Jokic in shallow waters, but Guduric & Avramovic 'cleaned up' for Serbia in Italy

Milan, the Assago Forum arena was still filled with the noise of passionate Italian fans. But on the court, Nikola Jokic – considered the best player on the planet at this moment – was drowning in a 'shallow water' zone that Italy's coach Luca Banchi had deliberately created. Just 8 points, 1 assist, 6/7 from the free-throw line but only 1/4 from the field. This was one of the worst games in Jokic's international career. But the strange thing is Serbia still won. And the real story of this game isn't about Jokic being neutralized, but about how his teammates – two left-handed guards Aleksa Avramovic and Marko Guduric – stepped up and 'cleaned up' everything left unfinished. The context of this game was far from simple. This is the FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers in the European zone, where every game is a matter of survival. Serbia entered this match in 2nd place in their group, behind Turkey. Italy was 3rd and being closely chased by Lithuania. Pressure weighed on both teams, but Italy had home-court advantage and a clear tactical plan. Coach Luca Banchi, one of Europe's best tacticians, built a defensive system specifically designed to counter Jokic. The 'front + double + cut passing lanes' scheme – meaning the front defender blocks the ball, a second defender doubles, and all passing lanes are cut – was executed flawlessly. In FIBA basketball, the absence of the defensive three-second rule allows an Italian center to camp in the paint, turning that area into a true no-fly zone for Jokic. But what made this game special wasn't Banchi's defensive scheme – which is already known as a common 'blueprint' when facing big stars. What's notable is how Serbia reacted. Instead of trying to force-feed Jokic, coach Svetislav Pesic made a subtle adjustment: shifting the offensive focus to the backcourt. Avramovic finished with 20 points, despite shooting 4/13 from beyond the arc. Guduric contributed 19 points on 2/6 from deep. Combined, they scored 39 points – more than Italy's entire perimeter duo. But the most impressive number isn't the points – it's the timing. Many of their three-pointers came at decisive moments, when the game was tight and Italy was gaining momentum. It's important to recognize that both Avramovic and Guduric are left-handed. In a basketball world where most players are right-handed, opponents' defensive habits are usually built around right-handed situations. Left-handed players often get cleaner looks in crucial moments because defenders tend to lean the wrong way. This is a subtle tactical advantage that not everyone notices. In a game where Jokic was almost completely neutralized – 1 assist is nearly unprecedented in his career – having two left-handed shooters who know how to score in the most tense moments was Serbia's salvation. From a data perspective, this game raises an interesting question about how we evaluate a star's performance. Jokic had an estimated usage rate of only 15-18%, compared to his average of around 30% with the Denver Nuggets. But this wasn't a deliberate choice on his part – it was a direct consequence of Banchi's defensive scheme. When his passing lanes are cut, when the paint is blocked, Jokic has no opportunity to create impact. But there's a positive point many overlook: his 6/7 free-throw rate. Even when limited in scoring from the field, Jokic still knows how to draw fouls. This is a 'floor-raising' quality that could make a difference in a knockout game. The court never lies, we just need enough patience to hear it breathe. And what the Milan court is telling us is: Serbia is not a team that depends on Jokic. They are a collective with depth, adaptability, and players who know how to step up when their biggest star is smothered. This is completely different from the image the NBA media often attaches to Serbia – a team that only relies on Jokic. This game revealed a different face, a hidden strength that could surprise at the World Cup. The real star isn't the scorer, but the one who makes teammates score easier. But in this game, the real stars were the ones who made Jokic not need to score. Avramovic and Guduric proved they aren't just supporting roles – they are 'scriptwriters' who can write winning stories with their own hands. There are rescues no one sees, but the team remembers for life. And this game in Milan was one such rescue. But will this 'Banchi blueprint' become a template that other teams copy? This is Serbia's biggest risk. If Italy could neutralize Jokic to just 1 assist, then other disciplined defensive teams like Spain, France, or Germany could easily apply similar tactics. Serbia needs to develop a clear counter – perhaps using Jokic more as a screener and roller rather than just a post-up player. When Jokic is the ball handler in a pick-and-roll, the defense must choose between protecting the paint or following the ball handler – and this would open up space for both Jokic and his teammates. Another notable point is the group standings. Serbia remains 2nd behind Turkey, but this win solidifies their position. Italy, with this loss, drops to 3rd and faces direct pressure from Lithuania – who just beat Bosnia. Nico Mannion, Italy's 23-year-old, had an impressive performance with 23 points, shooting 3/5 from three and 10/10 from the free-throw line. But relying on such a young player is a double-edged sword – it shows development potential, but also means Italy is betting its future on the consistency of a 23-year-old. The smallest detail on the court is where the biggest truth hides. In this game, that detail was Nikola Milutinov's 2 blocks in 16 minutes – a sign of his defensive value, despite scoring only 3 points. His leaving the court with an injury then returning is also a point to monitor, as Serbia's frontcourt depth behind Jokic is a potential weakness. But above all, this game is a reminder that in FIBA basketball, where there's no defensive three-second rule, even the world's best player can be smothered if the opponent has a good plan and the discipline to execute it. At 26, I understand that commentary isn't about asserting myself, but about lighting the way for viewers. And what I want to illuminate today is: don't rush to conclude that Jokic is declining. Look at the bigger picture. Serbia just won against a tough opponent on the road, in a game where their biggest star barely had an impact. That says a lot about this collective's character. And if any team thinks they've found a way to beat Serbia by neutralizing Jokic, they should remember that Serbia isn't just Jokic. They have a whole collective of players who know how to 'clean up' when needed. The game in Milan has ended, but the questions it raised remain open. Will the 'Banchi blueprint' become a standard weapon in European teams' arsenals? Will Serbia find a way to free Jokic from such defensive cages? And more importantly, are these kinds of wins – where supporting players step up for the star – a sign of a team with true championship DNA? I don't believe in spectacular comebacks; I believe in comebacks made through quiet steps. And the quiet steps of Avramovic and Guduric in Milan are what made the difference. Serbia may not have had a great Jokic in this game, but they had a collective ready to fight for each other. And in knockout tournaments, that often matters more than any star.