By Josh CohenMay 9, 2016
Nikola Vucevic is arguably the best pick-and-pop player in the NBA
Vucevic shot an astounding 50.3 percent on shots between 15-19 feet from the basket (ranked No. 1 in league among players who attempted at least 200 shots from this range). He does an excellent job pulling opposing centers away from the basket, which puts pressure on opposing perimeter players to crash the glass. WATCH:
Nikola Vucevic spent less time this season down low and in the post
Vucevic took 141 fewer shots from less than five feet from the hoop this past season than he did the prior year. He also had 27 fewer dunks. Part of the explanation for this was the team’s offensive structure (far more motion, spacing and movement and less pick-and-roll). Despite this, Vucevic still ranked 10th in the league in post-up scoring. Also, among the players who ranked in the top 10 in this category, Vucevic shot the second best percentage (50.2 percent). WATCH:
Nikola Vucevic made progress on the defensive end
While he’s never going to be an elite rim protector or ferocious intimidator inside, Vucevic improved his individual defense. In fact, from the start of the season to the end of the calendar year, the Magic were one of only seven teams to hold opponents to less than 40 points in the paint on average. Much of that had to do with Vucevic’s decision-making when defending pick-and-rolls and his growth challenging shots at the rim. WATCH:
Nikola Vucevic wasn’t the relentless rebounder we had seen the past few years
Remember, Vucevic holds the franchise record for most rebounds in a game (29) and he had three straights seasons in which he averaged double-digit boards. His rebounding average decreased by two this past season. Part of the reasoning is tied to the development of Aaron Gordon, who at times was a monster on the glass, and the fact that Vucevic took far more of his shots outside the paint (limited offensive rebounding opportunities). WATCH:
Nikola Vucevic would be a top 10 scorer in NBA if he drew more fouls
Vucevic is an offensive machine. There were games this season in which it felt like he erupted for 40 points because of how efficient he was. He scores in all kinds of ways (driving layups, baseline hooks, turnaround shots, pick-and-pop jumpers, etc.). However, even when it’s a shocker when one of his shots doesn’t fall, the fact that he doesn’t add on many free throws limits his scoring aptitude. Vucevic averaged just 2.3 FT attempts per game this past season. That was the lowest FT average for all players who scored at least 18 points per game. WATCH:
