Monday Bolts – 5.26.14

: “Attributing all of Oklahoma City’s success and all of San Antonio’s shortcomings solely to Ibaka would be an oversimplification: the one-legged man didn’t singlehandedly win this game. Brooks’ starting lineup changes paid dividends, the Thunder enjoyed a huge advantage at the stripe, and the Spurs’ shooters — aside from Ginobili — just didn’t have the touch from outside. Still, Ibaka’s fingerprints were visible on so many aspects of the action, and his decision to push to return to the court left an unmistakable imprint, as Oklahoma City looks to even the series at two games apiece Tuesday.”

Sam Amick of USA Today: “Ibaka, who survived a childhood in his war-torn country and is the first NBA player from his homeland, is a deeply religious man. He reads his French-language Bible before games and often starts his interview sessions by praising his higher power. So it was, then, that he made his way to the People’s Church that he attends in Oklahoma’s City three days after the injury, while he stayed in town as his teammates dropped two in San Antonio.”

My ESPN.com game story from last night.

Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report: “Because it was Ibaka, having left the Republic of Congo only seven years ago, it’s not difficult to envision how someone without the modern advancements of repeated MRI exams or lacking any diagnosis on something called the “plantaris” in the leg might simply want to compete and help his team or community if he felt he could deal with the pain enough to do so. That’s what Ibaka did to lift the Thunder to their first Western Conference Finals victory in three tries against the Spurs, 106-97. The NBA MVP was deeply moved, just like any other observer.”

Jeff Caplan of NBA.com: “On the morning of his remarkable return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound warrior admitted, through deep, dark brown eyes, that he had cried. Doctors had told Serge Ibaka that his left calf was so badly damaged that he would not be able to play anymore. As the Thunder moved on to the Western Conference Finals, Ibaka sat alone, contemplating what all the hard work had been for, as tears streamed down his cheeks. It was then that Ibaka determined that what the doctors say does not have to be. He decided the physical pain could be dulled by ice bags, by gnashing molars, by his strong faith and stronger will. The mental anguish of sitting it out would leave a much longer-lasting scar than any injury could.”

Dan Devine of Ball Don’t Lie: “The biggest move of all, though, was being able to move Ibaka back into the four spot in the starting lineup, to rely on him to protect the paint and relieve pressure in half-court offensive sets, and give every other member of the Thunder the confidence to push just a bit harder, knowing that their big-time backstop was behind them once again. How Ibaka’s calf responds to playing for the first time in 10 days remains to be seen, but barring a drastic step-back between now and Tuesday’s Game 4, he’s planning to keep giving them that confidence.”

Jenni Carlson: “But for as vital as Durant and Westbrook were offensively, each liked what the other did defensively. Westbrook helped limit Tony Parker, who managed only nine points and four assists and wasn’t nearly as aggressive as games past. Durant spent most of the night guarding either Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green, who were big-time contributors in the first two games of the series. Sunday night, they managed only 18 points combined.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “Beyond the pain and pressure, Ibaka delivered a most inspiring performance in a 106-97 victory over the Spurs. He had his Willis Reed moment – hitting two jumpers to start Game 3, and then a third and a fourth – and perhaps the Spurs never stood a chance. Ibaka was a spirit, a movement, a gathering storm in the distance that burst onto the Spurs. Suddenly, the rim was protected. The Spurs no longer drifted to the basket uninhibited, no longer scored easy baskets. Sometimes, people still ask: Why didn’t they just keep James Harden and let Ibaka go? Well, everyone found out over the three games of these Western Conference finals. Ibaka changes everything for the Thunder.”

Interesting stuff about max level deals.

Berry Tramel: “Funny what two games can do to memory. Funny how you can forget what a ballteam is supposed to look like. What a ballteam does look like, when it has a loaded chamber. Easy go. Easy come. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup Sunday night, and he didn’t come gingerly. Ibaka arrived with a roar. Four baskets, two blocked shots, two rebounds in the first five minutes. A state that had gone from nervous to hopeful at the news Ibaka could return from a calf injury went from hopeful to detonating as the Thunder rode the emotion of Ibaka’s recovery and the return of his talents to a 106-97 Game 3 victory over the Spurs that wasn’t nearly that close. And suddenly, the realization returned. Oh, yeah. When these guys have their team, they’re good. Really good.”