2016 Victor Oladipo - A Star is Born

[Skin]

In the face of all the negativity about the season, the make up of the team, questions about coaching and the direction we are going, I just wanted to take a brief moment to give credit to Victor Oladipo for working hard on his game and turning his potential into reality. He is absolutely playing the best basketball of his career and putting up numbers that are legitimately worthy of calling him a STAR!

This is a moment that we have all been waiting for. A star is being born! This is the infamous 3rd year "prove it now or else..." season that many people believe in... and Oladipo is being a testament to that "arrival" right before our eyes! Since Day 1 he has always been a natural leader for the team which has continued to this day, but his game has been further behind. Now his game is catching up!

What impressed me was his handling of his demotion to the bench. He took it all in stride with maturity and used it as a motivation to take his game to another level. There is no way that he can keep up this torrid January pace.... shooting 58% from 3 off 43 attempts in 8 games, but he has found the mechanics to start to keep it more consistent. The "hitch" in his stroke is now gone. His mechanics are on point... body square to the rim, elbow in, release at the top of his jump, hand held high until the ball reaches the rim, one smooth consistent motion... and the results have been beautiful basketball! Even his misses are close misses and sometimes even accidental makes (like the banker that took us into OT in the last game). He plays with the dawg in him. He possesses that intense competitive spirit that never gives up and isn't afraid of any game situation.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DUImu8nXmQ[/youtube]

There have been a few periods of Magic basketball that have been particularly fond for me... Periods where individual growth have made watching tough seasons go easier.... T-Mac's first season with us... Tobias Harris post MIL trade... and this year Oladipo is giving me that same gladness once again. Having a tough time dealing with the Magic's losses? Enjoy the unwrapping of the gift that is Oladipo. This is a special period of growth that will swish past us if we don't stop and smell the roses.

This IS Victor's team now. He wants it. His face is the identity of the next era of Magic basketball. The ball goes through HIS hands. He is the one delivering clutch shots. He is the one that other teams respect. He is the definition a complete 2 way player. The one guy on our team that has everything going right, and he is the one that will ultimately lead this team beyond it's current mess.

It's 2016 and for the Orlando Magic, a star is no longer waiting to emerge, a star has arrived!

[King-]

Watch him play hero ball tonight like he has most of the season and shoot somewhere around the 4-14 range from the field, while continuing to chuck shots without even looking up to make any passes.


I used to love Dipo, man, and he's played great the last week or so..... But he's played so selfish this year and I just can't stand when he tries to play like Tmac, Victor will NEVER be that type of offensive player.


I used to have hope he would be- but I simply don't see it.


All I can say is, if this team is banking on Oladipo being "the guy" and face of this franchise for the next handful of years....... we're in trouble. IMO. He's gonna come back down to earth.

If anybody has potential to be our "guy" and face of our franchise, it's AG, with a complete green light and freedom to play how he wants for 30 mins a game every night for a full season, he could become that guy. There, I said it.

[King-]

Oladipo has been so inefficient this year, he really is having a terrible year, minus the last 5-6 games or so. When he was coming off the bench he was trying to play like Kobe, he was literally the definition of a blackhole on offense, I can't tell you how many 2 on 1 fast breaks he's had during that stretch and simply ignored to make the easy pass and went up for the layup and got stuffed at the rim or missed it, etc.

I have nothing against Oladipo, and i WISH he can be the type of player he tries to be on offense..... But sadly, I don't think it'll ever happen.

[King Close]

Oladipo has been so inefficient this year, he really is having a terrible year, minus the last 5-6 games or so. When he was coming off the bench he was trying to play like Kobe, he was literally the definition of a blackhole on offense, I can't tell you how many 2 on 1 fast breaks he's had during that stretch and simply ignored to make the easy pass and went up for the layup and got stuffed at the rim or missed it, etc.

I have nothing against Oladipo, and i WISH he can be the type of player he tries to be on offense..... But sadly, I don't think it'll ever happen.

What you're referring to is: a "slump". If you'll recall last season real quick for me, LBJ was in one of these so called "slumps", it happens to literally everyone. He (Victor Oladipo) has been playing phenomenal the last 8 games which is just a testament to his character to break out of that slump and be better than he's ever been in his career. It's easy to just say "he sucks, he's just playing good for the time being" is just a lazy argument. Victor got drafted on his Defensive potential, and his first 2 years in the league he was a scorer, and his defense was disappointing quite frankly, although we all knew he still had it in him. This year though, he is playing like one of the best defenders in the league, while trying to be an offensive player. So now that he's put his D, and offense togethor, therefor breaking out of his slump.

[SaberT]

While I think Dipo is/can be a really good player, I do not agree that he handled benching well. At first he looked really defensive, was in some kind of preaching mode and played lot of hero ball on the court. Later on he improved so I give him a passing grade. My impression on Dipo is that he got burdened with franchise player role, and he is really trying to become a leader of this team. Problem is that he is not a natural born leader and struggles in that role. He was literally saying he needs to become a leader, you don't become a leader by forcing it.

