Super-Overreactionizer: Lions and Pacers and Thunder, Oh my

Serge Ibaka, You the Real MVP

by Derek James (@DerekJamesNBA)

Kevin Durant is not the Thunder’s most valuable player. He may be their best, but he’s not the most valuable– that much was clear after these Western Conference finals.

Russell Westbrook is also not Oklahoma City’s most valuable player, either.

No, it’s now apparent that the Thunder’s most important player is forward Serge Ibaka.

It was Ibaka’s calf that dashed the spirits of Thunder fans before the start of the Western Conference finals and its first two games. Without Ibaka, they lost control over the paint and had their athletic advantage diminished as well.

Down 0-2, Ibaka miraculously rose from the ashes of the trainer’s room to save the Thunder’s season since neither Durant nor Westbrook were able to. In game three, Ibaka shone. On just one calf, Ibaka posted 15 points on 6-7 shooting; seven rebounds; and reclaimed the paint with his four blocks and altering several more.

For the rest of the series, Ibaka continued to terrorize Spurs shooters in what was not only an athletic advantage, but a mental advantage as well. Ibaka’s averages of 11-5-1 with over three blocks per game gave the Thunder a chance when Durant and Westbrook were not up to the task. Durant and Westbrook are great players, no doubt, but they proved to be nowhere near as valuable as Ibaka was to them.

Sam Presti knew what he was doing when he chose to keep Serge Ibaka over James Harden. Ibaka’s ability on both ends outweighed what Harden brought on the offensive end and certainly on the defensive end. He knew the toughness that Ibaka brought and gave the Thunder their own Willis Reed moment upon his return. Paul Pierce and his wheelchair have nothing on Ibaka either.

If it weren’t for Ibaka being out the first two games of the series, there is no doubt we’d be looking at Heat-Thunder pt. II instead of the sequel to Heat-Spurs. San Antonio should consider themselves incredibly lucky the Thunder chose to be so cautious with Ibaka’s calf when it was obviously a far less severe injury than they originally thought it was. Really, the Thunder beat the Thunder in this series with their overthinking and paranoia over his calf. Yet, Ibaka just bided his time until the Thunder realized this and answered the call like a champion.

While the history books will say that Kevin Durant was this year’s MVP, we will all know who the real MVP was. Serge Ibaka, you the real MVP.