Nikola Vucevic still learning when to take charge as Montenegro falls again

Nikola Vucevic blended into the background too much for Montenegro. They pushed back on New Zealand when he stepped up as he is still learning how to lead.

The broadcasters on ESPN+’s broadcast of Montenegro’s game against New Zealand were at a loss for the absence of Nikola Vucevic from the team’s first half as they struggled to keep pace.

The All-Star big man, whom they referred to at one point as the $100-million man in reference to Nikola Vucevic’s new contract, had just four points as Montenegro trailed by nine and their tournament hopes hung in the balance. It looked like Montenegro was going to limp out of its first major intercontinental tournament.

Their NBA All-Star player was not going to do a whole lot to prevent that from happening.

Those voices seemed to get louder when Montenegro, whose coach was ejected in the first half after picking up his second technical foul, opted not to start Vucevic at the beginning of the third quarter.

When Vucevic checked in, he found that spark and showed why he is an All-Star.

He started demanding the ball. He attacked rebounds aggressively. And suddenly Montenegro had that spark again.

In Vucevic’s third-quarter stint, Montenegro cut a nine-point deficit to one by the end of the quarter. Nikola Vucevic accounted for eight points and three rebounds, blocking a layup with two seconds left from Tai Webster for good measure.

Vucevic’s presence was everywhere, even switching out to the perimeter to guard New Zealand’s talented shooter Corey Webster. New Zealand was reeling and Vucevic was starting to look like an All-Star.

Vucevic finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for the game. He hit 5 of his 11 shots in the end. And Montenegro lost 93-83, the team losing its grip on the game and its composure in the fourth quarter while Vucevic sat.

The team was already losing its grip. New Zealand always knew how dangerous Vucevic was and sent double teams his way to try to slow him down and force him to move the ball. Vucevic never turned the ball over and he showed patience attacking, but he was often looking to get others involved.

Far too often for Montenegro, they did not look to get him the ball back.

There were excuses early on — Vucevic was not part of this group which helped the team qualify and so perhaps he was deferring to his teammates and trying to be the humble person he is. They clearly had better chemistry from playing together more. Vucevic certainly seemed on the outside of this group, dropped in for this tournament. He was trying to fit in.

Then again, it is not like Montenegro is full of talented guards. They struggled at times to break New Zealand’s press and would often missed Vucevic as he ducked into the lane or reject the screens he set for them. They struggled to keep Vucevic involved as much as Vucevic struggled to force them to involve him.

But Vucevic was mobile and presenting himself plenty. His most effective scores came when he cut into space and his frontcourt mate Bojan Dubljevic fed him on the run. That helped Vucevic get deep post position.

He was also setting really strong screens for Montenegro’s guards. They struggled to finish throughout the game.

This is all not news for Magic fans familiar with Vucevic’s game. He has a tendency to fade into the perimeter rather than getting into the paint and his post game is not as strong as some would like to suggest.

And throughout last season, Vucevic became less of a factor late in games. He struggled a lot in late-game situations with the game in the balance. It is already tough to go to big men late in games, but Orlando would often have to use their All-Star as a mere decoy.

Montenegro was not even getting to that point as they struggled to keep him involved offensively. Vucevic was trying to fit in and so others took the lead. Vucevic still has to grow as a leader.

It was clear in the third quarter Montenegro could rise to the occasion and could take that lead when called upon. He showed some real emotion and positive influence on his team as things seemed to be falling apart for everyone else.

Vucevic was still a steady presence for composure. He might not have been doing much offensively, but he was active defensively. He was often in the right spots defensively, turning drivers away from the basket. And he could step up and defend on the perimeter some.

He has been that way all tournament. His understanding of defensive positioning has certainly improved. And that will only benefit him when he gets to a tame where his comfortable leading and his teammates have better comfort and trust in him.

But undoubtedly a bit part of Vucevic’s development as a star player for the Magic will have to do with understanding when his team needs him to take control.

That was something he struggled with during the team’s playoff appearance against the Toronto Raptors. Orlando could not get him the ball in positions he could score and he could not rise above the defense.

Vucevic has not seen defense that should suffocate him at this point. He has shown good poise when dealing with the pressure and put in uncomfortable positions. But he has not owned the team and taken the lead as perhaps Magic fans would like.

He has tried to blend in and play his role. Vucevic is probably still figuring how to take over a game.

Orlando Magic

In Other FIBA Action

Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended Monday with a 94-81 loss to Argentina. Al-Farouq Aminu scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting. He grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists continuing to support where he could.

But Al-Farouq Aminu struggled going up against Luis Scola. He picked up four fouls and Scola did a good job getting under Aminu’s skin in a lot of ways. That is what Scola does.

It is a disappointing way for Nigeria to bow out of the tournament. They cut the lead to two at halftime but fell behind again in the third quarter as Facundo Campazzo and Nicolas Laprovittola starting to hit from the outside and give Argentina some space.

Canada’s chances to advance in the World Cup also ended Tuesday with a 92-69 loss to Lithuania. Khem Birch faced foul trouble early on as Lithuania’s bruising frontcourt of Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis tore up the undermanned Canadian team.

Khem Birch finished with 12 points and four rebounds for the game.

Both Canada and Nigeria will finish group play and then play a classification game that could help determine whether either can qualify for the 2020 Olympics.

France secured its place in the second round of the FIBA World Cup with a 103-64 win over Jordan. Evan Fournier scored 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting in 18 minutes to help ease France to the blowout victory.

Team USA found it much tougher scratching out a 93-92 overtime win over Turkey to secure their spot in the next round.

The U.S. turned the ball over late and trailed Turkey by two points late in regulation before Jayson Tatum forced overtime from the foul line. Turkey again had a chance to seal the game with four free throws and a one-point lead with 12 seconds to play.

They missed all four and Khris Middleton drew a foul and hit his free throws to give the U.S. the escape.