Has Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo had a change of heart?
Almost two weeks ago, it was reported that Victor Oladipo had elected to sit out the NBA’s restart and that the Indiana Pacers were going to do everything they could to protect its players in terms of minutes when the season restarts.
Now that the team is practicing inside the bubble, has that changed? In terms of the team protecting its players with minutes restrictions, perhaps not. However, there’s growing optimism that Oladipo could reverse on his initial decision to sit out the restart.
According to Shams Charania, it’s looking more and more likely that we could see Oladipo in the Pacers’ lineup when they resume playing later this month.
Oladipo has been fully participating in five-on-five scrimmages in Orlando, and there’s now optimism around his playing status, sources say. https://t.co/bJ8OLRjmIA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2020
What has changed for the Indiana Pacers and Victor Oladipo?
It’s difficult to point to what has exactly changed for Oladipo and the Pacers, but you’d have to think that it is based on how he’s felt and looked while participating with the team thus far in the bubble.
Perhaps he’s felt better and has looked better (from the team’s perspective), to the point where he now feels comfortable in playing when the season is resumed. Either way, this has to be considered good news for both the Pacers and Oladipo.
When he made his return to the lineup, Oladipo didn’t exactly look like his old all-star self. He looked rusty and the team suffered in the 13 games he participated in. The Pacers were only 7-6 during those 13 games, and Oladipo averaged 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game. His efficiency is where his game really looked off. He only shot 39 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range.
However, if Oladipo is feeling and looking better, perhaps it would give the Pacers the shot in the arm that they need to be a true dark horse in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
As far as the rest of the conference is concerned, a healthy Victor Oladipo on the Indiana Pacers changes the dynamic of any first-round playoff matchup. Whether you want to believe it or not, this is huge news and a potential landscape-changer for the Eastern Conference.