Despite a valiant effort from the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to gut out a tough Game 7 victory on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals behind a legendary performance from LeBron James, who finished with 45 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Cleveland also got key contributions from the seldom-used Tristan Thompson, who put up 15 points and 10 rebounds, as well as George Hill, who returned after missing the past three games to score 11 points on several clutch possessions late in the second half.
Collectively, they were able to fend off a feisty Pacers squad who refused to back down. Victor Oladipo overcame a slow start in the first half to erupt for 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, and he also knocked down a late three toward the end of regulation that inadvertently had massive repercussion for bettors.
After the game, the All-Star guard and heavy favorite to take home this season’s Most Improved Player award wasted no time in hitting up his trainer to get together soon and get ready for next season.
If you look closely, you’ll notice that Oladipo’s trainer had his name misspelled in this phone, a fact he addressed in the comments. Nevertheless, Oladipo spoke about his eagerness to shift his focus to the future during his post-game presser.
Victor Oladipo: "I don't know how to take time off" pic.twitter.com/FbMFTZ5AvY
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 29, 2018
“I don’t know how to take time off,” Oladipo said. “I had somebody tell me to take a break and enjoy your life, and I said ‘this is my life.'”
Pacers fans have to love his level of dedication, and the future in Indiana certainly looks bright given the strides they’ve made this season and the type of fight they put up against the best player in the world in round one.
Oladipo and the Pacers should be a force to be reckoned with in the East for years to come, and after this series they’ve earned some serious respect, hopefully enough to get his name changed from “Olapido” in his trainer’s phone.
