Victor Oladipo Crush-a-lot

[Randolphkeys]

His true shooting percentages has everything to do with Cody Zeller being doubleteamed and Oladipo getting open looks. Now that teams have paid attention to him over the last month, Oladipo has shot like shit. He is not a good shooter; nor does he have a variety of offensive skills. I can hit an open shot too. I can also dribble with both hands, a skill Oladipo doesn't have....

I'm not an Oladipo or Die type of guy, but anyone who can do fifth grade math can see that his offensive efficiency has been stellar, even the past three weeks. He was shut down and in foul trouble against Ohio State and had a bad game today. If those were the only games you watched, I understand how you might be biased. I feel a similar way about Oladipo's offense as I did about Beal's critics last year. Overall, your voice of disapproval isn't as loud as the scouts who watch more games. I doubt he ends up a Cavalier, but the hyperbole regarding his offense isn't needed.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Still doesn't have a single offensive skill. He's Tony Allen. Great defensive player without a lick of offense outside of fastbreak points.

I don't really want to drive the Oladipo bandwagon but come on.

His advanced efficiency statistics:

Offensive rating (122.7)
True shooting percentage (67.9) #9 in the nation
Effective field goal rate (64.7) #12 in the nation

If you look at his raw offensive numbers, he's improved in all of his offensive categories, as it pertains to the next level:

PPG (10.8 to 13.6...on only an additional .5 FG attempts per game)
FG% (47.1 to 59.9....on an equal amount of FG attempts)
3PT% (20.8 to 44.3...on 13 MORE attempts)

While no one will argue he's going to be Kyrie on offense, he's shown vast improvement year to year, especially in his mid and long range shooting. Saying things like "without a lick of offense" is rather silly. He's not going to be a 20PPG scorer at the NBA level but he also won't be an offensive liability.

I think it is actually a positive he typically scores in transition or from catch and shoot situations. That tells me he can manufacture offense away from the ball, which is possibly a skill that could come in handy with two ball dominators, no?

 

[rabman_gold]

Here's what the question(s) should be with regards to Victor:

1. Do the Cavs believe his talent is far and away greater than the majority of the others available if he himself is available at their position?
2. Would he accept the role of super sub off the bench since he'd be way too undersized to guard small forwards regularly and Dion isn't exactly compliant with long term bench status either. I mean, something WILL have to give.
3. And if we jam-pack our team with talent at some position, how will we address the issues at SF and C. We can't run Gee or Tyler there because they're not good enough. You need higher draft picks and if you get enough high talent players, how will you pay them all? Look at Oklahoma City. They could keep Harden as a result...

It's okay to want a guy, but consider the makeup of the team so we can fairly assess how to address it.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Here's what the question(s) should be with regards to Victor:

1. Do the Cavs believe his talent is far and away greater than the majority of the others available if he himself is available at their position?

1. 
   That depends on who is available. I'd take Noel, Len, or Porter easily over Oladipo. Bennett is a beast too. After that, I'd consider an SG, although I think McLemore is better than Oladipo.
   
   

   [*]Would he accept the role of super sub off the bench since he'd be way too undersized to guard small forwards regularly and Dion isn't exactly compliant with long term bench status either. I mean, something WILL have to give.

   
   Just because it may not work doesn't mean Oladipo would go to the bench. There is still an open question about whether you can maximize Irving and Waiters' talent if they are your starting backcourt, because Waiters in particular seems to play better when he's not playing with Kyrie. It's possible the Cavs would figure that the best way to maximize his talent is via a trade, and get back something at another position we need more. The problem is in drafting a "meh" player at a position of need instead of talent at a different spot is that it still really doesn't fill the hole, nor does it give you an asset.
   
   If it was clear that Kyrie and Waiters had a good synergy when they were on court at the same time, I think that would be a different story. Right now, though, it's a question mark.
   
   

   [*]And if we jam-pack our team with talent at some position, how will we address the issues at SF and C. We can't run Gee or Tyler there because they're not good enough. You need higher draft picks and if you get enough high talent players, how will you pay them all? Look at Oklahoma City. They could keep Harden as a result...

