Subscribe
Follow Us
Toronto Raptors power forward Serge Ibaka served a one-game suspension for yesterday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors were also without injured All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. Ibaka's suspension came after an altercation with James Johnson during the Raptors heartbreaking one-point loss to the Miami Heat last Tuesday.
TSN Sports' Josh Lewenberg reports head coach Dwane Casey was supportive of Ibaka and says he is not a problem moving further:
“Serge is a good person, a good man. His spirit, his heart is in the right place. I have no concerns about him being a problem.”
Casey said he is all for players to stand for themselves, but while keeping a cool head and staying calm:
“I don't want any of our players to back down if somebody confronts them or throws a punch or comes up in your face. You've got to be a man and take care of yourself but at the same time be levelheaded, don't get instigated into something you can control.”
Luckily for his team, they did not miss Ibaka as much during last night's game, as the Raptors were able to crush the Cavs 133-99. Still, coach Casey said the team needs the floor spacing Ibaka gives the team:
“We need Serge, but we need his three-point shooting more so than his boxing skills.”
The nine-year veteran does help in that department. Despite averaging 36.8 percent from three-point range this season, just a tiny bit under his career average, he still launches 4.1 threes a game. This forces opposing power forwards or centers to rush and close him out, as Ibaka is still quite dangerous when open. He averages 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 28.3 minutes per game. The 28-year old is ready to suit up tomorrow when the Raptors host the Golden State Warriors in an anticipated matchup that will give them a taste of what they could get in a possible NBA Finals matchup this June.
