The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Oladipo, Pacers answer Game 1 bell vs. the Cavs
Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo was the story and the story behind the story on April 15 as his team beat the host Cavaliers, 98-80 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Division series.
Oladipo finished with a game-high 32 points as the Pacers dominated from start to finish.
The fifth-year man out of Indiana University, obtained by the Pacers in the July 17 trade with Oklahoma City that sent all-star Paul George to the Thunder, scored 11 of his points in the first quarter as the Pacers carried a 33-14 lead into the second quarter.
Meeting with reporters after the emphatic victory, Oladipo in a quiet, measured voice said he wasn’t surprised at how the game unfolded.
“We believed we can win,” Oladipo said. “We came into this game with the mentality we were going to attack at both ends of the floor and play like we’ve been playing all year. We did a great job of that.”
As for the story behind the story, Oladipo was asked for his thoughts on Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s statement in the wake of that July trade that Indiana “could have done better” if Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard had opted to bite on a three-way deal that would have sent Cavs center-forward Kevin Love to the Pacers in exchange for George.
”I’m aware,” Oladipo said, briefly and firmly.
The questioner followed up, asking Oladipo if Gilbert’s remarks further motivated him. Oladipo averaged a career-high 23.1 points during the regular season.
“I already had fuel,” he said. “You could say he added fuel to the fire. That was so long ago. It came up recently, obviously, because we’re playing the Cavs in the series. I can’t control his opinion. All I’m focused on is myself and becoming the best Victor Oladipo possible.”
.Indiana coach Nate McMillan also was asked about Gilbert’s statement.
“I have not used that type of information as bulletin board material,” McMillan said.
Probably, it should not have come as much of a surprise that the Pacers handled the Cavs and fourtime Most Valuable player LeBron James with relative ease in the opener of the series.
Indiana had taken three of four regular-season games and finished 48-34, earning the fifth seed in the East. The Cavs finished 5032 to secure the fourth seed.
The Pacers were far the better team in every phase in Game 1. They made 36 field goals while shooting 45.6 percent from the field overall and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. The Cavs managed just 30 field goals and 38.5 percent from the field. They were an even more anemic 23.5 percent from behind the arc.
“We’ve been playing like this all year,” Oladipo said. “It just hasn’t been magnified. It’s the playoffs now. Everybody sees us. It’s kind of shocking to everybody. Buy we’ve been playing our butts off at both ends of the floor all year.”
The Pacers were on national television once during the regular season compared to 39 for the Cavs. Oladipo was asked if that disparity in visibility might contribute to fans having their eyes opened by what happened in Game 1.
“I have no idea, and I really don’t care,” Oladipo said, pausing after “idea” for effect. “I’m just focused on my team, focused on this series and taking it one game at a time. Right now, I’m focused on Game 2.”
Game 2 is set for April 18 at The Q. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
“We’re fully aware of LeBron and fully aware of his team,” Oladipo said. “We realize it isn’t going to be easy. That doesn’t mean coming in we just fold. We’re planning on winning. That’s why we came to play this series and this game.”