Ibaka starting to settle in
• Serge Ibaka got a taste of what basketball life has to offer as a Toronto Raptor as the athletic big man practised for the first time with his new teammates Wednesday.
It was a day that extended deep into the night, a day when all- stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, fresh off their appearance in the league’s showcase event in New Orleans, weren’t available, but each will practise Thursday as Toronto gets ready to play host to the surging Boston Celtics on Friday night.
“A little change, but really a big change,’’ said the veteran Ibaka of learning Toronto’s ropes at both ends of the floor, which added a layer of significance to his initial practice session.
A defender who can step out and guard the perimeter, a rim protector, even in today’s threepoint happy league, a rebounder ... there are many options for head coach Dwane Casey to use Ibaka.
Offensively, he’ll have to familiarize himself with the Raptors’ sets, set screens and use his quickness when rolling to the basket.
He can drain threes and be used in that stretch four scenario as well.
Ibaka is a starter and he’ll be introduced to the home crowd for the first time Friday night, but Wednesday would mark his first step with plenty to learn.
“I’m going to learn,” said Ibaka. “( Wednesday) was my first practice and we have to learn each other.”
When he was traded from Oklahoma City to Orlando, Ibaka had the benefit of training camp to get acclimated to his new surroundings and teammates.
On Thursday, Day 2 gets ushered in followed by showtime against the Celtics when the lights come on for real.
The good news for Ibaka is that his trade, which involved Terrence Ross and a draft pick moving to the Magic, happened before this year’s trade deadline, which expires at 3 p.m. Thursday, allowing Ibaka some time to get settled in.
One week has now elapsed since the deal, time Ibaka has spent wisely, both from a basketball and personal perspective.
“The good thing is that I’ve had people help me, making me focus on playing basketball because they’re making things easier,” said Ibaka.
The first day after all-star break can be difficult with players flying back into town and getting their feet under them as the grind of a long season now reaches the unofficial second half.
“We threw a lot at the young man, but he comprehended a lot,” said Casey. “Defensively he added a buzz to the team, his communication, speed and reaction and understanding where to be.
“It was a good first night. It’s always difficult for a new guy coming in, but his teammates were all helping him, talking to him. Patrick Patterson was helping and talking to him, coaching him when he (Patterson) was playing against him.”
Just prior to the all-star break, Casey confided how the team provided Ibaka with an offensive video of the Raptors’ playbook.
“It’s like homework, but it’s different when you get here on the court, timing, having to understand it, speed and quickness, reading situations. But again, he was a quick learner. We tried to put him in comfortable situations. I went back and studied film when he was in Oklahoma City, Orlando to get a feel for where he likes the basketball, the things he did defensively and what we can incorporate.”
Ibaka has been in the league seven years and can take comfort knowing Rex Kalamian, whom Ibaka first met in OKC, serves as one of Casey’s assistants.
“The most important thing is that there’s nothing he ( Ibaka) hasn’t seen,” added Casey. “He’s not going to get tricked too many times. You may get him once and that’s the thing about a veteran because you’re not going to get him multiple times.”