Toronto Raptors: Top five performances from perfect week 15

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Serge Ibaka Toronto Raptors (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Serge Ibaka Toronto Raptors (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Serge Ibaka (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

3. Serge Ibaka

Opponent: Atlanta Hawks

Stat line: 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 64 FG%

Serge Ibaka did not expect to play as many minutes as he wound up seeing versus the Hawks. Marc Gasol re-injured his hamstring and only played 16 minutes against Atlanta, so that meant Ibaka had to carry the load at the five spot.

Having spent weeks playing heavy minutes already this season, Ibaka was up to this latest task and went about showing Nick Nurse how dominant he can be in a starting role. Ibaka was giving the Hawks fits even before Gasol’s injury, putting up 17 points prior to his teammate’s final moments. Ibaka finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

What is most impressive is how efficient Ibaka was from inside the arc. He missed five of seven attempts from three (28 percent), but that didn’t rattle Ibaka who was perfect from inside the three-point line (7-7).

With the Raptors likely to exercise caution with Gasol, and with Chris Boucher being the only other option at the five (short of a super-short lineup featuring Siakam at the five), Ibaka is going to see plenty of minutes over the upcoming stretch of games. If the winning continues, Gasol may not be back until after the All-Star break. That would mean plenty of opportunities for Ibaka to begin February.

With Gasol looking like he’ll miss at least a few games, Ibaka has another great opportunity to impose his will on Toronto opponents. The starting job his for the foreseeable future, Ibaka is ready for a strong finish to the regular season.