Serge Ibaka played in his first two games after back surgery this week to diminishing returns. His uneven debut against Charlotte was followed by five and a half more scoreless minutes spanning the first and second quarter against Portland, and he never got second shift.
After his return, Ibaka thanked Ty Lue for getting him back in the game despite his ineffectiveness in his first stint. That didn’t happen against the Trail Blazers, partly because the Clippers couldn’t afford to put Ibaka out there in a close game. The Clippers aren’t giving developmental minutes to any of their rookies this year, and Ibaka’s level of play wasn’t much better as he adjusts to the speed of the NBA game.