   
   We'll have huge cap space next year, another pick this year, and other assets to trade. And if Oladipo turned out to be a stud so that we have three stud guards, that means we'd have another prime asset to use in trade if they couldn't coexist.
   
   One of the reasons OKC traded Harden was that he wasn't a good fit starting with Westbrook, so he had to be the sixth man. That almost makes the point the other way, with Kyrie and Waiters potentially having the same lack of synergy that Westbrook and Harden have. If the Cavs come to believe that is the case, then they may decide to move Waiters anyway.

 

[AvonCavsFan]

His true shooting percentages has everything to do with Cody Zeller being doubleteamed and Oladipo getting open looks. Now that teams have paid attention to him over the last month, Oladipo has shot like shit. He is not a good shooter; nor does he have a variety of offensive skills. I can hit an open shot too. I can also dribble with both hands, a skill Oladipo doesn't have....

Last 10 games he is shooting 48/31/82. Not to bad for a shooting "slump".

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Last 10 games he is shooting 48/31/82. Not to bad for a shooting "slump".

Yeah, but the question is whether it is a "slump", or just him returning to earth. If its the latter, then his shot is just (barely) adequate, and no longer a plus. It may be enough to have him slip, and he's a guy I'd love to get with our second pick, even if we have to trade up a bit.

 

[EdMonix11]

Last 10 games he is shooting 48/31/82. Not to bad for a shooting "slump".

I don't even know why we're still talking about this. He doesn't make any sense for the Cavs unless he falls out of the lottery; which he won't.

Obviously, his shooting numbers have come back to earth; I never said it was a slump. His shooting numbers over the last month have been shitty compared to his insane shooting percentages over the first half of the season when everyone was calling him an elite shooter and no opponent was paying attention to him. Now, teams aren't sagging off of him anymore and forcing him to create a shot for himself and he's really not good at that. He plays SF at IU and it fits his strengths perfectly. The areas in which he struggles with are the same key skills an NBA SG must have mastered, and no, he can't consistently play SF in the NBA; he'd be eaten alive.

I know everybody falls in love with the insanely athletic player but he isn't a fit. And before anybody mentions it; no, we can't take Oladipo and move Waiters to the bench. SA has Parker-Duncan, OKC has/had Westbrook-Durant. Cavs would have Irving-???????. Need a second elite scorer before crossing that bridge......

 

[oasis05]

There are no dominant scorers in this draft. As it stands the cavs have one of the best offenses in the league. The problems come defensively. And there are several guys who look like dominant defenders. Even Porter who everyone likes for his offense projects as a pretty good defender. I think this draft is more likely to add defenders to our roster than to land us a 1st offensive option.

 

[Triumph36]

There are no dominant scorers in this draft. As it stands the cavs have one of the best offenses in the league. The problems come defensively. And there are several guys who look like dominant defenders. Even Porter who everyone likes for his offense projects as a pretty good defender. I think this draft is more likely to add defenders to our roster than to land us a 1st offensive option.

no they don't?

 

[BKnight's Ankle]

no they don't?

eeeh.. definitely not the best, but we're really offensively oriented, probably top 15 offense right now, but I think we have top 5 offense potential (provided we add more weapons)

 

[oasis05]

Oladipo can beat you in so many ways. Off the dribble, changing direction, on pull ups, in transition, on the boards, defensively as well. watching shabazz and seeing his one dimension on display just widens the dominance oladipo is bringing.

 

[daytripper]

Now that we know Olapido is only 6 months older than Shabazz it doesn't seem like such a stretch to take him in the top 5.

 

[EdMonix11]

Oladipo can beat you in so many ways. Off the dribble, changing direction, on pull ups, in transition, on the boards, defensively as well. watching shabazz and seeing his one dimension on display just widens the dominance oladipo is bringing.

He struggled to score against James Madison.....James Madison

 

[STAT]

eeeh.. definitely not the best, but we're really offensively oriented, probably top 15 offense right now, but I think we have top 5 offense potential (provided we add more weapons)

As of the games from March 21, the Cavaliers have the 18th best offense in the NBA in terms of offensive efficiency.

 

[oasis05]

He doesn't take a lot of shots. 11 points on 7 shots is pretty good.