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Serge Ibaka to miss the remainder of the postseason with left calf injury

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Serge Ibaka will miss the remainder of the 2014 postseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a left calf injury, the team announced on Friday. The injury is said to be a Grade 2 plantaris strain, a small muscle just above the back of the knee.

Ibaka injured the calf during the third quarter of the Thunder's series-clinching Game 6 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. While the Thunder managed to hang on for the win, his loss is monumental as the team looks to make it back to the NBA Finals.

Ibaka would have often drawn the Tim Duncan assignment against San Antonio in the next round, while also operating as the team's primary paint protector against the driving duo of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. His rim-protection allows other Thunder players to rotate aggressively and close out on shooters without the fear of being blown by. Nick Collison and Steven Adams, while effective players, won't allow for that same kind of safety net.

The Thunder will have to change their approach on defense to account for his loss, but Ibaka also represents the team's third-leading scorer, an effective floor-spacer and safety valve for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The oft-predictable Thunder offense could become even more predictable now unless someone is able to step up in his stead.

What's more, Oklahoma City could look to more small-ball lineups, shifting Kevin Durant to the four. Lineups with Westbrook and Reggie Jackson both on the floor with Durant were effective, though they played rather sparingly albeit effectively without Ibaka, totaling 129 minutes on the year with a +12.6 points per 100 possessions mark, per NBAWowy.com. Those lineups will be tested a great deal in the coming weeks.

The pressure was already great on Durant and Westbrook, but it will now turn up for head coach Scott Brooks, who will have to make uncomfortable adjustments on the fly against a very good Spurs squad.

General manager Sam Presti expressed a great deal of disappointment via a team statement but urged his team to fight through:

We are obviously disappointed for Serge, as he is a tremendous competitor, and we know how badly he wants to be on the court with his teammates. At this point it is important that our team directs its concentration and energy towards preparation and execution for out upcoming series. As with all teams, our group has confronted different challenges. It is our collective experience that we call on to ensure that we play to our capabilities.

Ibaka finishes the playoffs averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 13 games, following a season of averaging 15.1, 8.8, and 2.7 respectively.

Just another victim of the Based God's Curse.

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