Reports of my demise, may not be true
Headline: Serge Ibaka will recover some of his old form
Statistics: Ibaka projected for 0.12 WS/48 (last year: 0.105) and 34.7 3P% (last year: 32.6%)
Serge Ibaka
| Per 36 Minutes | Shooting | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Lg | FG | FGA | 3P | 3PA | FT | FTA | ORB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | FG% | 3P% | FT% | WS/48 |
| 2016-17 | 27 | NBA | 6.2 | 12.8 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 14.9 | .485 | .347 | .780 | .120 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/22/2016.
Interpretation:
By most metrics, Serge Ibaka’s level of play has been declining for the better part of the last two years. But he should be ready to bounce back, and not just because he will be playing for a new contract.
Reports are he was unhappy last year in Oklahoma City because of a reduced role in the offense, which probably also affected his appetite for the defensive “dirty” work he is known for.
If he indeed plays in a more engaged manner this year, he should combine with Bismack Biyombo to form one of the most terrifying defensive front courts in the league. And an uptick in win shares would be no surprise.
Offensively, he is expected to increase his 3-point percentage by about two points from last year, and at about 35 percent, he would return to being a long-range threat that defenses will have to respect.