spurs couldn't be happier about this. As stated earlier, Parker's statistics are modest. 16.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.3 RPG, 49% FG and 29.6 MPG, but his value to this team is of mammoth proportions. Parker is 12th in scoring among point guards and 17th in assists.

How could a Parker be a top 3 point guard in this league, but be absent from the top 10, in the major statistical categories that gauge a point guard's value and or talent? The answer to this question lies solely in minutes played, as Parker ranks 24th among point guards.

Mario Chalmers, Avery Bradley, Jameer Nelson, Trey Burke, Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings have all played more minutes than Parker this year, as the 12 year Spurs floor general has only logged 1,981 minutes this season. His playing time has been abbreviated due to injury, as Parker has only participated in 67 contests this season.

San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich has made it a known fact that he has wanted to rest and reserve his star players, as they tried to overcome the mental wreckage that was present from the 2013 Finals meltdown.

Pair this with the fact that Tony Parker was the driving force behind the Spurs magical finals run last year, and he competed intensely in EuroBasket this summer, and it's easy to how Parker's body finally caught up with him.

Even though sidelined by various maladies, the rest of the league's flock of point guards failed to catch up with Parker, as his veteran savvy fights off the rest of the competition from dethroning him as a top 3 point guard in this league. If Parker was given the same opportunity as the forenamed point guards, it's not outrageous to think he could produce in the same fashion.

Among the top 10 point guards in usage rate, Parker is the only PG, with the exception of Jimmer Fredette (yes I was surprised as you are) that plays less than 30 minutes per game. The highest MPG among these PG's is Steph Curry at 36.5, second is John Wall at 36.4, and third is Kyrie Irving at 35.3.

Parker is 8th in usage rate, and it wouldn't be hard to imagine him splurging to the top of this statistic if given the same MPG as some of the other point guards in this league. Again, Coach Pop's idea of preservation comes into play, as he's made it a focal point to rest the players that are imperative for another title run.

Last season, when Parker played 32.9 MPG, he averaged 20.3 PPG, 7.6 APG and 3.0 RPG. He also played 66 games last year, one fewer than he has played in the 2013-14 campaign. This just highlights the type of productivity Parker would have if he played the same number of minutes as the rest of the top point guards in this league.

But make no mistake, when Parker is on the court, he is a terrorizing figure. His craft in the open court leaves defenders in the dust, and his patience and wit in the half court has coaches reconstructing their defensive scheme to combat the 6 time all-star's effective attack.

His play meshes well with those around him, as he is the perfect blend of fury and composure. Tony's dynamic footwork, high basketball IQ and blinding quickness makes him a tough draw for anyone, and combine that with his surplus of playoff experience and it's easier to understand why Parker is one of the league's best point guards. He's a coach on the floor, allowing for Coach Pop to refrain from throwing a tantrum during a timeout to get his message across. Parker's understanding of what Pop wants delivered, makes it easier for that message to be extended to players on the court when things tend to go awry.

Younger players can gaze upon Parker's calm, collective and cool demeanor, and instill these same qualities within themselves to prevent mistakes from occurring in the most crucial moments of a game. And when the game is on the line, Parker is exceedingly reliable.

Parker thrives in barn-burning contests, and statistics vividly illustrate this. In 22 games that have reached "crunch time," Parker is averaging 2.8 PPG on 64% shooting, which is 3rd among guards. This isn't a surprise, as Parker leads all point guards in field goal percentage throughout the regular season. To qualify for "clutch" statistics, your team must be down 5 points or less, with 5 minutes to go in the game.

Under these circumstances, Parker is one of the best in the league at elevating his game and delivering a victory for his team when they need it most. These type of performances, these type of players are the ones that sustain success in this league and generate memorable moments in the regular season and beyond.

Parker's statistics may not be eye popping. His highlights may not be mesmerizing. The fact remains that the results he produces are. He was a legitimate MVP candidate last year, he's been stellar this season and he has orbs of championship experience. He's logged more Finals minutes than all of the point guards in my top 5 combined, and he has claimed 3 NBA championships, and 1 Finals MVP.

