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Victor Oladipo 3.0: The new and improved guard of the Indiana Pacers

By Ben Gibson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 25: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers tries to drive to the basket during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 25, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Thunder defeated the Pacers 114-96. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 25: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers tries to drive to the basket during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 25, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Thunder defeated the Pacers 114-96. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Victor Oladipo’s play puts him at the top of the NBA right now. He might not sustain it, but it is clear he is reinventing himself with the Indiana Pacers.

One of the many criticisms in the trade for Victor Oladipo was the fact he carried a hefty contract with him to the Indiana Pacers. For a player that was little more than a role player with the Oklahoma City Thunder, $21 million a year was a high price.

One theory was that the Pacers just wanted a former Indiana Hoosier on the team to sell tickets in a rebuilding season. Indiana loves basketball, so why not bring back a player they already knew?

But then Oladipo decided to take his game to a level no one had seen from him before. He wasn’t the passive spot-up shooter he was with the Thunder or the volume scorer he was with the Orlando Magic. Through five games, Oladipo looks like an All-Star.

Yes, this is classic sample size theater, but Oladipo isn’t the same player he once was. Some of these numbers are bound to come down, but Oladipo can still average over 20 points a game and potentially be an All-Star if he continues to play at the stupidly fast tempo he currently is at.

It certainly helps that he has one of the highest usage rates in the NBA right now, but he also is taking some of the best parts of his game from his two former teams and combining it into the best version of himself.

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He isn’t throwing up a ton of corner 3-pointers, but he is shooting more 3-pointers than he fired off in his first two seasons in Orlando. The 45% 3-point percentage will drop, but even if he levels off to his career average of 35%, that’s enough that you won’t want to leave him open.

If his 3-pointer gets down to the league average, his high-speed of play makes it easier for him baskets at the rim. He currently is 3rd in the NBA in fast-break points at 7.8 a game. Among guards, he stands at 6th in the NBA for points in the paint thanks to just outrunning everyone.

Another thing Oladipo us doing particularly well is forcing opponents to foul him. He stands outside the top 10 in fouls drawn and shooting fouls drawn, but that still means 15% of his shot attempts result in a trip to the foul line.

Another way Oladipo is getting easy baskets is off turnovers. Oladipo got the green light to attack passing lanes and that’s created easy baskets as steals becomes dunks on the other end.

No matter if it is off a rebound or turnover, scoring is a lot easier for Oladipo and anyone else when the defense is chasing you down the court.

What Victor Oladipo can keep doing, and what isn’t sustainable

Some of this is just too good to be true. Despite questionable shot selection at times, Oladipo’s eFG% stands at 57.6%, a career high. That’s going to butt heads with our old friend regression at some point. Oladipo never shot above 36% from beyond the arc in his career, and there is little reason to believe coming back to Indiana caused a 10% spike.

But pushing the pace for easy buckets is something he can continue to do. It may get a little harder as the scouting reports come in (drop someone back as a free safety) but at 25 years-old, his athleticism isn’t leaving him anytime soon. We’re still waiting on Myles Turner to return from his concussion, but if he can throw outlet passes as he did in the season opener, then Oladipo should keep running post routes down the court.

Oladipo won’t average 26 points a game like he is right now, but even if you take off a 3-pointer and an easy transition basket, he still can average over 20 points a game. Is that good enough to be an All-Star in the Eastern Conference? Maybe not, but the Pacers fans will certainly stuff the ballot box with his name after voting for Turner.

In a season of rebuilding, Oladipo is making the Indiana Pacers incredibly fun. TAKE THAT ZACH LOWE.

Next: The NBA Murtaugh List

Victor Oladipo said he sees himself as an alpha dog now, and a leader for the Indiana Pacers. It is too early to know, but he is leading the pack so far.

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