Game 3 grades: The Return of Serge Ibaka

Just about everyone was ready to write off the Thunder after Games 1 & 2. The role players weren't playing well. Durant and Westbrook weren't even playing all that well, and Serge Ibaka wasn't walking through that door. Then, somehow or another, he did walk through that door, and gave a truly inspired performance. Maybe it actually was that simple all along, and having Ibaka back restored order. Here's how the entire Thunder team graded out, along with Ibaka himself.

Joining me today is Chris Hanneke.

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KEVIN DURANT	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game stats)		36	25	10	3	1	1	4	+19
JUAN		Even in a game where Kevin Durant wasn't hitting his shots, he still led the team in +/- with a +19. Durant rebounded the ball exceptionally well, and despite his off shooting, he still put up 25 points on the board -- that's pretty good.
CHRIS		What should be noted is how much more intent Durant seemed on rebounding last night. He pulled in 10, and watching some of them, it was a matter of Durant really fighting and ensuring the Thunder didn't allow second-chance opportunities. The Thunder as whole dominated the boards, 52-36, and it was another example of the increased toughness they needed to take a must-win Game 3. He missed some open threes, and he still hasn't had the monster KD game we all know is coming, but these quiet 25-10 nights are exactly what make him such a weapon.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game stats)		36	26	8	7	1	3	5	+15
JUAN		Much like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook struggled to find his jump-shot all night, but that didn't affect his aggressiveness on both ends of the court. Westbrook had 4 steals and had a pretty nice recovery block on a Tony Parker jump-shot. Westbrook won the battle of point guards on Sunday night.
CHRIS		The least surprising part of last night's game was Westbrook's stellar finish after a rough start. After struggling with his shot for basically the entire first half, Westbrook closed by scoring the team's final 10 points before the break. Spurs Twitter was having a field day jumping all over Westbrook, but anyone that has followed the Thunder saw the outburst coming. Tony Parker struggled and found himself on the bench at the end of the half. Russell Westbrook struggled and scored his team's final 10 points in the half. He made seven of his last 11 shots after starting 1-for-8. The lesson, as always, #LetWestbrookBeWestbrook

THABO SEFOLOSHA	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game stats)		--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
JUAN		Thabo Sefolosha got a DNP-CD, which doesn't happen often, but the Thunder won so there is no questioning the move.
CHRIS		I do think Thabo could play a role in a potential Finals series, should the Thunder come back and make it that far. But it's hard to see him having a role on this team after this season. Nothing against the guy, who has been such an integral part of what OKC has built. That's just the way these things go.

SERGE IBAKA	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		30	15	7	0	4	1	1	+11
JUAN		HE'S BACK! That alone would have gotten him an 'A+' but with his performance, that gets him the ultimate grade. Ibaka secured the paint all night and was as efficient as you can get offensively. I should also add that when Ibaka went back to the locker room late in the third quarter, I cried a bit.
CHRIS		We created the A++ rating after Reggie Jackson's emotional, season-saving Game 4 against Memphis. Well, Ibaka's performance had that same impact, if not even moreso. The crazy thing is, his numbers are right in line with his season averages: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks (a bit higher, but alas), they don't jump off the page. Obviously, though, to anyone watching, it was his impact on everything else beyond those numbers. Time and again, Spurs players were forced to either take more difficult floaters or swing the ball back out to the perimeter. More than all of that, it was the confidence that came with having Serge back. Guys could gamble on the perimeter, they could curl around screens more aggressively, always knowing they had Ibaka there as a safety valve. Losing Westbrook made everyone appreciate him that much more, and the same is true with Ibaka. It's a shame that's what it takes, but good for him for finally getting proper recognition.

KENDRICK PERKINS	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		14	4	3	0	0	0	3	+5
JUAN		4 fouls in 13 minutes for Kendrick Perkins -- that's what I like to see.
CHRIS		I will defend Perkins' role on this team any day of the week, but with this particular series (and Miami, if it comes to that) it's one of those deals where Perkins getting himself in foul trouble isn't exactly the end of the world. Still like him for his toughness at points, but yeah, they didn't really miss him in this one while he sat because of foul trouble.

REGGIE JACKSON	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		37	15	4	5	0	1	3	+17
JUAN		Reggie Jackson is in the starting lineup and I'm sure we can all agree that he isn't going anywhere now. I think Ibaka's return sparked this team, but Jackson's play was just as important. Spurs killer is ready to kill!
CHRIS		Since everyone else always wants to bring up the James Harden stuff, I'll play. On a night when the Ibaka over Harden choice (not that that was really the case but still, play along) was vindicated, Jackson did his best Harden impersonation. That is, he played the steady hand to Westbrook's wild side, calmly taking what the defense gave him with crafty drives to the rim, open perimeter shots, smart passes, and always seeming in control. It's been pretty obvious for some time now that Jackson is the team's fourth-best player, so having him a role where he could thrive with the Top 3 only makes the Thunder that much more dangerous.

