ORLANDO, Fla. -- A week ago after waking up in Paris to flurry of congratulatory text messages, Serge Ibaka wasnt quite sure how to feel about the NBA draft-night trade that landed him in Orlando.But one text message in particular helped him feel better about his transition from the Oklahoma City Thunder -- a team contending for an NBA championship -- to a young team trying to figure out how to make the postseason.One of things that made me feel good at that moment was Dad texted me, Ibaka said Thursday at a news conference. Before I could get excited and happy, my dad was happy. He congratulated me and said he was real happy for me. Thats what changed everything at the moment.This is a business, and things happen for a reason. So Im happy to be here and for my family and for my daughter.The Magic aggressively went after Ibaka, trading Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to Domantas Sabonis (the No. 11 overall pick) to land the veteran power forward. They were looking for an inside presence and leadership; Ibaka, who went deep into the playoffs four of the past six seasons, gives them both.Orlando hopes the 6-foot-10 Ibaka is the player the Magic were missing last season as they fell short of making the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The three-time NBA All-Defensive first team member is one of the leagues top shot-blockers.Serge Ibaka is such an important piece to taking this organization to where we want to take it, to become a defensive monster, be one of the best defensive teams in the league, said coach Frank Vogel, who was hired by the Magic last month after coaching the Indiana Pacers. We are going to preach defense as much as I always have. But you have to have the people that can get the job done.Ibaka, 26, said he is looking forward to a likely expanded role that will include being more of a leader and offensive presence while certainly adding the defensive muscle the team needs.It feels good, said Ibaka, a native of Congo. I feel like my first year in the league; Im that excited. Im looking forward to the new challenge. I know its not going to be easier. Thats how we become great when we beat the challenges in front of you.Ibaka had a dip in productivity last season with the Thunder, averaging 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots. In Orlando, he will be looked to be versatile enough to play both power forward and center when needed. This team will look much different than the Thunder team he is coming from that was headlined by stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.Ibaka said he is up for the challenge as he takes what he learned over the last seven seasons to Orlando.They have great guys and young talent. Its always good to know I am going to work with good people, Ibaka said. Im excited because I know Im going to bring to them.Cheap Shoes Free Shipping . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Fake Shoes 2020 . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. https://www.wholesaleshoesusa.com/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Wholesale Nike Shoes . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Discount Shoes For Sale . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames.Welcome back to the Anthony Davis tour of destruction. The New Orleans Pelicans superstar forward had the look of a living unibrowed Hall of Famer following a breakthrough 2014-15 season. But after a disappointing encore (in part because of injuries), the NBA zeitgeist moved its Next Big Thing campaign sign to Minnesota, the home of Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves-Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Uh, not so fast. Through 15 games, Davis has catapulted himself back to the forefront of league consciousness ... even though his Pelicans have earned just five wins this season.Davis dominant once againWhen New Orleans reached the playoffs in 2014-15 after a 45-win season, it appeared that the teams development was mirroring that of its former No. 1 overall pick and that there would be more good things to come. Instead, the Pelicans stumbled last season while playing 21 games without Davis. His performance dipped slightly when he was on the court as he battled through a variety of injuries, including recurrent left knee pain and a partially torn labrum suffered during his rookie season. This season, however, hes playing some of his best basketball while aiming to best his career high of 68 games played. Hes currently second in the league in Player Efficiency Rating (30.8, tied with his career high). A look at his yearly PER since his rookie season:As a scorer, Davis has shown continual growth year over year. His points per 36 minutes totals have climbed each season, hovering around the 30-point mark so far this season (29.9). Among qualified players, only Russell Westbrook (32.8) and DeMar DeRozan (30.2) score more per 36 minutes played. A look at how Davis has improved:Hes had to carry his teamWith the return of former All-Star Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans are showing signs of life over the past week (winning their past three games, including Tuesday night in Atlanta). But overall, Davis has been operating on a roster without major support in scoring, rebounding or steals. Tim Frazier