At the end of the day, Parker must be respected, and if it takes another Finals run to have his named murmured among the Rose's, Rondo's Paul's and Curry's, I am anxious to see what Parker pulls out of his bag of tricks to garner our attention once again.

Do you agree with Tony Parker's ranking? If not where should he be ranked? Should Steph Curry be higher than Parker? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter (@wcboyer24) and remember to continue to support The Basketball Society. 

NBA 2013-2014: Best offseason moves - #13 San Antonio Spurs

At last, it's time to start talking basketball again. With the NBA's opening night coming in six days (Heat vs. Bulls, Clippers vs. Lakers) I'll be giving out my best offseason moves in a different format than last year. I'm ranking the thirteen teams I believe made the best roster changes for the 2013-2014 season, all the way up to opening night, starting with #13: the San Antonio Spurs.

I was adamant about the Spurs being the best team (by far) the Miami Heat would face in last season's playoffs. Not one team the defending champs faced in the Eastern Conference (including Indiana) possessed the talent, depth, or overall discipline to convince me of a formidable resistance. I believed it so much that I picked the Spurs to win the NBA Finals in seven games, and came an offensive rebound in Game 6 and a Tim Duncan chippy in Game 7 away from calling it right.

The only notable roster move made by Gregg Popovich and the Spurs was acquiring guard Marco Bellinelli from the Chicago Bulls as an unrestricted free agent, signing the Italian to a two-year, reportedly $6 million deal. This may not be blockbuster, but if you know the Spurs, it's really a match made in European heaven. The Spurs are known for their recruitment and development of European players; 27-year-old Bellinelli will fit in with that style of play instantly, and this move can be beneficial from a personnel standpoint. Manu Ginobili's seeming decline in the NBA Finals may have to be compensated for, some say by Kawhi Leonard, but the key to the Spurs reaching the Finals again will be sustaining health and their consistent depth. Bellinelli brings another scoring threat into the rotation with the loss of Gary Neal to Milwaukee, and perhaps more hair-grabbing for Popovich, as Bellinelli can often exude similarly sporadic tendencies as Ginobili. But for the Spurs to find themselves back in the Finals next June, they will need plenty of sporadic.

Bellinelli is currently averaging 14.1 PPG for Italy at EuroBasket 2013.

- Martin S. @marley_mcfly

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2013 NBA Finals: Game 7 notes

And so, it comes down to this...

Even though four out of the six games thus far have been double-digit victories, my expectations for these NBA Finals were fully met and conceptually accurate. What intrigued my senses most, leading to the estimation that we would see a deciding seventh game in these Finals, was the clear notion that the Miami Heat had not yet seen a team that could score with them. Milwaukee, Chicago, and Indiana were clearly deficient in that regard, making them all inevitable means towards another Eastern Conference title for the Heat. 

The San Antonio Spurs have presented a more potent challenge for the defending champions, as expected. The best passing team in basketball has put doubters and low-IQ basketball fans on notice with their consummately savvy play, defensive discipline, and veteran leadership. With the exception of Game 2 (84) the Spurs have scored 90 points or more in every game, including at least 100 points in four out of six games. Their offense has a special cohesive quality, in that you hardly ever see just one guy carrying the load. We've seen Tony Parker make big plays/shots starting with the go-ahead shot from the Spurs' Game 1 victory; we've seen Danny Green emerge into the spotlight, setting a new NBA Finals record for made three pointers (26); we've seen Kawhi Leonard accept his daunting assignment of LeBron James, while finding ways to contribute offensively through rebounding and wise shot selection, and that's without mentioning the play of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Gary Neal (both sporadically), and Boris Diaw, who has held LeBron James to 3-18 shooting while defending him in games 5 and 6. 

