Running start elevates Ibaka’s game
Big trade deadline pick-up feels ‘at home’ in camp, pre-season ends with win
CHICAGO— After practice is over and before exhibition games begin, Serge Ibaka attaches himself to a couple of bungee cords being held by a member of the Raptors conditioning and strength staff and works on closing out on perimeter shooters.
It’s a boring drill involving no basketballs, no shots and with nothing on the line except improvement.
It’s the grunt work of training camp and the pre-season, even for a shooter like Ibaka, and when Dwane Casey sees him out there getting in the work the coach’s heart swells with pride.
“He loves the defensive drills, which I like,” Casey said Friday morning of Ibaka. “He enjoys the defensive part of practice.”
The veteran forward is enjoying just about every part of being a Raptor this year, finally fully comfortable with a team he joined late in the 2016-17 season. It wasn’t that he hated the final 23 games of last season after being acquired from Orlando, but having a full training camp has truly put him at ease.
“Yes, much more calm now,” Ibaka said before the Raptors pulled away to beat the Chicago Bulls 125-104 at the United Center to wind up the exhibition season. “I really feel at home now. I feel like Toronto is home now. I feel like I’ve known those guys for a long time now.”
Ibaka got the night off as Toronto finished the exhibition season with a 3-2 record. C.J. Miles nailed half a dozen three-pointers and led Toronto with 27 points, while rookie OG Anunoby finished with 12 on an impressive night that included an 11point fourth quarter.
Kyle Lowry had17 points, and Jonas Valanciunas put up an 11-point, 10rebound double-double for the Raptors. Justin Holiday had 17 points for Chicago.
Miles once again came off the bench to anchor a young second unit with Norm Powell getting the start. Casey, who ran through myriad groups on Friday, continues to insist no long-term decision has been made on a fifth starter and it could change game to game.
Much was made of Ibaka’s acquisition at the trade deadline last year because he filled a glaring need for another three-point threat in the front-court. And while he was effec- tive at times — shooting almost 40 per cent from three-point range and averaging 14.2 points per game — there was always a level of unfamiliarity between him and his teammates.
He didn’t get to play alongside an injured Lowry until the final four games of the regular season — another setback — and it was a big step to join a successful team anchored by an all-star in DeMar DeRozan and figure out the fit.
“It was tough because there were obviously points where it slowed you down,” Ibaka said. “You want to just play, but you have to figure out what the play is first. You can’t be yourself. You have to think about everything twice before you do it. Now starting with the team in training camp, when the games start, I know already. I can just play.”
Ibaka didn’t have the most glittering pre-season, shooting just 25 per cent (6 for 24) from three-point range in four games. But the most important thing is that he’s had weeks to get used to his teammates and to a new offensive system that involves intuitive reads and reactions rather than set play calls: “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.”
Casey and Ibaka aren’t worried about a four-game stats sample — Ibaka did make four threes in Tuesday’s home win over Detroit — as much as they are pleased that he’s had an extended run.