Hoops Habit
Fansided

Indiana Pacers: Inside Victor Oladipo’s game

By Adrian Lawhorn

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 07: President of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard and Head Coach, Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers introduce Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Darren Collison during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 07: President of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard and Head Coach, Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers introduce Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Darren Collison during a press conference at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 7, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Victor Oladipo was the Indiana Pacers’ key acquisition this offseason. What can the team expect from their new shooting guard?

The Indiana Pacers have eight new players on their roster, but none are more important than Victor Oladipo, who came to Indiana as the focal point of the Paul George trade.

Fan reaction to the addition of Oladipo has leaned toward the negative side; many seem to feel that Oladipo is a poor shooter who will never blossom into a star for the Pacers.

Victor Oladipo comes with pros and cons, as all players do. Let’s take a hard look at Oladipo’s strengths, as well as the weaknesses he needs to improve upon if he is to reach his full potential as an NBA player.

There is plenty to like about Oladipo’s game. He is a very well-rounded player who can score, rebound, pass and defend.

Oladipo has a career scoring average of 16 points per game, and he is primarily known as a slasher who can get to the basket with ease against most opponents.

He is also very dangerous in the open court, using his elite athleticism on the fast break to score or make plays for teammates.

Shooting has never been something Victor Oladipo has been known for, but he may actually be underrated in this area. He shot 36 percent from three-point range and 49 percent on two-point attempts last season — both solid numbers.

Oladipo is a good rebounder at his position, averaging 4.4 boards per contest during his NBA career. His playmaking skills are also good for a shooting guard; he has averaged nearly four assists per game during his time in the NBA.

The best skill Oladipo possesses can be found on the defensive end of the floor, where he is an aggressive and very effective performer.

In 2016-17, Oladipo was ranked No. 6 out of 94 shooting guards in the NBA in terms of defensive impact (per ESPN‘s NBA Real Plus-Minus ratings).

When examining the intangibles he brings to the table, Victor Oladipo shines. He is a very hard worker, and it shows in his productivity.

Oladipo has steadily and consistently improved as a shooter each year, as detailed by this table from Basketball-Reference.com:

SeasonTmFG%3P%2P%eFG%
2013-14ORL.419.327.448.458
2014-15ORL.436.339.464.474
2015-16ORL.438.348.475.489
2016-17OKC.442.361.491.510

Oladipo has the desire to be a great player, and accordingly, he puts in a lot of time working on his game. He is also known to be a great person both in and out of the locker room, which will be an important factor as he helps lead the growth of this young Pacers team.

Clearly, Victor Oladipo has much to offer the Indiana Pacers. However, he has deficiencies that have prevented him from fulfilling his promise as a potential first-tier star in the NBA.

In order to reach an All-Star level, Oladipo must continue to improve as a shooter. He has made good progress in this area during his four years in the NBA, but his shooting numbers would still have to be considered average.

More from Hoops Habit

Oladipo, despite his reputation as a slasher, does not finish at the rim at a high level nor does he get to the free throw line often enough. His career average of 3.6 free throw attempts per game is not good for a player of Oladipo’s ability.

Turnovers have also been a problem for Victor Oladipo; his career assist-to-turnover ratio is only 1.48, so he can certainly improve when it comes to taking care of the ball.

Victor Oladipo will undoubtedly make a positive impact in Indiana, but whether he can reach his ceiling as an NBA player is less certain.

Oladipo’s history and work ethic would seem to indicate that he will continue to improve his skills and perhaps reach a new plateau with the Pacers.

He will be given the opportunity to become a featured player in Indiana, so further growth will be very possible in 2017-18 and beyond.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

No one knows just how good a player Oladipo will eventually become, but there is reason for optimism. The Pacers are on a new path and planning to grow together as a unit, and Victor Oladipo is likely to be a very big part of that.

Home/Indiana Pacers