The Miami Heat have seen their struggles in their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance. They have been held under 90 points twice in this series, including the Game 3 blow out loss when they could only accumulate 77 points. Fluctuation has been the key issue for Miami, which is a courteous way of saying inconsistent. Their inability to win consecutive games needs instant fixing if they are to win their second straight title tonight. Still, their MVP LeBron James has delivered each time his team's back was against the wall. After all, he is averaging 33.8 ppg in his Game 7 career, the highest of any player in NBA history. Playing on your home court and having the best player on the floor = advantage Miami for Game 7. Here are some interesting additional stats:

• The Miami Heat could become just the third team in history to win an NBA title without leading the series at all until Game 7 (other two: '69 Celtics & '78 Bullets).
• The Miami Heat could become the third team in history to win Game 7's in the Conference Finals and NBA Finals in the same season (other two: '62 Celtics & '88 Lakers).
• The San Antonio Spurs have not lost consecutive games with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili in the line up since December 12-13, 2012.
• The defending champion has never lost at home in Game 7 of the Finals.
• Tim Duncan could become the seventh player in NBA history to with 5 NBA titles and an MVP in his career (other six: Russell, Kareem, Jordan, Cousy, Magic, Kobe).
• LeBron James could join Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as the only players to win back-to-back regular season MVP awards and NBA titles.

HERE'S WHAT I'LL BE LOOKING FOR IN TONIGHT'S GAME 7:

- Manu Ginobili/Dwayne Wade: Both players are the hidden catalysts for their respective Big 3's, and both have shown brief glimpses of their former greatness. Which ever one of these players can establish early productivity will likely be on the team that has early rhythm.

- Shot takers and shot makers: As simple as it is, both teams need to make perimeter shots. Chalmers-Allen-Miller-Bosh-Battier for Miami; Ginobili-Neal-Leonard-Green for San Antonio.

- Small ball: Both teams have flirted with their four-guard smaller line ups. Given the nature of Game 7, expect to see Tiago Splitter and Chris Andersen make appearances to keep things physical.

- LeBron James' points, field goal percentage, and +/- numbers are all extremely low with Dwayne Wade on the floor. Their ability to make plays for themselves and others will have enormous impact on the outcome.

- Efficiency: The Spurs pride themselves on getting the best shots possible. They will need to shoot a high percentage and get themselves great looks to sustain their half court attack.

- Body language and patience: For the home team, body language will be evident from an effort standpoint. The away team will need to be patient and aggressive at precisely the right times. Challenges for both teams for the final game of the NBA season.

2013 NBA Finals: Game 3 notes

After the Heat's Game 2 eruption, tonight's Game 3 in San Antonio will require adjustments and responses on both rosters.

The dynamics of the first two games of this year's NBA Finals have panned out inversely from my expectations. Though I suspected San Antonio would leave Miami with one victory, I felt the Spurs would find themselves having to adjust to the Heat's speed after a Game 1 loss. Instead, we saw a rested and fresh Spurs team execute a nearly mistake-free 92-88 victory in the initial "feel out game". 

Dwayne Wade's post-game comments, consistent with general speculation following the Eastern Conference Finals, alluded to the assured fatigue from Miami's seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers. Game 2 seemed replicant of Game 1 until the Heat closed the third quarter on a 14-3 run and a 10-point lead, which carried over to the dismantling 33-5 run by the defending champs and their 103-84 victory.

You'll see more about the historic implications of Game 3 tiebreakers in the NBA Finals below, but something must be said of the brilliant chess match between these two coaches. Gregg Popovich struck first blood with a dedicated defensive strategy and fluent execution in Game 1 (plus heroics from Tony Parker). Erik Spoelstra responded in Game 2 with more concerted double teams on Parker in ball screen situations, forcing the issue with their switching defense and forcing 13 more turnovers than in Game 1. 

Aside from Tony Parker's Game 1 performance, neither of these teams have really seen their stars dominate. One could argue that these Finals have been a story line of role players thus far. Mario Chalmers' 19 points and timely playmaking really sparked the Heat's run in Game 2, while Danny Green's perfection from three (5-5) was the only offensive lift for the Spurs (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan combined 10-33 in Game 2). As San Antonio looks to respond tonight for Game 3, here are some final notes and what I'll be particularly watching for:

- Of the 12 times the NBA Finals has been tied at 1-1, the team who wins Game 3 has won the series 11 times.

- The San Antonio Spurs have never trailed in an NBA Finals series, let alone lost one.

- The Miami Heat have not lost consecutive games since January.

