Victor Oladipo Crush-a-lot

[MGMT]

Anyone think Oladipo is closer to 6'3 than 6'6? I'll be interested in seeing his measurements at the combine..

I still think his range is late lotto, not top-5..

I'm 6'5.5 or so and he was about an inch shorter than me, maybe a bit more. I doubt he measures in at 6'5 at the combine without shoes. I'd be shocked. I'm going with 6'3.5-6'4.25. It's been a while since I've seen him though he may have grown a bit.

 

[Smooth]

I think that's further proof that he shouldn't be considered with the Cavs first pick...

If he measures in at anything less than 6'5", it puts even more pressure on his length and wingspan if people are trying to pencil him in at SF..

I think he's in the same book as Muhammad: true 2s who can play 3 in stretches but not as a starter...

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

His shot really wasn't falling today, but he was still the key player on the floor for Indiana, with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He plays bigger than he is because of his hops, though I still think he's a 2 who can play some 3 rather than a 3.

Nice article here about his relationship with his dad, but the good stuff is on his work ethic and intelligence.

The first practice of the season at Indiana was a long one. It started with a live look-in on ESPN, then got down to high-intensity, high-volume business after the cameras shut off and the on-air talent went home. It lasted more than three hours.

Still, that wasn't enough for some. Several of the No. 1-ranked Hoosiers stuck around to get up extra shots on the side goals in Assembly Hall – Jordan Hulls on one goal, Cody Zeller and Will Sheehey and Yogi Ferrell on others, each with a manager to shag rebounds for them. This was the culture of commitment Tom Crean had created, and as the coach chatted with visitors on the sideline you could see his delight in the diligence.

One by one, the sweat-soaked players finished their shooting and walked to the locker room. Finally, about 30 minutes after formal practice ended, there were just two balls bouncing in the gym.

Victor Oladipo was dribbling them both.

He pounded one with each hand, in unison, zig-zagging downcourt. Three dribbles to the left. Then three dribbles right. Back to the left, back to the right. He never looked at them, keeping his vision fixed straight ahead, working to improve an essential fundamental.

This is how Victor evolved from a raw role player on a 20-loss team as a freshman to a national Player of the Year candidate on a title contender as a junior. Not through a magical transformation, but one solitary dribble and shot and drill at a time. He may be the most athletically gifted player in college basketball, but that gift pales in comparison to the depth of his work ethic.
On a team full of extra-effort guys, Victor is usually the last one in the gym.

"It's mind-boggling," Crean said. "He never takes a day off, literally. He has made this his life's calling on the court."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--i...h-father-gets-more-complicated-042336363.html

I keep thinking, "we need other things more than a guard", but then I keep thinking that this kid is going to be something really special. The thing that separates the "might have beens" from the true impact players is that insane competitive streak/work ethic. Oladipo's certainly got that.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Two shooting guards under 6'5 were taken in the top four last season, including a pick from the home team. Just because he is a questionable fit with the Cavs doesn't mean he can't go top five this year...

 

["Boobie" Gibson]

His shot really wasn't falling today, but he was still the key player on the floor for Indiana, with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He plays bigger than he is because of his hops, though I still think he's a 2 who can play some 3 rather than a 3.

Nice article here about his relationship with his dad, but the good stuff is on his work ethic and intelligence.



http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--i...h-father-gets-more-complicated-042336363.html

I keep thinking, "we need other things more than a guard", but then I keep thinking that this kid is going to be something really special. The thing that separates the "might have beens" from the true impact players is that insane competitive streak/work ethic. Oladipo's certainly got that.

I honestly believe he will go top 5, and I don't feel the Cavs will have a chance to select him.

 

[EdMonix11]

Over hyped.... He's a role player in the NBA.

He's playing as a SF at IU and will be asked to create for himself and others at the next level as a SG. What are his weaknesses again?

He's basically a super role player in college right now....

 

[oasis05]

I don't think he'll be asked to create. He's not that player. He'll need a point guard. I don't see him making his teammates better on offense. He can create his own shot and make his teammates better defensively. His dribble is a lot better and he's hitting his jumper.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Over hyped.... He's a role player in the NBA.

He's playing as a SF at IU and will be asked to create for himself and others at the next level as a SG. What are his weaknesses again?

He's basically a super role player in college right now....

He was a super role player. He's become/becoming more than that.

It seems you don't want to look at the developmental trajectory of this kid, and instead have him frozen in time as just an energy guy. Every single observer out there points out that his ball-handling has gotten significantly better, and that he's better off the dribble than he was.

Some guys will never be able to create because they lack the quicks or the athleticism. That's the kind of limitation that cannot be overcome, but that's not Oladipo's problem. His athleticism and speed is fantastic. Where he was/is lacking is in ball-handling, but that can be improved, and it has improved. When you've got a guy with tremendous raw athleticism, a tireless work ethic, good attitude, and who has demonstrated that he can turn all that into significant improvement on court, pigeonholing him into a snapshot in time is just wrong.

