8 points, 9 seconds
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The Pacers at the Quarterpole: What we’ve learned so far

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 29: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs defends from behind at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 29, 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 conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 29: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs defends from behind at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 29, 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 conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 17: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 17, 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 conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Victor Oladipo is playing like an All-Star

If Indiana could just schedule the Thunder and Magic, Oladipo would have MVP numbers – 30 points, .606 FGP, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.7 blocks in the three games against his former teams- but since you can’t just play two teams 41 times a piece, Oladipo will just have to settle with the most dazzling beginning to any season in his basketball life.

The question facing Oladipo before the season was:

is he worth Paul George

, can he step up into a starring role. So far the answer is an emphatic, “yes”. Oladipo has scored between 20 and 29 points 13 times this season, he did so 18 times all last year and has done so 65 times in his career before this season. Now he’s on pace to score in that much 52 times this season.

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His shooting slash line (FG%/3P%/FT%) 47.4/46.2/79.6 is one of the better slash lines among contenders for the All-Star backcourt. Oladipo’s 23 ppg is 6.7 points higher than his lifetime average, while his 102.9 defensive rating is the best on the team. Oladipo is both the Pacers best offensive and defensive player.

In the NBA at large, if you look a John Hollinger’s numbers, Oladipo is among the NBA’s elite shooting guards. His “Player Efficiency Rating” (21.8) is second in the Association among shooting guards and fourth among guards overall; his “Value Added” (111.5) is first among shooting guards and trails just James Harden, Damian Lillard, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving among guards overall. 20 players in the NBA scored at least a 20 in PER and 100 in VA.

All this means, Oladipo is an All-Star or at least playing like one.

Normally when a player outperforms their average as much as Oladipo has, you’d expect them to regress back to the mean. However, this doesn’t look like a fluke. Oladipo’s role with the Pacers in completely different from his previous professional stops. He didn’t have the supporting cast, or fan support in Orlando that he does in Indiana, and he rarely got the ball in Oklahoma City. Plus it normally takes guards until their 25-year-old season before they round into shape, and this is Oladipo’s age 25 season.

Pacers’ may be seeing who Oladipo is. And if Oladipo is one of the better shooting guards in the NBA, then the Pacers are very close to having that ever important one-two punch (at least) that’s a prerequisite to contend.

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