Five takeaways from Phoenix Suns' big Dario Saric's play in EuroBasket after season-ending knee injury
Still running without limitations and moving with hesitation.
Still knocking down 3s, rebounding and battling inside.
Phoenix Suns big Daric Saric is still looking good playing for his Croatian national team after missing the entire 2021-22 NBA season with a torn right ACL suffered in the 2021 finals.
Here are five takeaways from his play as Croatia plays its final game in the EuroBasket’s Group C Thursday against Ukraine in Milan, Italy.
Numbers (Through four games)
Jersey number: 9.
Points per game: 10.0
2PT FGs: 7-of-18 (38.9%)
3PT FGs: 6-of-18 (33.3%)
FTs: 8-of-9 (88.9%).
Rebounds per game: 7.8.
Assists/Turnovers: 13/13.
Double-double: 19 points and 12 rebounds versus Estonia (W, 73-70).
Loose handle: Six turnovers versus Italy (L, 81-76).
Scoreless: 0 points (0-for-5 from 3) versus Greece (L, 89-85).
Found touch: 6-of-13 from 3 since 0-for-5 versus Greece.
Versus Giannis
Saric had to check arguably the NBA’s best player – Giannis Antetokounmpo – at times in Croatia’s 89-85 loss to Greece.
Coming off the bench, Saric didn’t score as he attempted only one shot inside the 3-point line.
Antetokounmpo didn't have that problem.
He lived in the paint in posting 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds and six assists.
Grabbing four offensive boards, the two-time NBA MVP went through Iviac Zubac and Saric for a two-handed putback dunk early in the first quarter.
That’s a level of competition Saric hasn’t seen in a year.
Later in the second quarter, Antetokoumpo, from the top of the key, drove left on Saric and went to his patent spin move right. Saric stayed in front, but Antetokoumpo scored with the jump hook.
That was actually pretty good defense to prevent the Bucks All-Star from finishing with the dunk.
This game served as a great measuring stick for Saric.
There’s no one in the league like Antetokounmpo, but the league is filled with elite athletes who are going to try to test Saric after he missed a year with an injury.
No limitations – and well conditioned
Seeing Saric continue to play without a brace on the right knee further indicates he’s back from the injury.
He’s moving so fluidly. Looks quicker – and faster.
Not talking Usain Bolt, but Saric is running well in transition.
A bigger note to all this is he’s playing considerable minutes in EuroBasket.
Saric has averaged 21.6 minutes in the two seasons he’s played for the Suns.
His career average is 25.2.
In four EuroBasket games, Saric is averaging 27.3 minutes.
He doesn’t look fatigued and is playing at a pace that should translate into running in transition with the Suns, who love to get out and go after a defensive stop.
On the attack
Against Italy’s Achille Polonara, Saric quickly went baseline on the right side of the floor with two dribbles, lost his balance a bit on the contact, but finished with a banker in the paint.
He immediately recognized Polonara was out of position and made his move with purpose.
Saric was on the same side of the floor in transition when Great Britain’s Luke Nelson ran to the lane.
Seeing a clear path, Saric drove baseline, but Nelson came over the help. Instead of pulling up for a jumper or trying to get all the way to the rim, Saric threw a baseline pass to Bojan Bogdanovic for 3.
Basket good.
Saric reacted with the fist pump after perhaps his best pass in EuroBasket.
Against Estonia, Saric made a backdoor cut and found Ivica Zubac in the lane for the dunk despite the Clippers big being surrounded by defenders.
Wonder what Dirk Nowitzki thought of those Saric dimes, as the future first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer was in attendance.
Saric helps spread the floor because he can knock down 3s.
If he’s able to exploit defenders closing out on him to contest that shot with the dribble drive and find teammates off the bounce, Saric become even more difficult to guard.
Defensive position
No one is mistaking Saric for being Draymond Green on the defensive end.
The effort is there, but Saric gives up buckets.
The key for him will be positioning, something that’s been hit or miss in EuroBasket. Saric was out of position at times coming over from the weakside and yielding a basket.
Saric came over a bit late when Estonia’s Maik-Kalev Kostar slipped a screen, received the pass and dunked on him.
It happens, but he’ll need to play better position defense.
It’ll be interesting to see how the slimmer Saric defends in the post. He was able to hold his own even against Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.
Looks like that’ll be a tougher physical challenge with the weight loss.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Battling Giannis Antetokounmpo great needed test for Dario Saric
