Serge Ibaka suffered a serious left calf injury — a Grade 2 strain of the plantaris — in the Thunder’s clinching victory over the Clippers last Thursday, and is expected to miss the remainder of the postseason.
The Spurs are preparing for their Western Conference finals series — Game 1 is Monday night — as if Ibaka will be in the Thunder lineup.
Why?
“I don’t really believe it,” point guard Tony Parker said, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “I’ll believe when I see tomorrow he is not on the court. It’s hard to believe. We’ll see.”
Added Kawhi Leonard: “We’re still not sure if he’s going to play or not, but it doesn’t matter.”
Ibaka averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 13 playoff games after notching career highs of 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds during the regular season while leading the league in total blocks for the fourth consecutive season.
Oklahoma City swept its four meetings with the Spurs during the regular season. San Antonio was 62-16 against the rest of the NBA in compiling the league’s best record.
“It’s really a waste of time,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express News. “When the game starts, everybody will know what’s going on and everybody will adjust both ways.”