In the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Heat again beat Philadelphia 119-103 in game 2, leading 2-0 on aggregate. Heat guard Oladipo came off the bench for 28 minutes and 30 seconds, shooting 6-of-11 and having 19 points and six rebounds, once again delivering a good performance.
Just when the Hawks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Oladipo had a good performance. In the final game of that series, he played 36 minutes and had 23 points, 3 assists and 3 steals on 8-of-16 shooting. Now, Oladipo is erupting again.
Such a score is really nothing for a star, but it means a lot for Oladipo, who is still gradually looking for feelings after returning from a serious injury.
As the 2013 leaderboard, consecutive All-Star in 2018 and 2019, the All-Team (Third Team) and First Defensive Team in 2018, and the former super-guard of the 2018 NBA steal king and the fastest improving player of 2018, Oladipo has plummeted due to frequent injuries in the past few seasons.
Last season, he was sent to the Rockets by the Pacers in a big deal for Harden's move to the Nets to join forces with Durant and Irving. Because he was unwilling to renew his contract with the Rockets, Oladipo, who was bent on going to the Heat, finally got his wish, but not long after, Oladipo was injured again. Repeated injuries have led to the physical explosion of the past, and the super guard who led the Pacers against James at the peak of james was almost unattracted last summer.
Eventually, Oladipo signed a base salary with the Heat last summer. Since he had previously turned down big contracts with the Pacers and Rockets, Oladipo was ridiculed for this. When will Oladipo return after consecutive serious injuries? What is the status after the comeback? All became questions.
But from now on, Oladipo is doing well. Returning from the final stages of the regular season, he has averaged 21.6 minutes per game (8 games) in the regular season, averaging 12.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. In the playoffs, he averaged 28.8 minutes per game and currently has 13.3 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
It is true that Oladipo is still far from returning to his peak form, but judging from the trajectory of the two explosions on the bench in the last three games, Oladipo's recovery is still good. In particular, the increasing number of playing hours also proves that his physical function is not a problem.
Keep working so hard, keep building confidence, and believe that Oladipo can't get back to a better level even this season. As the offseason continues to practice hard, next season's Oladipo also has the opportunity to prove himself again. After all, for him, the biggest enemy now is injury and heart, not opponent.