2015-16 Victor Oladipo Statistical Projections

Victor Oladipo’s Scoring and Shooting

Victor Oladipo has room to improve with his offensive efficiency.

His field goal percentage last season was 42.8 percent and his True Shooting percentage was 52.7 percent. He was able to get up 15.1 shots per game, and the Magic could feature him more heavily still. If Oladipo can slightly increase his efficiency while also taking more looks, he becomes the Magic’s legitimate No. 1 option.

And at times last season, Oladipo appeared to be just that. He ignited one-man runs at times and while his mid-range percentages were poor, his 32.7 percent 3-point mark is approaching respectability.

What is troubling is that Oladipo shot just 29 percent from the left corner (though he was 43 percent from the right).

His wing percentage on the left was passable at 35.6 percent, but on the right wing he lingered behind at mark that warrants the red light, 30.4 percent. He has to improve his shooting from those spots because he took 79 threes from the right wing and hitting 36 percent there would have resulted in about five more triples made on the season.

Similarly improving the right corner to 40 percent would have yielded three more makes. Overall that is 24 points or an improvement on his scoring average of about 0.10 threes more per game, or about 0.3 points. The caveat is that if he improved his shooting from the arc he would take more threes in the offense, and with greater attempts comes more makes of course.  We’re tentatively adding one full point due to made threes alone, accordingly.

At the basket, Oladipo was solid, hitting 52.4 percent in the restricted area. It was outside that area the struggles began, as he shot just 24.4 percent from 3-10 feet. Considering he shoots 38 percent of his field goals in this range, it really needs work.

His true mid-range shot (10-16 feet) was decent at 40 percent, but it would be ideal if that mark drifted far closer to 45 or 46 percent. It would force defenses to challenge Oladipo more closely while in front of the rim and result in him getting to the basket even more.

Teams know if they can halt Oladipo before he gets into the paint, it is far easier to dodge the bullet. Even to the extent of running the pick and roll with Vucevic, Oladipo having a better mid-range jumper will open it up for Vucevic.

The multitude of improvements that can come from Oladipo being a better shooter are nearly innumerable given his playmaking capacities.

Oladipo averaged 17.9 points per game last season, but he attempted just 4.4 free throws per game and hit only 1.2 threes per game. If he improved the 3-point shooting in his weak areas to the marks indicated above, he would average 1.5 threes per game which is probably a good mark.

Getting to the line 5.5 times per game adds another point to take Oladipo to 19.9 points per game, precariously close to 20. Oladipo shoots 81 percent from the line, so getting there and hitting those threes is really all that needs to happen from a scoring standpoint.

But we are going to set the notch right there at 19.9 points per game because it is a logical progression based on realistic improvements Oladipo can make.

Hitting 40 percent from both corners and knocking down the plethora of looks he gets from the wing is half of the improvement alone. Percentage wise, an improvement to 45 percent from the field would be satisfying for year three, while he needs to elevate his 3-point marksmanship from its current 34 percent to 36 this season.

Next: Rebounding