The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Indiana Pacers: Keys to getting the W at home

By Jared Woodcox

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 12: Lance Stephenson #1 and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers jump and celebrate after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 12: Lance Stephenson #1 and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers jump and celebrate after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 14: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers points to a teammate during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 14, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 14: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers points to a teammate during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 14, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Stop Victor Oladipo

One of the major reasons why the Indiana Pacers have so greatly surpassed expectations this season is because Victor Oladipo as an individual has undergone incredible personal improvements. People mocked the Pacers for getting just Oladipo and Sabonis in the Paul George trade, but those doubters have been absolutely silenced as both have played exceptionally well, especially Oladipo.

Dipo is in the running to become a starter in the All-Star game and without a doubt will qualify to be an All-Star even if it’s as a reserve instead. He’s leading his team in scoring at 24.2 points per game which is also 11th in the league. Furthermore, he’s doing that on a highly efficient 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.9 percent from deep while adding 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Wow.

But as Oladipo goes, so go the Pacers. Oladipo’s efficiency drops significantly in losses as he converts on 45.5 percent of his field goals (51.3 percent in wins) and just 32.4 percent of his three-point shots (47.4 percent in wins). When Oladipo was recently sidelined with a knee injury, the Pacers went 0-4. The very next night that he came back, the Pacers rattled off a 39-point victory over the Chicago Bulls, a team that had defeated them by 12 just three games earlier.

So if Utah wants to win tonight, they’ll need to cut the head off the snake and stop Victor Oladipo. It’ll be an absolute thrill to see Oladipo and rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell go head-to-head and as The J-Notes’ Hayden Van de Maat pointed out this morning, the winner of that match-up could very well determine the winner of the game.

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