Studying the high basketball IQ of Magic's Nikola Vucevic
There are some basketball observers who don't realize just how good Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic is. Maybe it's because he's not quite a top-flight defender, a quality most people want in a big man in today's NBA. Or maybe it's because not many people pay strict attention to the Magic.
Whatever the case may be, the end result is that Vucevic is often overlooked in basketball discussions. And that's not fair, as he's a fantastic young player with a very high basketball IQ, as demonstrated by Josh Cohen of the Magic's official team site.
In the latest installment of Orlando's film room breakdowns of its top players, Cohen points out several instances that demonstrate Vucevic's high IQ. On the offensive end, Cohen says, Vucevic is aware of how the defense will react to the various combinations of teammates on the floor. When 3-point shooters offer a bit more space, Vucevic makes hay in the paint, establishing position that allows him to get easy dunks.
But when guards like Dewayne Dedmon, who's looking to attack the basket himself, enter the game, Vucevic transitions into a pick-and-pop pro, using his soft touch from the midrange to help create room for those handling the rock.
And Vucevic's high basketball IQ is evident on the defensive end, as well, where the Magic center is oft maligned. It's true that he's not a rim-defending force, but Cohen writes that Vucevic does a solid job of maintaining verticality and not fouling when he's trying to protect the rim. As Orlando's defensive schemes improve, Vucevic could become an important part of the Magic defense.
Click through to watch some the video evidence of Vucevic's high basketball IQ.
(h/t NBA.com)