- Turnovers: The broken record plays on for opponent's of Miami. The Spurs committed 17 turnovers in Game 2 to just 4 in Game 1. Both games their turnovers came early. Watch for the Spurs' early execution and ball security, and if Miami can find ways to make them uncomfortable on their home floor.

- Manu Ginobili's frantic style seems to have met it's finite match with a defense as fast and active as Miami's. The cost for effective play from Manu might simply be slowing down and making the low-risk plays to keep San Antonio's offense as fluid as possible.

- Shot takers and shot makers: Both teams depend on three point shooting to keep their offense spaced. For the Spurs- Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and Gary Neal. For the Heat- Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Ray Allen, and Chris Bosh.

- Dwayne Wade went for 0 points in the second half of Game 2 and even expressed his sincere fatigue at halftime to Doris Burke. Miami might need more from Wade long term if it goes blow-for-blow these next three games in San Antonio.

- LeBron James: If his teammates don't make shots on the road, another scoring outing under 20 points likely won't cut it for the MVP. James is the almighty catalyst for the Heat, omnipotently making his presence felt. Expect it to magnify on the road, where stars truly must be stars.

2013 NBA Finals: Game 1 notes

Just one of many compelling elements to this year's NBA Finals is the impending clash of styles between these two teams. Not in the sense that they are different, but because they both like to and are highly capable of scoring the basketball.

Miami averages a league high of 108.4 points per 100 possessions, the most efficient this postseason. San Antonio is at second at 106.5. The Heat also lead the NBA in half-court efficiency, averaging .94 points per play, with the Spurs second at .93. Aside from the numbers, if you've watched either of these teams play you know they both have high-octane offensive attacks, likely giving the advantage to whichever team can find ways to neutralize the other and expose deficient match ups.

For San Antonio, the challenge is maintaining a their preferred uptempo pace against the fastest team in the NBA. The conventional plan would be to dictate a slower pace (a la Memphis, Chicago, Indiana) and look to attack the Heat where they struggle the most: in the paint and on the glass. Still, it will be intriguing to see how Miami fairs against the most potent offense than they've faced this entire postseason (by far). 

For Miami, it's all about LeBron James, or is it? Dwayne Wade came up big in Game 7 against Indiana but a quick turnaround for his third consecutive Finals trip is something to watch for as he battles his right knee injury. San Antonio doesn't necessarily have the interior grit of Indiana, but they make up for it in savvy instincts and effort. If this series is in fact going to remain uptempo, advantage Heat. 

Key match ups:

- LeBron James/Kawhi Leonard: Much has been written and discussed about the 21-year-old's match up against the four-time MVP. Even with his athletic 6'7 frame and astounding 7'3 wingspan, he still has the toughest work weeks of his career approaching.

- Tony Parker: I expect to see multiple assignments for the Frenchman, especially LeBron. With Miami's constantly "switching" defense, those chances are not uncommon. Still, neutralizing Parker has to be a top priority as the starting engine and crucial catalyst for the Spurs' offense.

- Tim Duncan/Chris Bosh: Playing against "his idol", Bosh is up against a Tim Duncan that looks nowhere near 37 years of age. Chris "Birdman" Andersen and Udonis Haslem can assist, but Chris Bosh is the only big for Miami that can look to win the individual match up with Duncan.

Notes for Game 1:

- Tempo, tempo, tempo: The beginning pace will be most indicative of how these teams want to play, particularly San Antonio, as they adjust to the speed of Miami's defense. 

- Rested or rusty: San Antonio coming off of the ten day break, their physical energy should be evident in the opening minutes.

- Bench play: The Spurs' bench has played a bit more productively than Miami's in these playoffs, we should see players from both benches look to assert themselves tonight. 

- TURNOVERS: As the case is with ever opponent of the Heat, if you turn it over  15 times or more, you're probably done for. How the Spurs handle the Miami defense in terms of ball security and their scoring attack will be vital.

In the NBA Finals, the team that has won Game 1 has gone on to win the series 71 percent of the time. The San Antonio Spurs are 4-0 in the NBA Finals. Miami wants to repeat. Stay tuned as I continue to track and share notes on the 2013 NBA Finals.