When Scott Skiles saw the video footage of 250-pound Toronto center Bismack Biyombo falling onto Victor Oladipo’s knee, the Orlando Magic coach originally feared that his standout guard would likely miss significant time.
But what Skiles saw on Thursday – Oladipo being back out on the court, going through an individual workout and various shooting drills – was a welcomed sight for a Magic team in need of some positive vibes right now.
Diagnosed with a sprained right knee on Sunday following the hit he took in last Thursday’s OT loss to the Raptors, Oladipo has not been ruled out of playing on Friday when the Magic (20-21) host the Charlotte Hornets (19-23) at the Amway Center.
Oladipo planned to get treatment on his knee following Thursday’s workout and see how he feels on Friday morning. If he can increase his activity level in Friday’s shoot-around session and in another pregame workout, he could return – well ahead of the timetable that Skiles originally feared would sideline the standout.
“Vic always wants to play, sure. If he’s missing a game, it’s because he’s legitimately hurt. We’re hopeful that he can play (on Friday), but if he can’t he’s getting close,” Skiles said. “Originally, I thought it might be a couple (of weeks) or three weeks or so. So he’s really diligent about his rehab and doing what he’s supposed to do. He wants to get back out there to help us.”
Wearing a protective sleeve over a small brace, Oladipo worked on his shot following practice on Thursday. The Magic got back to work after dropping their eighth game in the last nine tries on Wednesday night to the Philadelphia 76ers. Oladipo knows that his team needs him and he said he’ll do everything in his power to try and get back by Friday’s game.
“I’ll just see how it feels tomorrow after doing some treatment and then go from there,” Oladipo said. “I’m a quick healer. I don’t think the injury was as serious as it looked or it could have been luckily for me and I thank God for that. I’ve just got to prepare myself to play and help my team.”
Oladipo is obviously trying to get back as soon as possible in an attempt to help out his struggling squad, but he said he is confident that he isn’t risking greater injury by coming back too soon.
“I don’t think I am (coming back too early) because of the way that I feel and the way that I’m moving out there,” said Oladipo, who returned earlier this season from a concussion after missing just two games. “I’m smart enough to know that if I wasn’t ready I wouldn’t go out there and jeopardize the game or my teammates by not being healthy or hurt myself as well. I feel good and we’ll just see how it goes (on Friday).”
The injury came at a time just as Oladipo was playing his best basketball of the season. In his five games as a starter, he averaged 20.4 points and shot 60 percent from the 3-point line. In the game that he was injured against the Raptors, Oladipo played through the pain in his knee, scored 28 points and drilled the tying hoop in the final minute of regulation to force overtime.
Skiles, who has harped on his team about the need to get back to playing the kind of selfless defense required to gut out victories, marveled at the toughness Oladipo showed in stepping in front of Biyombo for the charge that could have seriously injured him.
“It was a huge play,” Skiles admitted. “He’s made a handful of those sort of unsung, game-changing plays as the year has gone along.”
Whether he returns Friday night or next week, Oladipo said he can’t stray from the fearless style of play that has helped him become one of the NBA’s best defenders at the guard position. Skiles has said all season that Oladipo has played “first-team all-league defense,” a compliment that the guard holds dear to his heart because of his fearless style of play.
“That’s the only way I know how to play,” said Oladipo, who is averaging 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals on the season. “Honestly, it’s just about me trying to find a way to win. That charge was big for us, it was a big possession and a big play at the time, so I had to do it. Some guys wouldn’t, but I don’t mind (the contact).”
