A new hope with Oladipo
Guard’s return from injury adds stability to ever-shifting starting lineup
It’s hard to overstate how important a consistent starting lineup is to success in the NBA.
There’s a certain rhythm and rapport starters develop that goes beyond what each can do individually. It extends to the players on the bench, who get used to knowing when it’s time to give the starters a breather and keep up the pace. It isn’t easy to just plug someone into the lineup every day and expect him to thrive.
That’s why having Victor Oladipo on the court is so crucial for the Rockets.
He was the centerpiece of the package the Rockets received in the James Harden trade, a player they expect to start in the backcourt with John Wall every game. His ability to create is key to what can help Houston thrive in the post-Harden era.
So when Oladipo went down with a right foot strain Feb. 11 against Miami, it threw another wrench in the Rockets’ plans.
“We know what Vic can do,” Wall said after Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland. “Vic will score for us, and he’s somebody that can put the ball on the floor, shoot 3s. … We try to give him the ball and let him be the best Vic he can be for us.”
Oladipo returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing four games recovering from the injury. In that time, the Rockets again had to trot out lineups that didn’t fit their vision for the ideal starting five.
It’s an issue that’s plagued the Rockets all season. Oladipo’s injury came during Christian Wood’s continued absence with an ankle sprain. DeMarcus Cousins initially was Wood’s replacement, but the Rockets waived him Tuesday. P.J. Tucker recently missed two games with a quad injury also suffered against the Heat.
With so much uncertainty day in and day out, Houston hasn’t had that lineup consistency the best teams in the league generally enjoy. In fact, some of the Rockets’ most used starting lineups this season still include Harden, who has been with Brooklyn for over a month. It’s a situation they’re struggling to work through.
“Think about it from everyone’s point of view,” said Oladipo, who scored 17 points in his return. “If you’re coming into your job every day and your boss is giving you something new every single day as far as your environment, your workplace, what your role is is different every day and they expect the same thing from you, they expect a positive result, it’s tough.”
Oladipo’s return obviously is a plus for a team that has fallen to last in 3-point shooting percentage, but the adjustment involves working him back into the lineup. After two weeks without him, the Rockets are getting used to working the ball through him again.
Wednesday’s loss, the Rockets’ ninth in a row, showed that won’t come as easily as hoped. The starters combined to go minus-58 on the night. The small-ball lineup of Jae’Sean Tate, Daniel House Jr., Eric Gordon, Sterling Brown and David Nwaba was the one that helped lead Houston back from being down 10 after the first quarter to up two going into halftime.
Adjusting to Oladipo’s presence in the starting lineup likely won’t be as hard this time around as it was when the Rockets first brought him in, but it was clear against the Cavaliers that the rhythm isn’t there yet.
“Defense wasn’t very good,” a frustrated Stephen Silas said. “Offense was disjointed. Bad. Bad all the way around.
“We’re not down on (Oladipo) for missing shots and taking those shots and being aggressive because we need that — another person that can create — and then what he brings on the defensive end and competing,” Wall added. “It’s not hard to kind of mesh a guy back in like that because you just take turns of whoever’s hot or whoever’s got it going and reading what the defense gives us.”
In the long run, having Oladipo should be a positive. He’s averaging 18.3 points in his 12 games with Houston while recording nearly five assists and five rebounds in 31 minutes a game.
Getting him back is the first step toward getting that consistency. Wood could return before the All-Star break, and there’s plenty of basketball left to be played.
If the Rockets can put their lineup issues behind them, an avenue still exists for a more successful season.
“We shall see,” Oladipo said when asked if they can still make a run. “Only time will tell.”