By now you have come ashore after riding the wave that was the Indiana Pacers this season. They clearly played better than most people expected, and there is certainly much to look forward to moving ahead next season.
As with any degree of surprising success, it’s never a bad idea to examine closely what occurred, how it happened and determine if it’s truly real.
While a number of players had a hand in the run the Pacers produced, it centers around one individual, and I think it’s a good idea to take a look at what transpired and establish some realistic expectations for the future.
Yes, Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo gave the fans a ton to converse about this past season with a professional breakout that surprised everyone who watched him play. He upped his career highs in just about every statistical category, was rightfully appointed to the NBA All-Star Game by the opposing coaches and became the focal point of a team that was still reeling from the departure of Paul George. That’s a load for any player in one season, and he’s most likely to be named the league’s most improved player when the award is handed out. Again, a tremendous performance that can only leave you wanting more. Everyone likes surprises, and this guy was a big one, no matter what the alleged experts will tell you they knew about him or expected. It came out of nowhere and it was indeed impressive.
The logical question now is can Oladipo maintain this high level of play and will the Pacers be able to augment their budding star with a better surrounding cast? The reality is he came to training camp in superb shape and it paid big dividends, but the Pacers rarely rested him down the stretch, and as it would with any player, those minutes took their toll on a player that depends on athleticism rather than his physicality to produce.
While it seems logical to assume he’ll continue his conditioning in the off season, he must hit the weight room with the same veracity he applies on the court, and if he does, it will enable him to take the punishment that teams will undoubtedly dole out next season in an attempt to slow him down.
There is also the question of can he handle what will now be a white-hot spotlight placed upon him as the expectations will be higher. People will expect more, and if that doesn’t transpire, how will he, and more importantly, his teammates handle it? It’s not easy to continually play like a star, and that’s a challenge that many falter against. Then there is life on the road in the NBA, and that’s where many teams collapse. The Pacers lost a number of games they should of won as they compiled a rather pedestrian 21-20 record that would’ve been a lot worse without Oladipo. Without more help in terms of an improved roster, it will be hard to improve on that, and ultimately, and perhaps unfairly, that will find its way to his doorstep as well, and how that added pressure is dealt with will go a long way to determine how his encore season unfolds. That goes directly hand in hand with the expectations of all of you who follow the Pacers, and for what it’s worth, you need to dial it down a couple of notches while enjoying what transpired this past season.
Again, you could have a legit star on your hands for many years to come, but don’t expect it to be such on opening night next season. Root for this splendid young man to improve and become the leader that he appears to be capable of. Along with that, balance the daunting task at hand for him, and realize no matter how fabulous his maiden voyage with the Pacers was, it’s just one season, and there are no guarantees in the NBA. Revel in his big time performances past, but give it a realistic tone and approach moving forward, and don’t become unglued if things don’t meet your expectations. The key word is expectations, and while I’m sure Oladipo’s are even higher than yours, give it some time to develop and enjoy whatever happens.
He just might achieve everything you think he should in the upcoming campaign, but if he somehow falls short, be realistic as you move ahead.
Patience is not generally a trait that most fans possess, and unlike myself, you pay your hard earned money to attend, so you are due a return on that investment. Like the stock market, the NBA can be volatile, and move up and down based on various trends. If he were a stock, I’d recommend buying big blocks of Victor Oladipo. Just be patient with your investment, and more than likely you recognize dividends that will make you happy. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. One thing is certain, the future is indeed bright for him.
The real question is: Are you willing to watch him grow as a player, or do you expect everything right now? Something tells me it’s the latter and that’s not even close to being fair. Enjoy it, but be realistic. You can do it Pacers fans.
Danny Bridges, who likes the bravado of Victor Oladipo and thinks he could be a star someday, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
