Boston Celtics: 4 reasons why Serge Ibaka is the perfect free agency grab

Reason why Ibaka is perfect free-agent No. 3) Still a quality defender

Though it is evident that he may have lost a step during this past campaign, it’s to be expected as he logged his 11th season in the NBA at the ripe age of 30.

That said, even with his apparent loss in speed, Ibaka was still a menace on the defensive side of the ball.

On the surface, one may infer that, because he averaged less than a block a game for the first time in his career, he is no longer the talent he was once. However, upon further review, you’d find that, while his on-paper stats may not find the 3.7 blocks-per-game averages they once did, his defensive efforts are seemingly as good as ever.

Where he once focused his efforts on embarrassing his opponent with an eye-popping swat, he now puts more of an emphasis on proper positioning and reads.

As pointed out by Forbes contributor Morten Jensen, his assignments are very much still feeling the impact of his wrath.

"Ibaka is proving his efforts on that end by being one of the most versatile defenders in the league this year. Wherever he defends shots, his opponents end up shooting worse than their usual percentage. The rim, the three-point line, and everywhere in between. Ibaka’s mobility, reach and defensive IQ has provided Toronto with a great stable presence all year, a large part of their current rank as the league’s second-best defense."

Along with Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam in 2019-20, when on the floor together the Toronto Raptors posted a defensive rating that ranked within the 92nd percentile.

Though “Serge Iblaka” may have been a bit dormant this past season, his defensive attributes proved to virtually be as good as ever.