Dipo should just focus on playing efficient ball and utilize his strengths. Players often forget that you don't have to do everything to be a great player. Dipo doesn't need to become a leader to be great, nor does he need to score 30. Playing efficient 15 with great defense would be great as well.

[ButchMcRae]

He's clearly our best player right now. I just hope the rest of the players catch up

[OrlandO]

I just want him to dunk on someone.

[axl_c_cool]

In the face of all the negativity about the season, the make up of the team, questions about coaching and the direction we are going, I just wanted to take a brief moment to give credit to Victor Oladipo for working hard on his game and turning his potential into reality. He is absolutely playing the best basketball of his career and putting up numbers that are legitimately worthy of calling him a STAR!

This is a moment that we have all been waiting for. A star is being born! This is the infamous 3rd year "prove it now or else..." season that many people believe in... and Oladipo is being a testament to that "arrival" right before our eyes! Since Day 1 he has always been a natural leader for the team which has continued to this day, but his game has been further behind. Now his game is catching up!

What impressed me was his handling of his demotion to the bench. He took it all in stride with maturity and used it as a motivation to take his game to another level. There is no way that he can keep up this torrid January pace.... shooting 58% from 3 off 43 attempts in 8 games, but he has found the mechanics to start to keep it more consistent. The "hitch" in his stroke is now gone. His mechanics are on point... body square to the rim, elbow in, release at the top of his jump, hand held high until the ball reaches the rim, one smooth consistent motion... and the results have been beautiful basketball! Even his misses are close misses and sometimes even accidental makes (like the banker that took us into OT in the last game). He plays with the dawg in him. He possesses that intense competitive spirit that never gives up and isn't afraid of any game situation.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DUImu8nXmQ[/youtube]

There have been a few periods of Magic basketball that have been particularly fond for me... Periods where individual growth have made watching tough seasons go easier.... T-Mac's first season with us... Tobias Harris post MIL trade... and this year Oladipo is giving me that same gladness once again. Having a tough time dealing with the Magic's losses? Enjoy the unwrapping of the gift that is Oladipo. This is a special period of growth that will swish past us if we don't stop and smell the roses.

This IS Victor's team now. He wants it. His face is the identity of the next era of Magic basketball. The ball goes through HIS hands. He is the one delivering clutch shots. He is the one that other teams respect. He is the definition a complete 2 way player. The one guy on our team that has everything going right, and he is the one that will ultimately lead this team beyond it's current mess.

It's 2016 and for the Orlando Magic, a star is no longer waiting to emerge, a star has arrived!

Great post and I agree, Oladipo has really made me enjoy games this year, I saw us play in DC which wasn't great obviously, but back in London Victor almost stole the show on both ends. I think he'll be one of our stars, much like Jameer was but hopefully on a higher level and with the right star/s (Gordon and Payton?) next to him.

I really believe in this core (Payton, Oladipo,Gordon) just need 1 player next to them

[orthoman]

I've said this many times....Dipo is energy off the bench...a 6th or 7th man on a better team.

His outside shot is average at best and he gets destroyed when going to the basket.

The truth is we are, once again, a last place team....bottom feeders...and headed towards the lottery, yet again.

Our team never makes headlines on SI.com, ESPN.com, or the Bleacher Report...as if we dont exist.

Hennigans organic approach has us in last place, again.

[MagicStarwipe]

I appreciate the effort and sentiment of the post but I'd hold your horses. If he can keep shooting the ball well along with his defensive tenacity that would be awesome. But he still needs to improve his decision making and learn the limitations of his game.

[Skin]

While I think Dipo is/can be a really good player, I do not agree that he handled benching well. At first he looked really defensive, was in some kind of preaching mode and played lot of hero ball on the court. Later on he improved so I give him a passing grade. My impression on Dipo is that he got burdened with franchise player role, and he is really trying to become a leader of this team. Problem is that he is not a natural born leader and struggles in that role. He was literally saying he needs to become a leader, you don't become a leader by forcing it.

Dipo should just focus on playing efficient ball and utilize his strengths. Players often forget that you don't have to do everything to be a great player. Dipo doesn't need to become a leader to be great, nor does he need to score 30. Playing efficient 15 with great defense would be great as well.

That wasn't preaching mode, that was a display of his inner strength to share with his twitter followers. ...if I'm talking about what I think you're talking about.. I don't think he was burdened with the franchise player role, I think he was burdened being forced to take a bench role. So how he handled it was admirable. He knew the reason he was being benched was because Fournier's outside shooting alone... so he went to work and the results have shown.

I guess I'm really loss at why you think he's not a natural born leader because his personality and character have always exuded that bravado imo... since arriving he always had a big voice in the locker room. I guess there are all kinds of leaders, but I don't know what you're referring to.

Leadership aside, we need him to be more than a 15 ppg scorer. The better scorer that he can become, the more teams will be forced to game plan around him. With that respect, the more refs will start calling fouls made against him. The more things will open up for others. Sounds like you want him to be Danny Green. Not a bad thing, but I don't think that is where his head is at.

[Skin]

I've said this many times....Dipo is energy off the bench...a 6th or 7th man on a better team.

