The Oso Ighodaro Thread.

[leclerc]

If a defender don't follow Oso when he sets a screen, I guess the screeny (bloke being screened) can't follow our guy with the ball, so we should get an open shot every time?

 

[Mainstreet]

If a defender don't follow Oso when he sets a screen, I guess the screeny (bloke being screened) can't follow our guy with the ball, so we should get an open shot every time?

Theoretically. That's one of the reasons the pick and roll is so effective in the NBA.

 

[Mainstreet]

If only Oso could shoot from outside. It would present so many defensive challenges for opponents.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

oso has been catching up to williams in minutes per game but he's still no mark williams - i suspect we're going to see a lot more of oso before the playoffs especially if williams' foot becomes an issue

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As of early March 2026, Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams has played a total of 1,300 minutes in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. He has appeared in 56 games, averaging 23.6 minutes per game.

Total Minutes: 1,300
Games Played: 56
Minutes Per Game: 23.6

As of early March 2026, Phoenix Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro has played in 61 games, averaging 20.5 minutes per game in the 2025-26 season, totaling approximately 1,250 minutes. His role has increased recently, with several games over 20-30 minutes, including a 34-minute performance against the Lakers on February 26.

Games Played: 61
Total Minutes: 1,250
Minutes Per Game: 20.5

 

[Adrian]

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[leclerc]

I think we're getting too little out of Williams. We should go inside more often. Get him more involved. One obvious thing is fast breaks.

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

not much to write home about regarding last night other than oso going right

it might sound silly but i think it's significant - oso only recently started driving to the rim and it's been nice but it's only been to the left - and keep in mind oso has no jumpshot

teams noticed and started stopping oso from going to his left forcing predictable passes until last night - there's rudy gobert on oso - there's rudy gobert (defensive mvp) stopping oso from going left AND THEN THERE'S OSO GOING TO HIS RIGHT

i yelled loudly to the surprise of my wife and dog - my wife has watched me turn up for oso dunks before but she was stunned - as was i - as was gobert's face when oso got that step on him

then i thought it may have been a one off - i thought maybe gobert was just overpaying the left so hard it gave oso a once in a lifetime window but no - oso went to his right again a little while later - THIS TIME WITH A LAYUP KISSING IT OFF THE GLASS

i stood up again - this time my wife knew why (sorta) - a dunk is one thing but oso used his right hand for the layup - but he's used his left hand for all the layups to his left making ighodaro ambidextrous far as i can tell

if oso can go both ways and get confident at it - that's just nuts

 

[Covert Rain]

not much to write home about regarding last night other than oso going right

it might sound silly but i think it's significant - oso only recently started driving to the rim and it's been nice but it's only been to the left - and keep in mind oso has no jumpshot

teams noticed and started stopping oso from going to his left forcing predictable passes until last night - there's rudy gobert on oso - there's rudy gobert (defensive mvp) stopping oso from going left AND THEN THERE'S OSO GOING TO HIS RIGHT

i yelled loudly to the surprise of my wife and dog - my wife has watched me turn up for oso dunks before but she was stunned - as was i - as was gobert's face when oso got that step on him

then i thought it may have been a one off - i thought maybe gobert was just overpaying the left so hard it gave oso a once in a lifetime window but no - oso went to his right again a little while later - THIS TIME WITH A LAYUP KISSING IT OFF THE GLASS

i stood up again - this time my wife knew why (sorta) - a dunk is one thing but oso used his right hand for the layup - but he's used his left hand for all the layups to his left making ighodaro ambidextrous far as i can tell

if oso can go both ways and get confident at it - that's just nuts

If Oso doesn't develop a reliable mid-range jump shot, he can be turned into a one dimensional player on the offensive end which makes him a liability.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

If Oso doesn't develop a reliable mid-range jump shot, he can be turned into a one dimensional player on the offensive end which makes him a liability.

a lot of centers don't take jumpshots including mark williams - it's not an issue for me at all

 

[Chaplin]

a lot of centers don't take jumpshots including mark williams - it's not an issue for me at all

It's not that he DOESN'T do it, it's that he CAN'T. That affects the way the defense plays him. Mark Williams can at least hit a midranger jumper, defenses know that Oso can't. And they gameplan accordingly.

It will be a good step forward if he develops that explosive drive he's shown in the last few days to get by the plodding centers. He needs something on the offensive end outside of playmaking to make the defense honest.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

It's not that he DOESN'T do it, it's that he CAN'T. That affects the way the defense plays him. Mark Williams can at least hit a midranger jumper, defenses know that Oso can't. And they gameplan accordingly.

It will be a good step forward if he develops that explosive drive he's shown in the last few days to get by the plodding centers. He needs something on the offensive end outside of playmaking to make the defense honest.

fair point but i am more worried about oso's free throws tbh - idc how he fixes it but he has to - and it's not technique it's 100% mental giving his muscle memory amnesia

 

[Chaplin]

fair point but i am more worried about oso's free throws tbh - idc how he fixes it but he has to - and it's not technique it's 100% mental giving his muscle memory amnesia

A center needing free throw practice isn't exactly breaking news.

But I agree with you, last night I expected him to miss every free throw he had.

 

[Covert Rain]

a lot of centers don't take jumpshots including mark williams - it's not an issue for me at all

It's about keeping teams honest. If they don't think you are a threat, it impacts what your offense can do.

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

John Voita, III
@DarthVoita
·
1h
Let’s update this tweet from November, shall we?

Oso Ighodaro’s progression is real:

FG% up from 60.4% to 64.4%
AST/TO ratio: 1.76
Net Rating; +156 (3rd best on team)
11.0 Reb% (2nd on team)

 

[95pro]

fair point but i am more worried about oso's free throws tbh - idc how he fixes it but he has to - and it's not technique it's 100% mental giving his muscle memory amnesia

Oso has really put us in a tough situation, with Williams out and Flem as our small ball center, Oso is the go-to during the final minutes of the game. I think this has been a major part of our 4th quarter troubles. Teams will sag so much on Oso, giving Book/Green no space to operate in that area because their big is already there to guard the paint.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Oso has really put us in a tough situation, with Williams out and Flem as our small ball center, Oso is the go-to during the final minutes of the game. I think this has been a major part of our 4th quarter troubles. Teams will sag so much on Oso, giving Book/Green no space to operate in that area because their big is already there to guard the paint.

he's been charging the paint when they sag on him recently

 

[95pro]

he's been charging the paint when they sag on him recently

Not in the final minutes of the game

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Not in the final minutes of the game

we usually don't have oso in during the final minutes of super close games due to his free throws but the sagging thing isn't going to be an issue if he keeps driving

i could be wrong (and often am) but i think oso and fleming start next year - and hopefully maluach is starting by the end of next year

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

alrighty - let's delve into it because it could become an issue - hell it could become why we pay mark williams

hack-a-oso shot 50% on 6 free throws

he looked shocked and missed the first two

then missed the first and made the second

then made both his free throws which was huge

point is - this was the first time we've seen this strategy and we should be thankful it took place before the playoffs - correct?

and let us note that ott kept oso in and oso improved under pressure on the fly in the clutch - i'm not just saying that because i'm an oso guy - those aren't opinions that's what happened - regardless we have to expect it in the play-in if williams is unable to go so let us be familiar

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

i couldn't care less about his jumpshot but oso has to make his freakin free throws