Pacers potential playoff opponents preview: Philadelphia 76ers
By William Furr
Shooting guard matchup: Victor Oladipo v JJ Redick
Victor Oladipo
Pertinent Stats:
23.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 2.3 SPG (first in the NBA), 46.7% shooting, 36.3% 3 pt shooting, 80.8% free throw shooting
Y’all might’ve heard of Victor Oladipo. He was the unexpected crown jewel of the Paul George trade, putting up a career year in his first year back in Indiana. Already comfortable with the state from his IU days, Oladipo has been sublime this season. He’s been incredible for the Pacers, hitting game winners and clutch shots over and over again. Oladipo has become the team’s heart and soul and is their unquestioned spiritual leader. He has tailed off as of late, as the 3 point shot he rode early in the year has faltered. He’s shooting a mere 29.6% from 3 in the 2018 calendar year and has shown some vulnerability being doubled out of the pick and roll. However, he’s remained a positive in +/- every single month, and the team goes as he goes. The Pacers will be very difficult to beat if Victor Oladipo isn’t contained.
vs
J.J. Redick
Pertinent Stats:
16.5 PPG, 3.0 APG, 41.2% 3 pt shooting, 90.7% free throw shooting
J.J. Redick just continues to do his thing. At 33 years old, his already average athleticism is starting to wane, but that’s not what his game is built on. Redick is in the midst of his 4th straight season shooting 40% or better from 3, and he’s launching 6.5 attempts per game. While he poses little to no threat off the dribble, creating, or anywhere else on offense, his gravity is elite. Teams will stick to him much like Kyle Korver (and this guy you might remember named Reggie Miller). He prevents help defense from ever materializing, and he will absolutely run whoever is guarding him ragged. Redick has a very quick shot release and will drag his man through a maze of ball screens, wearing them out and baiting them into making mistakes. He’s massively important to this Philadelphia team, as he represents one of the only guys who providers any modicum of spacing. Redick is the reason the Sixers can play Ben Simmons and not face packed defenses constantly. Keeping him under wraps will be critical to taking down the Sixers in a series.
Advantage: Pacers. Vic deserves to be All-NBA this year. He’s been one of the best 5-6 guards in the league, and he’ll come out ahead of nearly any shooting guard matchup. It’s important to watch how much Redick runs him on the other end, and it will be noteworthy if the Pacers give Cory Joseph or Lance Stephenson a crack at him to give Oladipo some rest.