is a serviceable pro, but he wouldnt be second in total points for a winning franchise. Because of that talent gap (Holiday notwithstanding), The Brow carries the lions share of the load. For example, as the leagues leading shot-blocker at 3.0 per game, he accounts for 40 percent of all blocks by Pelicans players. The percent of team totals that Davis produces, and percentages for the top three players league-wide in each category for comparison:He has an arsenal of movesA player with myriad physical gifts (agility, hands, quickness, length and jumping ability) should be able to maximize them, and Davis has used them all in developing several tried-and-true moves to carve up opposing defenses. Heres a look at four of his most effective maneuvers:1. The pick-and-pop shooterDavis may look like a center, but his ability to shoot like a wing creates a no-win situation for defenders when he comes off of screens -- even when theres good coverage. Said Gentry: Its very difficult for any 4-man, or 5-man for that matter, to stay in front of him out on the floor without him being able to jump up and shoot it over the top.2. The post manYou may not think of Davis as a back-to-the-basket big, but post-ups make up the second-largest percentage of his offensive plays this season, per Synergy Sports, and hes been just as effective at them as bruiser DeMarcus Cousins (0.949 PPP).3. The finisherDavis teammates at Kentucky werent allowed to throw it to him in the post early on his career, but they could lob it up. Five years later, the 23-year-old has clearly retained those skills.4. The ball handlerHow many big men can bring the ball up the court, push iit to an open man and nail a fadeaway jumper? Davis, who honed in on his ballhandling this offseason and does pregame dribbling drills with point guard Frazier and former NBA point guard Robert Pack, has become a one-man fast break.ddddddddddddHe has expanded his rangeDavis became a 20-point scorer on average in his second season by taking most of his shots close to the basket. But range and a coach who embraces his unique skills have helped push him over 30 in his fifth season. As evidenced by the shot chart below, Davis average shot distance has increased every season. You see the pattern more clearly when you compare the percentage of shots by distance each season since his first: fewer shots close to the rim, and a big uptick in midrange jumpers. Davis now shoots just as often from 16 feet to the 3-point line (23 percent) as he does within three feet of the rim. While hes shooting just 23.3 percent from 3 this season, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry predicts hell be in the mid-to-high 30 percent range by seasons end.Gentry has encouraged the growth of Davis beyond the usual constraints of a player his size in their two seasons together. The rule of thumb is, Oh, youve got a 7-foot guy, oh, put him on the block and youve got to pound it into him. And thats not who he is, Gentry said. What he is is a really good out-on-the-floor player capable of making plays for other guys. Good shooter. And just a good facilitator.Hes capable of 50-point explosionsOnce an MVP favorite, Davis star dulled after missing a career-high 21 games in 2015-16. In one game, he dismissed all doubts ... even as the ones centered on the Pelicans supporting cast may have been reaffirmed. In the season-opener, Davis went off for 50 points -- the second-most in his career -- on 34 shots; the rest of New Orleans injury-depleted roster had 52 points on 58 shots.It would have been more satisfying if we would have won, he said after the 107-102 loss at home to the Denver Nuggets. The way I played, Im gonna have to ... probably not 50 every night, but try to get somewhere along those lines every game to give ourselves a chance to win. Thats the bottom line. We just got to go, keep finding guys and trust those guys that theyre going to make shots.On a legendary paceDavis is attempting to accomplish something very special this season: average more than 30 points, 10 boards, three blocks and 1.5 steals. Its a testament to his eye-popping combination of athleticism and size -- the only two players to hit the other thresholds while averaging 25 points are Davis predecessors: Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. Its still early and Davis would have to maintain an extremely high level in four different categories, but he has a chance to put together an historic season.The 25/10/3/1.5 clubA few more numbers of note via ESPN Stats & Information:Over the past 50 years, only seven players have scored more points prior to their 23rd birthday than Davis, who has totaled 5,276 before turning 23 in March.Davis, Shaquille ONeal and Dwight Howard are the only players over the past 30 years with 5,000 points and 500 blocks by their 23rd birthday.His 30.81 PER in 2014-15 -- considered his age-21 season but finished when Davis was 22 -- ranks 11th ever in a single season, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, Jordan and James. Though each current and future Hall of Famer appears on the list three times or more, none crossed 30 before age 24.Statistics courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information, Synergy Sports Tech, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference.com. ' ' '