Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. struggles, finishes strong in USA's FIBA win vs. Montenegro
Jaren Jackson Jr. got his best test yet in the 2023 FIBA World Cup when he had to guard all-star NBA center Nikola Vucevic. Jackson struggled in stretches, and so did Team USA.
USA played against Montenegro in the second round on Friday morning after both teams advanced past their initial group stages. The Americans were in a close game before pulling away in the final two minutes of an 85-73 win.
Jackson had one of the most important tasks for USA in having to guard Vucevic. The Grizzlies forward struggled and was limited to 5:36 of playing time in the first half after picking up two fouls. In that time, he scored two points and didn’t record a rebound, steal or block.
A couple of early finishes from Vucevic in the second half led to Team USA making a switch that should be familiar to Grizzlies fans. Jackson moved off the ball and guarded Marko Simonovic. While this allowed Jackson to play in his best defensive role as a roamer, it created more mismatches.
Dillon Brooks often guarded bigger players like Zion Williamson and Lauri Markanen while Jackson would operate as a help defender. Montenegro smartly put Jackson in pick-and-rolls, which limited his chances of helping out against Vucevic.
Team USA went back to Jackson guarding Vucevic in the fourth quarter. Jackson made impact plays down the stretch when he made a running right-handed hook shot and forced a turnover off a deflection to help USA build a 10-point with less than two minutes remaining. He finished the game with 11 points, one steal and one block.
This was the test Jackson needed. If the Grizzlies’ goal is to eventually move their 6-foot-11 forward to center, a matchup against a player of Vucevic’s talent is more of an eye-opener than playing non-NBA centers.
Rebounding is the main area Jackson needs to grow, and that’s what an undersized Team USA needs. Jackson finished the game with no rebounds in 20 minutes. Team USA was out-rebounded 49-31.
Vucevic shot 8-for-19 from the field and finished with 18 points for Montenegro.
Team USA and Jackson will get tested in the same areas again against Lithuania on Sunday (7:40 a.m., ESPN2). Lithuania is led by former Grizzlies starting center Jonas Valanciunas.
GRIZZLIES ROSTER UPDATE: Latest Memphis Grizzlies signing could add guard depth while Ja Morant is suspended
Santi Aldama update
Santi Aldama has been a regular producer for Spain during the World Cup, but he was surprisingly mostly a spectator on Friday after averaging 11.3 points in his first three games. The Grizzlies forward played seven minutes and finished with two points, one rebound and two turnovers in a little more than seven minutes.
Spain dropped a close game 74-69 to Latvia after starting the tournament 3-0. Aldama and Spain will play Canada on Sunday (8:30 a.m., ESPN+) in what should be one of the tournament's best matchups to date. Just like Jackson's game against Lithuania, this contest will feature a current Grizzlies player against a former teammate when Aldama takes the floor against Brooks.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson, USA defeat Montenegro at FIBA WC
