Of the cavalcade of supreme bummers last years’ sweep against the Cavaliers produced, Serge Ibaka’s sudden descent into unplayability was the most glum. Even as recently as Game 2 against Washington, Playoff Serge was very much a thing; a phrase a comfort, and a promise that the fluctuations in his regular season play and effort were worth enduring. He’d never failed to take names in the post-season before.
Eight ghostly performances and a handful of benchings over the remainder of the Raptors’ 2018 playoff run shattered Serge’s big game reputation.