Serbian luxury of depth causing nightmares to opponents

WUHAN (China) - If one checked the dictionary, the definition of luxury is "the state of great comfort and extravagant living". Looking at the dominating depth of Serbia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, it could be said that head coach Sasha Djordjevic has the luxury of choice - a fact that has made the 2014 finalists scary good thus far in China. 

The Serbian playcaller has watched four of his players average double figures in scoring,  while six more are scoring between 6.0 and 7.8 points. And it's that depth of star talent that makes the Serbian side such an imposing force. But the Serbians have also bought into the team concept and don't care who starts the game.

Even if it's an All-NBA First Team talent in Nikola Jokic.

“Anyone who understands basketball knows that, it's not about starting lineups, it's about who finishes the game," Djordjevic said. "It depends from game to game. The competition is long and very tough physically. Where we come from - Serbia - starting lineup isn't that important."

This is not to say that Djordjevic does not value having the Denver Nuggets center in the team. But he does have the luxury of not needing to use him as much as other teams might.

Jokic, who last wore the Srbjia jersey at the 2016 Olympics, has come off the bench in all four games thus far and averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 assists, 4.5 assists and 0.8 blocks in 20 minutes. 

It's all about the team. And the Serbian team has been outstanding, winning their four games thus far - against Angola, Philippines and Italy in the First Round and over Puerto Rico in the Second Round - by an average of 40.8 points. And the 4-0 record has them already in the Quarter-Finals along with Spain - the final opponents in Group J on Sunday to decide first place in the group.  

Another example of team over me is another of Serbia's big men, Boban Marjanovic, who started the first game against Angola and was in the first five against Puerto Rico but came off the bench against Philippines and Italy. 

"ANYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS BASKETBALL KNOWS THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT STARTING LINEUPS, IT'S ABOUT WHO FINISHES THE GAME."- Djordjevic

"Boban is one of the top players. He knows his role, he is a very atypical big man, he has a lot of offensive skills. Defensively he tries his best. He has done a very good job, and I am happy with Boban," Djordjevic said of the giant center, who is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks in nearly 14 minutes a game, while also connecting on 19 of his 22 two-point field goal attempts for an amazing 86 percent. 

"It's his second competition with us. He had a European competition (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) with us two years ago. He was one of the important players. Now it’s a different role. We have four big men right now. We have a different lineup, maybe it [causes] fewer minutes," Djordjevic said.

Marjanovic was named the TCL Player of the Game against Puerto Rico with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. But the 31-year-old exemplified the Serbia's team-first mindset. 

"It doesn't matter who gets this award. It doesn't matter for us who gets it, as long as we are winning," Marjanovic said. "That's the most important thing, we are all happy and satisfied."

And Sasha Djordjevic can enjoy his luxury.

FIBA