NBA Playoffs: Storylines, predictions for Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers

Which Victor Oladipo will we see?

If the Indiana Pacers are going to surprise the Miami Heat in this first-round series, they’re going to need Victor Oladipo to play more like his former self. During the bubble, Oladipo has struggled with his shot. In the six games he played in, Oladipo is averaging 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game. On the surface, those numbers look good.

They might not be vintage Oladipo numbers, but they’re solid. However, he’s only shooting 40 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range. In this sample, it’s easy to see that Oladipo simply doesn’t have his legs under him. He’s not playing at an all-star level and that will need to change if the Pacers are going to have any shot at winning this series.

If he has a so-so series, the Pacers don’t have much of a shot. The Heat is overwhelming and will be too much for the Pacers without Oladipo. The version of him that we will see could very well indicate how the Pacers will perform against the Heat.