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In his rookie season, Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo has made a number of spectacular plays, including three notable rejections of opponents' dunk attempts. Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young became the most recent of Oladipo's victims in Orlando's Wednesday victory.
We wish to use that occasion* to ask this question: of Oladipo's three blocked dunks in the 2013/14 season, which stands out to you as the most impressive one? We invite you to consider each of them and then vote in the poll embedded in this post.
Block no. 1
Victim: Carmelo Anthony
Date: 6 December 2013
Situation: Magic lead New York Knicks by seven, 8:12 remaining in the first quarter
OPP's assessment: Oladipo demonstrated terrific alertness on this play by recognizing Anthony's dive to the rim against a particularly vulnerable Orlando defense, given that New York had just rebounded its own miss. Anthony went up strong with two hands, but Oladipo nonetheless managed to deny his emphatic attempt.
Block no. 2
Victim: Damian Lillard
Date: 8 January 2014
Situation: Magic trail Portland Trail Blazers by eight, 5:56 remaining in the fourth quarter
OPP's assessment: As the only Magic defender on a two-on-one break, Oladipo faced a higher degree of difficulty on this possession than he did against Anthony. He takes away Nicolas Batum's driving lane and then reacts to the pass in time to swat a tomahawk try from Lillard, a 2014 Slam Dunk contestant.
Block no. 3
Victim: Thaddeus Young
Date: 26 February 2014
Situation: Magic lead Philadelphia 76ers by nine, 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter
OPP's assessment: Oladipo had good position to make this play, given that Michael Carter-Williams didn't clear out of the lane to draw the Magic rookie away from the play. Young's an underrated in-game dunker, but this block from Oladipo loses style points for resembling a deflection more than an outright swat. Then again, has to respect his willingness to offer such resistance in a game Orlando already had in the bag.
These opinions are, clearly, just our own. We now turn the subject over to you, OPP readers. Which of these plays is your favorite and why?
*: and, of course, to remind you that no, shot-blocking isn't a point-guard skill.