MagicDriveTime podcast with Vuc

[Nyce_1]

https://soundcloud.com/orlando_magic/8416-mdt-with-nikola-vucevic

[Nyce_1]

I just started listening but CONGRATULATIONS to big Vuc for getting married this summer.


- He's training with his national team, so won't be back in town until after Sept 17th.
- Willing to do whatever is needed for the team to win, re: starting or coming off the bench
- Has been working on his 3 ball

[SOUL]

Never knew he dated (and married) Sasha Pavlovic's sister.

[Optimus_Steel]

Congrats to Vuc!

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

[j-ragg]

Didn't listen but sounds like he said all the right things, congrats to him on the marriage.

[MagicStarwipe]

I just started listening but CONGRATULATIONS to big Vuc for getting married this summer.


- He's training with his national team, so won't be back in town until after Sept 17th.
- Willing to do whatever is needed for the team to win, re: starting or coming off the bench
- Has been working on his 3 ball

Well at least he learned that even if he doesn't believe it, it's probably best from a team and PR perspective to say it anyway

Glad he's been working on the 3 ball. Just don't be afraid to shoot it.

[j_n]

He said he has been working on his 3 ball this summer and that its going really well, also said he wanted to add the three to his game so he can attack close outs and expand his driving game.

[MagicStarwipe]

He said he has been working on his 3 ball this summer and that its going really well, also said he wanted to add the three to his game so he can attack close outs and expand his driving game.

Easy there Vuc. It's a long way to the rim from the NBA 3 point line. Nicholson is good at it in FIBA, but not so much in the NBA. Although Vucevic being a better passer than Nicholson will help. Although if a team is closing out hard on our C at the 3 point line, that probably means pretty good things for our offense.

[Bensational]

Vuc is saying all the right things, great to hear. Hopefully he comes back to training camp wanting to take that starting spot and really bringing it on defense, whilst showing off a new 3pt shot to boot.

I like that he's got the hunger to fight for that starting spot, I just hope he understands the value of what he could bring off the bench too, and how important that will be if he doesn't get the starting role.

[Def Swami]

I'm excited for Vucevic as a 3 point shooter.

[MagicFan32]

glad to hear he is working on his 3, he shoots so well from 16-23 feet anyways, that it's worth exploring to see if he can expand his range a bit further

[OrlandO]

He said he has been working on his 3 ball this summer and that its going really well, also said he wanted to add the three to his game so he can attack close outs and expand his driving game.

Easy there Vuc. It's a long way to the rim from the NBA 3 point line. Nicholson is good at it in FIBA, but not so much in the NBA. Although Vucevic being a better passer than Nicholson will help. Although if a team is closing out hard on our C at the 3 point line, that probably means pretty good things for our offense.

He was already driving from around the 3pt line with success last season ( http://on.nba.com/2b5pM43 ). If he can make some 3s that will only make that part of his game easier.

[MagicStarwipe]

He said he has been working on his 3 ball this summer and that its going really well, also said he wanted to add the three to his game so he can attack close outs and expand his driving game.

Easy there Vuc. It's a long way to the rim from the NBA 3 point line. Nicholson is good at it in FIBA, but not so much in the NBA. Although Vucevic being a better passer than Nicholson will help. Although if a team is closing out hard on our C at the 3 point line, that probably means pretty good things for our offense.

He was already driving from around the 3pt line with success last season ( http://on.nba.com/2b5pM43 ). If he can make some 3s that will only make that part of his game easier.

I'm just saying, it's a lot different driving from "around" the 3 point line and behind it. Hence the Nicholson FIBA example. That little bit of extra distance with the athleticism in the NBA, especially when it's a not so quick 7 footer, gives the D plenty of time to recover to stop the drive. But I also said his passing game will help him here as he probably won't just bulldoze into waiting defenders like Nicholson did. I'm just saying, don't expect to see Vucevic taking it from behind the arc all the way to the rim too often.

[OrlandO]

Easy there Vuc. It's a long way to the rim from the NBA 3 point line. Nicholson is good at it in FIBA, but not so much in the NBA. Although Vucevic being a better passer than Nicholson will help. Although if a team is closing out hard on our C at the 3 point line, that probably means pretty good things for our offense.

He was already driving from around the 3pt line with success last season ( http://on.nba.com/2b5pM43 ). If he can make some 3s that will only make that part of his game easier.

