Serge Ibaka is out with a calf injury, but the Spurs still fear him
Gregg Popovich is pounding “appropriate fear” into his team, even though the Thunder have announced that Ibaka is not playing.
A product of the Air Force Academy, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has his ways of pounding unwavering focus into his players' heads. It hasn't taken long to uncover the latest example as his team hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
Thunder vs. Spurs
Thunder forward Serge Ibaka has a Grade 2 calf strain that will keep him from traveling to San Antonio for Game 1 on Monday. As in, he's not getting on the plane. In fact, the Thunder announced his postseason is over.
But somehow, Popovich has his crew not believing it, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
"I don't really believe it," said point guard Tony Parker on Sunday. "I'll believe when I see tomorrow he is not on the court. It's hard to believe. We'll see tomorrow."
Said Kawhi Leonard, "We're still not sure if he's going to play or not, but it doesn't matter. The Thunder are still a very good team."
Following that announcement, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti reluctantly said it is "unlikely" Ibaka could return, and that was if the Thunder make it to the NBA Finals. Somehow, the Spurs aren't buying it. Popovich calls the cautious approach, which borderlines on paranoia, "appropriate fear," and it seems to be working.
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