His outside shot is average at best and he gets destroyed when going to the basket.

The truth is we are, once again, a last place team....bottom feeders...and headed towards the lottery, yet again.

Our team never makes headlines on SI.com, ESPN.com, or the Bleacher Report...as if we dont exist.

Hennigans organic approach has us in last place, again.

2016 - This is the year Oladipo changes your mind.

[King Close]

I've said this many times....Dipo is energy off the bench...a 6th or 7th man on a better team.

His outside shot is average at best and he gets destroyed when going to the basket.

The truth is we are, once again, a last place team....bottom feeders...and headed towards the lottery, yet again.

Our team never makes headlines on SI.com, ESPN.com, or the Bleacher Report...as if we dont exist.

Hennigans organic approach has us in last place, again.

Well aren't you Mr. negativity. You believe a DPOTY candidate is "energy off the bench"? Have you not watched the past 8 games, fella? We are not a last place team, if you'll check the standings we are a few spots away from playoffs. We may never make headlines, but no small market teams make headlines, ESPN, and co. They focus on big market teams, because... Well, they're big market teams - self explanatory. Spurs don't get headlines, OKC don't get headlines unless speaking about KD/ Westbrook, Dallas, and there is alot more, I don't want to make this post to long. We're in last place? We are the 2nd youngest team in the NBA with huge potential. Players like AG, Elf, Mario, have potential to be whatever they want to be in the NBA. I don't need to tell you all of what makes our team special because by your post, you're not a true fan and have given up.

[Skin]

I appreciate the effort and sentiment of the post but I'd hold your horses. If he can keep shooting the ball well along with his defensive tenacity that would be awesome. But he still needs to improve his decision making and learn the limitations of his game.

I get that. But these are the signs you need to see of someone chasing stardom. Improving never stops.

[orthoman]

You're wrong. I have been a Magic fan since the days of Shaq...season ticket holder in the old Amway Arena before we built the Amway Center for Dwight, and Dwight alone.

The truth is we are a mediocre team, at best...near bottom dwellers, once again, for the third/fourth year in a row.

No national recognition, no mention of the Magic on national sports websites, no stars, no attraction for FA's.

We are an organically created team done by a GM who sheds no light on what he is planning. All we ever do on the boards is speculate, speculate, until our "guru" GM makes a move.

The fact is we are a very mediorcre, very average team and will be in the lottery once again...

[FloridaHoosier]

Oladipo has been so inefficient this year, he really is having a terrible year, minus the last 5-6 games or so. When he was coming off the bench he was trying to play like Kobe, he was literally the definition of a blackhole on offense, I can't tell you how many 2 on 1 fast breaks he's had during that stretch and simply ignored to make the easy pass and went up for the layup and got stuffed at the rim or missed it, etc.

I have nothing against Oladipo, and i WISH he can be the type of player he tries to be on offense..... But sadly, I don't think it'll ever happen.

What you're referring to is: a "slump". If you'll recall last season real quick for me, LBJ was in one of these so called "slumps", it happens to literally everyone. He (Victor Oladipo) has been playing phenomenal the last 8 games which is just a testament to his character to break out of that slump and be better than he's ever been in his career. It's easy to just say "he sucks, he's just playing good for the time being" is just a lazy argument. Victor got drafted on his Defensive potential, and his first 2 years in the league he was a scorer, and his defense was disappointing quite frankly, although we all knew he still had it in him. This year though, he is playing like one of the best defenders in the league, while trying to be an offensive player. So now that he's put his D, and offense togethor, therefor breaking out of his slump.

THIS!
As the rest of the team gets better he won't shoot as much, but if nothing else, Victor wants to win!

[ORL_on_FIRE]

I remember watching Oladipo his first year in the summer league. I recall saying "he's gonna end up getting hurt if he doesn't settle down".

Dipo used to be so reckless getting to the basket. Times have changed.. He's developed a shot and has become more patient. However I'm surprised we haven't seen Dipo put more people on posters.

[Destin]

If a star is born, it has NOT helped his team one single bit. I kind of think that TEAM Wins are a little more important than Superstar losses.. Just sayin

[the_hobo]

If a star is born, it has NOT helped his team one single bit. I kind of think that TEAM Wins are a little more important than Superstar losses.. Just sayin

Gotta agree here. He works hard and is better than most other guys on our team, but I don't classify him as a star yet.

[King Close]

You're wrong. I have been a Magic fan since the days of Shaq...season ticket holder in the old Amway Arena before we built the Amway Center for Dwight, and Dwight alone.

The truth is we are a mediocre team, at best...near bottom dwellers, once again, for the third/fourth year in a row.

No national recognition, no mention of the Magic on national sports websites, no stars, no attraction for FA's.

We are an organically created team done by a GM who sheds no light on what he is planning. All we ever do on the boards is speculate, speculate, until our "guru" GM makes a move.

The fact is we are a very mediorcre, very average team and will be in the lottery once again...

You re-stated exactly what I answered, so it's clear you don't want to change your mind. Continue being negative, but when you start to change your mind about this team i'm sure there will still be room upon the bandwagon.