I'm just saying, it's a lot different driving from "around" the 3 point line and behind it. Hence the Nicholson FIBA example. That little bit of extra distance with the athleticism in the NBA, especially when it's a not so quick 7 footer, gives the D plenty of time to recover to stop the drive. But I also said his passing game will help him here as he probably won't just bulldoze into waiting defenders like Nicholson did. I'm just saying, don't expect to see Vucevic taking it from behind the arc all the way to the rim too often.

He's stepping on the 3pt line in many of the clips I linked. In others he's like one step in from the 3pt line. That is with the defense not defending him as a 3pt threat. He has an interesting hesitation move that centers seemed to bite on even for his very long 2s... if he's able to show he can make 3s they will bite even harder. He is deceptively quick with the ball on those drives and he uses his length well to get to and finish near the basket. Nicholson couldn't pull off drives like that. Also, as the center Vuc doesn't have to worry about being surprised by the rim protector as the opposing center is already on him - it's more of a one on one situation. Much different than a guard or forward having to get by their own guy on the perimeter and also worry about the bigger defender waiting for them in the paint. I don't think Vuc is implying it will become a huge part of his game either. Just something he can go to more consistently... like once a game instead of every other game.

[MagicStarwipe]

He was already driving from around the 3pt line with success last season ( http://on.nba.com/2b5pM43 ). If he can make some 3s that will only make that part of his game easier.

I'm just saying, it's a lot different driving from "around" the 3 point line and behind it. Hence the Nicholson FIBA example. That little bit of extra distance with the athleticism in the NBA, especially when it's a not so quick 7 footer, gives the D plenty of time to recover to stop the drive. But I also said his passing game will help him here as he probably won't just bulldoze into waiting defenders like Nicholson did. I'm just saying, don't expect to see Vucevic taking it from behind the arc all the way to the rim too often.

He's stepping on the 3pt line in many of the clips I linked. In others he's like one step in from the 3pt line. That is with the defense not defending him as a 3pt threat. He has an interesting hesitation move that centers seemed to bite on even for his very long 2s... if he's able to show he can make 3s they will bite even harder. He is deceptively quick with the ball on those drives and he uses his length well to get to and finish near the basket. Nicholson couldn't pull off drives like that. Also, as the center Vuc doesn't have to worry about being surprised by the rim protector as the opposing center is already on him - it's more of a one on one situation. Much different than a guard or forward having to get by their own guy on the perimeter and also worry about the bigger defender waiting for them in the paint. I don't think Vuc is implying it will become a huge part of his game either. Just something he can go to more consistently... like once a game instead of every other game.

Maybe, we'll see. I'm happy he's working on his 3 point shot and I hope he's not afraid to use it because it would add a nice dimension to his game and our offense and ease the blow of him being a low FTA guy.

[woosah]

I am excited to see where he is on his 3 because he has been working on it for a while. I remember him saying that a while back and saying coach wouldn't let him shoot it in a game. (i think we were under JV then)

[OrlandO]

I am excited to see where he is on his 3 because he has been working on it for a while. I remember him saying that a while back and saying coach wouldn't let him shoot it in a game. (i think we were under JV then)

I remember last season Vuc told the media he wanted to start taking some threes, so they asked Skiles about it.... he did not seem thrilled, but said he was open to it. In hindsight that seems to have been BS... like telling someone "maybe" when you really mean no. Vogel on the other hand seems to be pushing for Vuc to take some threes, so we should finally get to see it. I just hope for once he's getting threes that aren't last resort type desperation shots. Let him take them in the flow of the game with less pressure first...

[Blue_and_Whte]

Nik routinely attacks close outs from like 23 feet out and will easily do it from beyond the 3 pt line. The reason its going really well is because he could already shoot the three, but probably just needs refinement. He couldn't be stopped without shooting 3's so the added element will make him an even tougher cover. All star caliber numbers this season.

[BadMofoPimp]

Vooch can be the next Nowitzki. Another supposedly defensless player who is unstoppable on offense.

[Xatticus]

Vooch can be the next Nowitzki. Another supposedly defensless player who is unstoppable on offense.

There really is no comparison between the offensive efficiency of Vucevic and Nowitzki. Both can sustain their efficiency in high volume roles, but Dirk's efficiency is dramatically better than Vucevic's. Further, for as much criticism as Dirk has received, he is vastly superior to Vucevic in defending outside of the paint. This has permitted Dallas to use defense-only bigs next to him routinely. I am baffled as to how someone that looks so graceful in his footwork on the offensive end (Vucevic) can look so ungainly on defense.