JEREMY LAMB	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		17	6	3	0	0	0	0	-7
JUAN		With Reggie Jackson moving into the starting lineup, Scott Brooks called on Jeremy Lamb for instant scoring off the bench and he played pretty well in that second quarter. He also got some garbage time minutes, but Lamb is going to be an important piece for the rest of this series.
CHRIS		It's not really clear whether he got those first-half minutes because he deserved them, or because Derek Fisher's head was bleeding. Either way, he was great. The Thunder's biggest advantage in this series is their athleticism, and he is as athletic as anyone on the team (check how he soars for rebounds). He definitely has value in this series, hopefully it doesn't take Derek Fisher bleeding for Brooks to utilize it.

STEVEN ADAMS	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		28	7	3	0	4	0	1	+12
JUAN		Steven Adams was phenomenal, in my opinion. He sent back 4 shots and added 9 rebounds to his game. Kiwi Strong was in full force in game three.
CHRIS		The focus is right now, of course, but the future of Ibaka/Adams swatting away interior shots, and being reliable weapons on the offensive end, is such a terrifying thought for the rest of the league. His shot-blocking looks even better when he has Ibaka by his side and he can gamble more. Can't believe this dude is only 20 years old and having this much of an impact.

NICK COLLISON	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
JUAN		With the return of Serge, Nick Collison went back to his non-playing days. One thing we know for sure is, he'll always be ready to step in and play.
CHRIS		It's weird that we're at a point where Sefolosha and Collison not only didn't play, but are kind of unnecessary altogether. I feel like Bert Cooper watching the entire world change around me.

CARON BUTLER	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		20	5	3	1	0	0	0	-3
JUAN		Caron Butler knocked up 20 minutes, but I felt like it was a good number last night. He ultimately hit the three that seemed to be the dagger, when he put the Thunder up 14 in the fourth quarter.
CHRIS		Didn't play too many minutes, had active hands on defense (tipped at least one pass that I can remember) and dialed up the dagger long-distance 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. This is how Butler should be used, and he played the role nicely.

DEREK FISHER	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		18	3	5	1	0	0	0	-2
JUAN		Maybe Derek Fisher was thinking about the Knicks coaching job last night and that's why he missed so many shots?
CHRIS		Scott Brooks coached such a great game that he left Derek Fisher out there in the second half - instead of Lamb, who had a strong first half - just to give us all something to complain about today.

PERRY JONES III	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	-11
JUAN		Perry Jones had some garbage time minutes, and well, all he did was foul people relentlessly.
CHRIS		Perry Jones garbage time minutes: fine. Perry Jones not dunking in those garbage time minutes: not fine.

HASHEEM THABEET	GRADE	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BL	ST	TO	+/-
(Game Stats)		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	-11
JUAN		There's two parts to Hasheem Thabeet's grade. The 'C' is for his garbage time play and the 'A++' is the grade for this amazing vine. You're the king celebrator, Heem.
CHRIS		Yeah I don't even care about the garbage time minutes, Juan, that Vine is EVERYTHING.

SCOTT BROOKS	Coaching Grade
JUAN		It took a couple of blowout losses, but Scott Brooks finally made some adjustments. He inserted Reggie Jackson into the starting lineup and is slowly incorporating Jeremy Lamb as the first scorer off the bench. I think this is the rotation that gives the Thunder the best shot at this series and even though the Thunder are down 2-1, you just get the feeling that this series is just starting. Oh, and the return of Serge Ibaka makes Brooks' job a lot easier.
CHRIS		Brooks deserves a ton of credit for this one. He started Jackson, he rode Lamb while he was playing well, he, like, coached and stuff. Aside from the fact that he still found a way to have Butler and Fisher on the floor at the same time, neutralizing the athletic advantage OKC most desperately needs to utilize. And also aside from how left Ibaka out there for three minutes too long after the game was already decided. Man, this Brooks section always turns into complaining about something. Nevermind, good work, Scott.

TEAM GRADE	GRADE	FG%	3P%	AST	REB	BL	ST	TO
(Advanced Stats)		45.7	27.3	17	52	10	7	18
JUAN		It was a must-win situation for the Thunder and they responded really nicely. Serge Ibaka returned to the lineup, but everybody stepped up. Durant and Westbrook had off-shooting nights, but his teammates picked up some of the slack. Steven Adams and Reggie Jackson had great games, as did Ibaka and Jeremy Lamb. The Thunder are facing another must-win on Tuesday night and we could only hope they play as good, if not better than how they did on Sunday.
CHRIS		It's becoming the theme of this postseason that the more desperate the situation, the better the Thunder play. It's taking its toll on our fingernails, and probably our hair color, but they're getting it done when they need to. All this does is ensures a Game 5, because Game 4 is still just as much of a must-win as Game 3. But Serge is back, the Thunder looks like the Thunder again, and we've got a series on our hands.

*All player images via US Presswire