Ibaka finding himself at home with Raptors
The days of Serge Ibaka running the floor while scanning the Toronto Raptors bench for a coach trying to signal what play his team has cued up are over.
That trial-by-fire period following his arrival in the middle of last season was necessary, given Ibaka’s lack of preparation time coupled with the limited practice time he was able to have.
Without a training camp and with just three games alongside starting point guard Kyle Lowry before the playoffs began, it’s not a stretch to suggest Ibaka never really did find a rhythm in that half-season in Toronto.
But that’s behind him now. “It has meant a lot. It feels good,” Ibaka said of having a full training camp under his belt with Toronto, which beat Chicago 125-104 on Friday in a pre-season game. “It feels different to start with this group of guys in the beginning of training camp. Having Kyle Lowry and everyone healthy and together is something I was looking for.”
These past two weeks have done more for Ibaka than the 23 regular-season and 10 playoff games last year ago could.
“When I first got here last season, I really didn’t have time for anything,” Ibaka said. “It was just go and play and then we will figure out things later. Now I’m actually learning the way this team plays and I’m trying to adjust my game to that. We are playing a different style and now we are learning it all together in the beginning.”
But it’s more than just feeling comfortable on the court with his teammates. Ibaka feels like he actually belongs.
“I feel like Toronto is home now . ... I can just go out and play,” Ibaka said. That sense of freedom is even larger this season given the less-structured read-andreact offence the team has gone to. Ibaka is loving all of it.
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey cautions that Ibaka hasn’t changed as a player. He’s just in a much better headspace.
“He’s more comfortable just starting from scratch; seeing things from scratch is a big difference for him,” Casey said. “He’s still the same player, the defender and shooter, but just seeing the offence and defence philosophies develop from the beginning is a huge plus for him.”