MIAMI — This was after a Sunday night loss in Orlando that in at least one way felt like a victory.
Victor Oladipo had just scored 40 points, the most by a Miami Heat player this season, and coach Erik Spoelstra was reflecting on a conversation between the two earlier in the day, one that addressed Oladipo’s comeback from May quadriceps surgery.
“It’s interesting,” Spoelstra leaned in, as if embracing the opportunity to touch on the subject. “After the shootaround this morning, he and I talked about it, just from that very first practice after All-Star break, where he was fully healthy, and really had ramped things up already for three weeks. But in comparison to where he was physically and mentally then to where he is now is just exponentially different, and further along the road.
“I just really respect and admire how he’s handled this entire process.”
This, for Spoelstra, came off as a moment of pride, of assisting in a process that some thought might not have come at all this season.
And yet moments after Spoelstra spoke of gains already made, Oladipo was asked about his coach’s comments, of the confidence that he would make it to a moment such as this.
“I don’t need this to have confidence,” Oladipo said in such a quiet tone that it was barely audible. “I believe in myself, got to continue getting better.
“I told you before, it’s a rehab thing, it’s a rehab process for me. I know the situation. I came back in the middle of the year; it was different. But I believe in myself and my game. My confidence will never waver.”
To Spoelstra, it seemingly has been victory already achieved, simply getting to the point of such a breakout performance, albeit one against mostly second-tier players from the NBA’s second-worst team, in a meaningless finale to the regular season.
To Oladipo, there seemingly is a moment to be seized now, in these upcoming NBA playoffs, having shown he is up to the moment with Sunday’s performance against the Magic and, even more significantly, his 21-point outing a week earlier in a key seeding victory in Toronto.
“It just felt good to play basketball, going out there and being myself, doing my best to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” he said.
It all sounds so simple: Former All-Star makes noise in the scoring column, displays regained athleticism, believes there could be even more in short order.
Only it’s not that simple. His performance a week earlier against the Raptors came with Jimmy Butler given the night off for rest. Sunday’s breakout came with the entire Heat starting lineup held out in a game with no impact on the standings.
The reality is that when Spoelstra initially attempted to work the 29-year-old guard into the mix, there was a rough patch that included a four-game losing streak. When Oladipo was dealt out of the mix, except for that opportunity in Toronto, there was a six-game winning streak.
It was during that winning streak that players such as Butler, Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo spoke of better spacing, the type offered by complementary 3-point shooters.
No, no one is comparing the resumes of Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin to Oladipo’s. It’s not even close.
But a rotation is about more than playing the nine best players. It is about finding the nine who best coalesce. And all four of the above are truer spot-up shooters than Oladipo (even with his recent 3-point resurgence), which is the type of 3-point shooting that best spaces the floor.
Thus the dilemma for Spoelstra and Oladipo, as the Heat prepare for the start of their pre-playoff camp.
Victor Oladipo is one of the most talented players on the roster. But at this moment, he might not be the best fit, having been injected into the equation so late in the season.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t dealt the right cards,” he said. “Right now, I’m in position where I have all I need to maximize whatever it is I need to maximize as far as my health goes. Right now, I’m feeling better. But I’ve still got to keep improving.”
As he spoke almost in a whisper, it was clear Oladipo was not trying to rock a boat that sailed to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
So, no, he wasn’t biting on a question about the playoff rotation.
“I don’t have no control with that,” he said. “If my number is called, I’ll be ready.”
And that ostensibly is where Spoelstra believes the story should stand, that dedication to a grueling rehab process could yet produce a playoff moment, but that, if not, it still is an inspired effort to be celebrated.
“There’s been a lot of guys that have had injuries that might not be the exact same injury that would just push everything to the next season,” Spoelstra said. “And he’s made himself available, put himself out there to be vulnerable, and just really giving in to the team. I was really happy for him that he was able to have a performance like this [Sunday] night.”
For the Heat, it’s on to the playoffs.
For Oladipo, as it has been for years now amid injury rehab, on to the unknown.
“We’ll just keep on moving forward,” Spoelstra said.
Because, in this instance, with this decision, it’s all Spoelstra can say, all he can guarantee.
