Indiana Pacers: 4 impacts if Victor Oladipo doesn’t come to Orlando
By Josh Wilson
Pacers impacts of Victor Oladipo sitting: T.J. Warren has his playoff moment
When you think of life without Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis is certainly the first person that comes to mind when you think of having “held it down” while he has been working his way back from injury.
Quickly after, your mind goes to T.J. Warren, who has put up the most complete year of his career yet.
After a trade in the offseason that was a huge fleece in favor of the Pacers, Warren came out and put together his most professional season yet. A shot-maker at all three levels, Warren is the team’s leading scorer, and his defense — said to be a liability when the team traded for him — has been much improved compared to previous seasons.
In fact, Warren has posted the sixth-best defensive box plus/minus all season long on the Pacers.
Warren, having played for the Phoenix Suns since 2014, has never played a playoff game. The Suns are on the cusp of going a full decade without a playoff appearance.
Warren will get his moment with the Pacers this year, and the spotlight will be even brighter if Oladipo is not there to sustain some of the scoring load.
Warren’s job will be much easier if Oladipo is there. The pressure he will pull from defenders will get Warren looks he has not seen all season.
If Oladipo is not there, the playoff pressure will be big on Warren. How will he react?
It would figure that Warren will be the likely final shot taker if and when the Pacers have to go into a final shot scenario without Oladipo this postseason.
It remains to be seen, but Warren’s legacy could be established for better or for worse this postseason if Oladipo isn’t there to bail the team out.