Real Madrid Signs Serge Ibaka, Adds Pressure on Pablo Laso
By Rafael Uehara
TUBASKET.com first reported today, October, the 25th, and the team confirmed it, that Real Madrid and post defender Serge Ibaka reached an agreement on a two-month deal.
On a bigger role due to Jeff Green’s departure, Ibaka recorded a 17.7 PER and posted percentages of 57.9% true-shooting, 54.3% effective-field-goal, 16.4% rebounding and 6.5% blocking with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
With the move, Real Madrid fortifies its frontcourt rotation, hurt by the injury to tweener Novica Velickovic, down six weeks with knee issues.
It was a typical Real Madrid move in the sense that adding a big for two months shouldn’t be the team’s top priority.
They have struggled at point-guard. The Sergio Llull experiment as a full time stabilizer and distributor hasn’t paid dividends so far. And Sergio Rodriguez remains Sergio Rodriguez.
In five games between EuroLeague and Liga Endesa play, Real Madrid has turned the ball 69 times. That’s an average of 13.8 giveaways a game. And they’ve assisted only 10 times more, which doesn’t make for a good ratio.
But even though not the optimal move, it was a great move. Ever since the departure of D’or Fischer, Real Madrid has missed a defensive presence upfront. Mirza Begic hasn’t been as big a part of the rotation as probably planned when they let Fischer go and Felipe Reyes can’t match up in athleticism at this point of his career, while Ante Tomic and Nikola Mirótic aren’t ‘plus’ defenders.
Ibaka immediately makes Real Madrid a better defensive bunch with his ability to guard opponents one-on-one on the post and to help defend at an elite level due to his athleticism.
With a squad loaded, more responsibility rests on Pablo Laso’s shoulders to flip all these weapons into a team capable of overtake Regal FC Barcelona for the dominance in Spain and to win the European crown.
For more than half a century, Madrid has been a reference in European basketball, accumulating a record eight continental titles based on its dominance in the 1960s. Its untouchable cache of 30 domestic leagues and 22 cup trophies says it all about its status in Spanish basketball. But having won its last ACB title four years ago and having made it to the EuroLeague’s Final Four, prior to last year, for the last time in 1996, Real had lost some space among all the powerhouses, especially against its bitterest rivals.
Last season’s team was supposed to be the team to bring them back to relevancy, not just contention but to retake their royal status back. The semifinal elimination in the ACB playoffs was disappointing but prior to that, they had managed to reach the EuroLeague’s Final Four. They laid an egg there but at least they got to Palau Saint Jordi, something Barça didn’t.
This season, management went even more all win, putting together literally a variation of an All-word team. The high priced additions of Jaycee Carroll, Rudy Fernandez, Martynas Pocius and now Ibaka automatically raises the expectations. This squad isn’t supposed to compete, but to win. And that’s all on Pablo Laso.
Editor's Note: Rafael Uehara is the managing figure of 'The Basketball Post'. More of his work can be found here and he can be followed on twitter @rafael_uehara or reached via e-mail at rafael_uehara@live.com
TUBASKET.com first reported today, October, the 25th, and the team confirmed it, that Real Madrid and post defender Serge Ibaka reached an agreement on a two-month deal.
On a bigger role due to Jeff Green’s departure, Ibaka recorded a 17.7 PER and posted percentages of 57.9% true-shooting, 54.3% effective-field-goal, 16.4% rebounding and 6.5% blocking with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
With the move, Real Madrid fortifies its frontcourt rotation, hurt by the injury to tweener Novica Velickovic, down six weeks with knee issues.
It was a typical Real Madrid move in the sense that adding a big for two months shouldn’t be the team’s top priority.
They have struggled at point-guard. The Sergio Llull experiment as a full time stabilizer and distributor hasn’t paid dividends so far. And Sergio Rodriguez remains Sergio Rodriguez.
In five games between EuroLeague and Liga Endesa play, Real Madrid has turned the ball 69 times. That’s an average of 13.8 giveaways a game. And they’ve assisted only 10 times more, which doesn’t make for a good ratio.
But even though not the optimal move, it was a great move. Ever since the departure of D’or Fischer, Real Madrid has missed a defensive presence upfront. Mirza Begic hasn’t been as big a part of the rotation as probably planned when they let Fischer go and Felipe Reyes can’t match up in athleticism at this point of his career, while Ante Tomic and Nikola Mirótic aren’t ‘plus’ defenders.
Ibaka immediately makes Real Madrid a better defensive bunch with his ability to guard opponents one-on-one on the post and to help defend at an elite level due to his athleticism.
With a squad loaded, more responsibility rests on Pablo Laso’s shoulders to flip all these weapons into a team capable of overtake Regal FC Barcelona for the dominance in Spain and to win the European crown.
For more than half a century, Madrid has been a reference in European basketball, accumulating a record eight continental titles based on its dominance in the 1960s. Its untouchable cache of 30 domestic leagues and 22 cup trophies says it all about its status in Spanish basketball. But having won its last ACB title four years ago and having made it to the EuroLeague’s Final Four, prior to last year, for the last time in 1996, Real had lost some space among all the powerhouses, especially against its bitterest rivals.
Last season’s team was supposed to be the team to bring them back to relevancy, not just contention but to retake their royal status back. The semifinal elimination in the ACB playoffs was disappointing but prior to that, they had managed to reach the EuroLeague’s Final Four. They laid an egg there but at least they got to Palau Saint Jordi, something Barça didn’t.
This season, management went even more all win, putting together literally a variation of an All-word team. The high priced additions of Jaycee Carroll, Rudy Fernandez, Martynas Pocius and now Ibaka automatically raises the expectations. This squad isn’t supposed to compete, but to win. And that’s all on Pablo Laso.
Editor's Note: Rafael Uehara is the managing figure of 'The Basketball Post'. More of his work can be found here and he can be followed on twitter @rafael_uehara or reached via e-mail at rafael_uehara@live.com
Posted by Rafael Uehara at Tuesday, October 25, 2011 8:40:51 AM 
Categories: Euroleague, Spanish league
Tags: Rafael Uehara
Categories: Euroleague, Spanish league
Tags: Rafael Uehara
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