He's never going to be able to breakdown guys off the dribble like Kyrie or Tim Hardaway, but I have seen him dribble penetrate and blow past some people. Plus, we're already seeing a potential problem when you have two ball-dominant guys in the backcourt.

Anyway, I'm not saying we should pick Oladipo. Porter is a great fit at a position of need, and we need a center as well. But you seem to have an antipathy towards Oladipo that goes beyond us having other needs. And that, I don't understand, particularly given what the guy contributes defensively and on the boards.

 

[EdMonix11]

He was a super role player. He's become/becoming more than that.

It seems you don't want to look at the developmental trajectory of this kid, and instead have him frozen in time as just an energy guy. Every single observer out there points out that his ball-handling has gotten significantly better, and that he's better off the dribble than he was.

Some guys will never be able to create because they lack the quicks or the athleticism. That's the kind of limitation that cannot be overcome, but that's not Oladipo's problem. His athleticism and speed is fantastic. Where he was/is lacking is in ball-handling, but that can be improved, and it has improved. When you've got a guy with tremendous raw athleticism, a tireless work ethic, good attitude, and who has demonstrated that he can turn all that into significant improvement on court, pigeonholing him into a snapshot in time is just wrong.

He's never going to be able to breakdown guys off the dribble like Kyrie or Tim Hardaway, but I have seen him dribble penetrate and blow past some people. Plus, we're already seeing a potential problem when you have two ball-dominant guys in the backcourt.

Anyway, I'm not saying we should pick Oladipo. Porter is a great fit at a position of need, and we need a center as well. But you seem to have an antipathy towards Oladipo that goes beyond us having other needs. And that, I don't understand, particularly given what the guy contributes defensively and on the boards.

Don't hate the kid; seems like a great kid, actually. I'm just not buying the hype. I think he's insanely overhyped because he's a crazy athlete. I don't see any actual feel for the game out of him.....

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I don't see any actual feel for the game out of him.....

That's interesting. I see what you meant there to some extent. I see him differently, though we probably see the same actions and just draw different conclusions. I look at things like his ability to cut to the basket, spreading of the floor on the break, defensive anticipation, rebounding, etc.. as being signs that he "gets" the game mentally. I think he has the right feel for the game, but he doesn't yet the offensive skills to demonstrate that understanding on the offensive end. So if you look for that smooth offensive game that translates to the NBA, it's just not there yet.

I guess our difference is how likely we think he is to develop those skills.

 

[rosebowl89]

I'm just not buying the hype. I think he's insanely overhyped because he's a crazy athlete. I don't see any actual feel for the game out of him.....

Says the guy who is pratically in love with Willie Cauely-Stein. :chuckles:

 

[EdMonix11]

That's interesting. I see what you meant there to some extent. I see him differently, though we probably see the same actions and just draw different conclusions. I look at things like his ability to cut to the basket, spreading of the floor on the break, defensive anticipation, rebounding, etc.. as being signs that he "gets" the game mentally. I think he has the right feel for the game, but he doesn't yet the offensive skills to demonstrate that understanding on the offensive end. So if you look for that smooth offensive game that translates to the NBA, it's just not there yet.

I guess our difference is how likely we think he is to develop those skills.

Yeah, I can see that. Oladipo is a very good defensive player, no doubt. I think his offense IU is tailored around what he CAN do and is rarely asked to create off the dribble, which he's weakest, which is also a skill an NBA SG must master unless you're an elite jump shooter. Some see a star, others a role player. I'm in the latter category and we'll see how it shakes out.

 

[EdMonix11]

Says the guy who is pratically in love with Willie Cauely-Stein. :chuckles:

Not in love, just think he's underrated and has massive potential; apples and oranges. John Calipari has raved about the kid all year long. He knows his shit and doesn't speak out of his ass about his players, either....

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Yeah his height concerned me the first couple of times I saw him play, but then I realized that he has terrible posture. He walks like Omar epps in one of the dozens of 90's movies were he plays a talented young athlete from the inner city. When he elevates he seems to uncoil and he starts looking pretty big so who knows how tall he really is. I hope he ends up measuring out well because it'd make me feel a lot better about him being able to guard legit NBA SF's at a level close to where he projects as a strictly guard defender, but either way i'm officially on the bandwagon against all odds (Plays for that douche Crean, and natural position is clearly sg). I really want this guy, and I don't know who else I can say that about other than maybe Porter.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

where was i wrong? he's a 20% 3 point shooter, i go by most attempts not some smaller strawman sample size argumentsand no im not wrong on attempts either, you should probably go do some research before you think you can come at me again, you continue to get owned and proven wrong

Players improve, but some just aren't good to begin with no matter how much they "improve" like Oladipo

Not sure if this guy is gone for good or not, but wherever he is he must now believe that Oladipo is a great 3 point shooter judging by the largest sample size.

last season he was 10-42 (21%) from three and this season he's 26-56 (46%).

Victor Oladipo now officially a 46% 3 point shooter according to famed scout and statistics expert Swisher33.