Victor Oladipo’s absence highlights his irreplaceable defense
By Chris Hughes
Without Victor Oladipo, the Oklahoma City Thunder stuttered to a third successive loss last night against the Dallas Mavericks. One recurring theme sticks out above all – bad defense.
After an impressive run of four straight victories, the Oklahoma City Thunder have slumped to a trio of losses that now sees them four losses behind the Utah Jazz. What looked like a potential four seed come playoff time is now a distant memory.
While OKC may have gone on a three-game winning streak after the All-Star break, they have been leaky on defense, conceding at least a hundred points in all but one of their last six matchups.
The poor defense can be linked to a few things, but one sticks out above the rest: Victor Oladipo’s absence.
Oklahoma’s shooting guard has seen his role discussed and scrutinized many a time by journalists and fans, with opinions ranging from sixth man to comfortable starter. But following his injury, it’s difficult to see how the Thunder can leave him on the bench.
Last night Seth Curry shot 62 percent from the field and scored a total of 22 points, with Andre Roberson failing to contain the younger brother.
Without Oladipo offering his unique breed of touch-tight defense, the Dallas guards ran riot, with Yogi Ferrell, Wesley Matthews and Curry himself all boasting a plus/minus of at least 10 or more. Ferrell finished with an impressive +22.
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While it may be a small sample size, the last guard to play against Dipo – Courtney Lee – finished with a plus/minus of -12; the Thunder beat the Knicks by 11 in the contest.
In his ten minutes of play against Portland, Alex Abrines finished with a solid six-point return, but that was coupled with five personal fouls and a -9 plus/minus.
The Spaniard might have turned heads with his three-point shooting and unique celebration, but his lack of defense makes it difficult to imagine starting him ahead of a fit Oladipo. Back spasms have forced him to the sidelines and Oklahoma City has not given a timetable to return.
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Looking at Oladipo’s last wins before injury, the 24-year old limited the Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan McRae to just six points on 2/9 shooting from the field. More impressively however, he limited reigning Most Improved Player of the Year C.J. McCollum to just one assist and a -13 plus minus on their February 5th match-up. When the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder next faced each other, the former’s shooting guard finished with a team-high +16 while scoring 18 points.
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And his presence goes beyond his matchup.
Oklahoma City has given up at least 50 points in the paint four times in the six games Oladipo has missed. His absence coupled with the recent additions to the roster has changed the rotation completely; the defensive communication has lacked because of it.
When the defense breaks down on the perimeter it forces bigs to step up and help off their man.
These defensive breakdowns did not happen nearly as much with Oladipo because he can stay in front of his man. But since he’s gone Russell Westbrook is forced to guard better scorers, which results in plays like the one above.
With Victor Oladipo out of the starting five, the Thunder have now lost three games in a row to .500 or below opposition, drumming his irreplaceable importance home even further.
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