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  4. title => "Dario Saric 'absolutely' would be better NBA player if he didn't play for Croatia"
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  6. article_body => "<p>CAMDEN, N.J. \u2014&nbsp;There\u2019s no hiding the fact that Dario Saric is off to a rough start this season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the first five games of the campaign, Saric is shooting 37 percent from the field. Last year, knocking down threes became the most notable improvement in his game, but he\u2019s been ice cold from downtown (27 percent). The third-year forward\u2019s struggles have only been magnified because of the Sixers\u2019 2-3 start.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, this isn\u2019t new for Saric. During the first eight games of the season last year, he shot just 32 percent from the field. The first 10 games of his rookie season saw him at just 39 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there is one tricky culprit that can be pointed to: Saric\u2019s long summers playing with the Croatian national team. Whether it\u2019s the FIBA World Cup, the Olympics or this summer\u2019s Olympic qualifiers, Saric is playing basketball all year round.<\/p>\n<p>The 24-year-old forward has always been fairly honest with the media. After practice Friday, he was pretty candid about how international play has affected his NBA career.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>It means so much to me (to play for Croatia) but you know it\u2019s going through your mind maybe if you skip some summer you will be a better player. Maybe you have more time to spend in the States to work on your game. Absolutely, I think I would be a better player if I didn\u2019t play [the last] five, six years on the international team every night. I think I would be a better player but at the end of the day, everything is about winning and you want to win with your national team, too \u2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just so hard to talk about it. It really matters for me. This way I choose is maybe wrong, maybe right, but I really enjoy being there and playing with those guys and to represent my country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Saric\u2019s poor shooting could certainly be chalked up to tired legs. His shot, which never really had much arc, to begin with, looks even flatter than usual.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To his credit, Saric was the last player to leave the floor after practice. He was putting up shots from all over the court, trying to get his feel back and hoping to get his game on track.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope I catch a rhythm,\u201d Saric said. \u201cIt\u2019s not something that\u2019s going to last all season. Every game I think I\u2019ve improved a step going forward. There shouldn\u2019t be some big question about it. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m playing bad like you can\u2019t recognize me or things like that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow I finished last year I know everybody maybe kind of expected the same game at the beginning of the season but I think it\u2019s hard. I need a little bit of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Sixers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-injury-update-joel-embiid-listed-questionable-vs-hornets-after-rolling-ankle-practice\">Joel Embiid listed as questionable vs. Hornets <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-saw-milwaukee-how-good-khris-middleton-could-be-them\">Sixers saw in Milwaukee how good Middleton could be for them<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/defensive-woes-continue-plague-sixers-giannis-antetokounmpo-goes-loss-bucks\">Sixers' defense has regressed to a level not worthy of this city<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/joel-embiid-reportedly-receives-warning-from-nba-flopping\">Embiid receives warning for flopping<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-are-need-rivalry-and-celtics-are-perfect-foe\">Sixers in need of a rivalry and Celtics the perfect foe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n"
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76ers

76ers

CAMDEN, N.J. — There’s no hiding the fact that Dario Saric is off to a rough start this season. 

In the first five games of the campaign, Saric is shooting 37 percent from the field. Last year, knocking down threes became the most notable improvement in his game, but he’s been ice cold from downtown (27 percent). The third-year forward’s struggles have only been magnified because of the Sixers’ 2-3 start.

Of course, this isn’t new for Saric. During the first eight games of the season last year, he shot just 32 percent from the field. The first 10 games of his rookie season saw him at just 39 percent.

Unfortunately, there is one tricky culprit that can be pointed to: Saric’s long summers playing with the Croatian national team. Whether it’s the FIBA World Cup, the Olympics or this summer’s Olympic qualifiers, Saric is playing basketball all year round.

The 24-year-old forward has always been fairly honest with the media. After practice Friday, he was pretty candid about how international play has affected his NBA career.

It means so much to me (to play for Croatia) but you know it’s going through your mind maybe if you skip some summer you will be a better player. Maybe you have more time to spend in the States to work on your game. Absolutely, I think I would be a better player if I didn’t play [the last] five, six years on the international team every night. I think I would be a better player but at the end of the day, everything is about winning and you want to win with your national team, too … 

 

It’s just so hard to talk about it. It really matters for me. This way I choose is maybe wrong, maybe right, but I really enjoy being there and playing with those guys and to represent my country. 

Saric’s poor shooting could certainly be chalked up to tired legs. His shot, which never really had much arc, to begin with, looks even flatter than usual. 

To his credit, Saric was the last player to leave the floor after practice. He was putting up shots from all over the court, trying to get his feel back and hoping to get his game on track.

“I hope I catch a rhythm,” Saric said. “It’s not something that’s going to last all season. Every game I think I’ve improved a step going forward. There shouldn’t be some big question about it. I don’t think I’m playing bad like you can’t recognize me or things like that. 

“How I finished last year I know everybody maybe kind of expected the same game at the beginning of the season but I think it’s hard. I need a little bit of time.”

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