Adrian Fedkiw
Bust.
Ok I’m kidding, but I definitely expected a lot more against a Nigeria team with one current NBA player on its roster — that would be second-round rookie Michael Gbinije.
Plagued by foul trouble, Dario Saric tallied seven points on just 2-of-5 shooting to go with six rebounds and Nigeria defeated Croatia 90-76 in Group B action on Saturday night.
Saric simply needed to be more assertive than he was. There were times where he got matched up against a smaller player in the post following a switch and dished the ball off instead of take the shot. Grant it, post play is a weakness, but when the player defending you is several inches smaller, take advantage of it! I also need to get on the coaching staff because Saric needed to be involved in the offense a lot more. Bojan Bogdanovic took 10 more shots than Saric did.
As for some of the foul calls, I’ll let you guys decide on these two in particular.
Was this a charge?
Saric battled foul trouble, I posted one questionable call. There was this one too that people didn’t agree with. pic.twitter.com/kbbUcsgrn8
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
Clean strip?
Saric picked up his 4th foul, exits with 6-plus min left in 3rd and Croatia down 9. Stripped looked clean though. pic.twitter.com/f3OdBhMAS9
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
Nigeria proved that its performance in a losing effort to Spain wasn’t a fluke. The African nation shot an efficient 17-of-36 from beyond the arc in its first win of the tournament. Some other names I recognized on the roster: Ike Diogu was a former top 10 pick of the Golden State Warriors, Ebi Ere played on Oklahoma’s Final Four team in 2002 and Michael Umeh is a UNLV graduate.
So there wasn’t much in the clip department for Saric in this game, but I’ve still got a few. This is one instance where I wanted to see Saric shoot over the smaller defender in the post or be more decisive and take it to the rim.
With smaller defender, wanted to see Saric shoot over him or be more decisive and take to basket, did find open man pic.twitter.com/oppeMPvXYs
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
This is what I’m talking about!
Saric takes advantage with a smaller defender on him in the post this time, soft touch on the hook in the paint +1 pic.twitter.com/2KyHNO2zj9
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
Saric with a left wing backdown and spin along the baseline, but this is another occurrence in the tournament where his lack of athleticism showed and wasn’t able to finish at the rim.
Saric with a nice spin move, but another instance in the tournament where he can’t finish at the rim. pic.twitter.com/khjbXoTNdb
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
I’m loving what I’ve been seeing out of Saric with his weakside help defense, he timed his jump perfectly for another block.
Saric’s help defense and shot blocking has been superb in this tournament so far, times his jump perfectly again pic.twitter.com/Vx1yB1YyxL
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
Saric with the rebound and go before recording the hockey assist later on in the possession. His passes are so crisp and accurate.
Saric with the grab and go, then the hockey assist later in possession. His passes are so crisp and accurate pic.twitter.com/1VFmWwbW7R
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
This was the second game in a row where Saric defended a low post player as opposed to a stretch forward and held his own, although NBA talents won’t be slow like molasses.
Good post defense by Saric, but NBA players won’t be as slow as molasses pic.twitter.com/RzfhXuWVqr
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
And here’s Saric’s lone 3-pointer of the game. This was great ball movement along the perimeter by Croatia.
Really good ball movement by Croatia and Saric swishes the wide open 3 pic.twitter.com/zHUjTRkOkA
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) August 14, 2016
Croatia next plays Lithuania on Monday to close group play and a win would clinch a spot into the quarterfinals.
Check out more of Saric’s performances in the Olympics below.