NBA Playoffs 2014: Serge Ibaka Injury Fake? San Antonio Spurs Skeptical Of OKC Thunder Injury Announcement! ‘We’ll Believe It When We See It!’

The Oklahoma City Thunder released an announcement that starting power forward Serge Ibaka will be out for the rest of the playoffs. Their opponents, the San Antonio Spurs, are not so convinced.

Thunder GM Sam Presti issued an official statement through nba.com: "We are obviously disappointed for Serge, as he is a tremendous competitor, and we know how badly he wants to be on the court with his teammates. At this point it is important that our team directs its concentration and energy towards preparation and execution for our upcoming series.  As with all teams, our group has confronted different challenges. It is our collective experience that we will call on to ensure that we play to our capabilities."

This is a big blow to the Thunder as they hardly made it through the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. The series reached all the way to Game 7, and OKC had a break when Zach Randolph was suspended. The LA Clippers also gave them fits. Those two teams both had strong frontlines.

Now, they will face a San Antonio Spurs team led by the immortal Tim Duncan and the spectacular Tony Parker. Parker talked to the San Antonio Express News: "I don't really believe it(referring to Ibaka's injury). I'll believe when I see tomorrow he is not on the court. It's hard to believe. We'll see."

Added Kawhi Leonard: "We're still not sure if he's going to play or not, but it doesn't matter."

Short of accusing OKC of trying to throw them off, the Spurs were candid about their thoughts, even Coach Gregg Popovich.

"It's really a waste of time. When the game starts, everybody will know what's going on and everybody will adjust both ways."

Ibaka was a force who averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 13 playoff games. During the regular season, he notched career highs with 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while leading the league in total blocks for the fourth consecutive season with 219.

San Antonio had a league-best 62-16 record, but four of those came from the Thunder. They have yet to beat them this season.