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How Serge Ibaka changed the series for the Thunder

Kevin Jairaj / US PRESSWIRE

Having Serge Ibaka - one of their three best players - back in the lineup for the Western Conference Final is an obvious boost for the Thunder, and no one needs an explanation of the difference between being down 3-0 as opposed to being down 2-1 in a best-of-seven series. But Ibaka's value in Oklahoma City's Game 3 win and his importance to the team going forward in this series (and possibly beyond) cannot be overstated.

Ibaka finished Game 3 with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go with seven rebounds, four blocks and a steal in 30 minutes of action, but more than his individual statistics, it was on OKC's team defense and San Antonio's offense that his presence was most noticeable, especially in the paint.

Without Ibaka in Games 1 and 2, the Spurs absolutely feasted on the Thunder's interior defense, and dominated the paint battle on both ends. San Antonio averaged 60 points in the paint, outscored Oklahoma City in the paint, 120-74, and shot 76.8 percent in the restricted area through the opening two games of the series, thanks to some comically ineffective help-defense from OKC.

With Ibaka patrolling the paint in Game 3, however, everything changed, most notably that the Thunder always seemed to have a rim protector between the driving Spur and the basket:

The Spurs managed just 38 points in the paint on Sunday (while Oklahoma City scored 44) and shot a lousy 46.2 percent in the restricted area when defended by Ibaka - a stunning drop off from their previous production. In addition, after shooting 54 percent as a team in Games 1 and 2 of the West Final and shooting 50 percent over their first 14 playoff games, the Spurs shot only 39 percent in OKC on Sunday.

Ibaka also had more blocks in Game 3 - four - than the Thunder averaged as a team - three - in Games 1 and 2.

As dramatic as all of those numbers are, they shouldn't be all that surprising if you watched any of the Thunder's four-game regular season series sweep of the Spurs. In those four games, the Spurs scored 120.8 points per 100 possessions and had an effective field goal percentage of 60.4 percent with Ibaka on the bench, but managed just 93 points per 100 possessions and an eFG% of 46.4 with Ibaka on the court, according to NBA.com.

OKC's Game 3 improvement was about more than just Serge Ibaka. Reggie Jackson was solid as a starter, Scott Brooks went with Steven Adams at center for 28 minutes while only employing the incompetent Kendrick Perkins for 13 minutes (Adams had four blocks himself), and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 51 points to lead the offensive attack, as usual. Reinserting one of the game's premier defensive players against the juggernaut Spurs offense was the knockout punch.

The Spurs were by no means overwhelmed or even all that overmatched for the majority of the night, as this was still a four-point game at halftime and a seven-point game through three quarters before the Thunder blew it open in the fourth. And this is the Spurs we're talking about - San Antonio is more than capable of winning Game 4 to put the Thunder on the ropes and take a 3-1 series lead back home with them.

But for now, the Thunder have bounced back from a horrendous opening two games, have avoided a 3-0 hole and have made this a series again at 2-1, with Game 4 to come in front of another raucous Oklahoma City crowd. For now, they've changed everything about this series, and Serge Ibaka's triumphant return is the biggest reason why.

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