2024 NBA Playoffs - West 1st Round: #4 Los Angeles Clippers vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[Astaluego]

How can Luka be out of shape? I thought everyone was saying he’s been in good shape all season?

He's not. If you can play 45 minutes of playoff basketball at a high level being the primary option on offense and not being a complete turnstile on defense you're in pretty great shape, better than the majority of NBA players.

People just say Luka is out of shape because he's not cut like a bodybuilder, but like the results speak for themselves. He's exerting more energy than most players do and he's still got gas left in the tank at the end of the game. The conditioning isn't a problem.

This summer he looked good, with his selection...no one asks him for a bodybuilder's cut, just that he doesn't have a double chin and that huge round face, come on it's obvious...I'm Luka's biggest fan (of his game) it's obvious that He is not in his best shape and that should be the minimum for a guy who earns 50 million... it is an alarming lack of professionalism... Jokic should be a mirror in which to look at himself... Joker took his body seriously and magically he started winning MVP and rings...Luka is as talented as he is, he doesn't take it seriously enough

[famicommander]

Is Luka the only player who seems to put on weight as the season progresses? He looked trimmer in the early season than he does now.

It's because he played in the World Cup last Summer.

Usually he shows up to the season fat and plays his way into shape, but this year he showed up skinny and ate himself out of shape.

[sfernald]

Luka a choker? Now I know you dont watch instead look at box-score

Got outplayed by Harden. He's supposed to be the best player on the court. if the Mavs go on to lose this series this would be the game to look at. Kyrie gave it his all, Luka shot poorly and didn't match him.

It's sad to say but 34 years old Harden looks far fitter and athletic than 25 years old Luka....and it's not like Harden has ever been reknown for his athleticism or fitness.

Those strip clubs keep you flexible!

[D.Brasco]

Is Luka the only player who seems to put on weight as the season progresses? He looked trimmer in the early season than he does now.

It's because he played in the World Cup last Summer.

Usually he shows up to the season fat and plays his way into shape, but this year he showed up skinny and ate himself out of shape.

I mean the excess calories he must have been putting away eating/drinking to actually gain weight over a high cardio NBA season. Shaq was notorious for showing up out of shape in his Laker years but ending up in respectable shape by the time of the playoffs.

[Yuri36]

What is wrong with Luka anyways? I don't watch all that many Mavs games, but I've never seen him look this bad ever before.

He's fat, stupid, lazy, and immature. There's nothing wrong with him beyond that, he just hasn't decided to be great. He's content with being really good and padding his ego.

lol the physical contrast between current Luka and bumble Luka is....well, no comment.
And it's not like bumble Luka was himself incredibly fit.

[MrBigShot]

Sucks we may not ever see this clippers squad with a healthy Kawhi in the post season.

[Yuri36]

How can Luka be out of shape? I thought everyone was saying he’s been in good shape all season?

He's not. If you can play 45 minutes of playoff basketball at a high level being the primary option on offense and not being a complete turnstile on defense you're in pretty great shape, better than the majority of NBA players.

People just say Luka is out of shape because he's not cut like a bodybuilder, but like the results speak for themselves. He's exerting more energy than most players do and he's still got gas left in the tank at the end of the game. The conditioning isn't a problem.

You clearly have no clue about what most people really reproach to Luka.
Take 2 examples: Steve Nash and Manu Ginobili.
They were no where near bodybuilders or big jumpers but in their peaks, they were still way fitter than any version of Luka doncic, let alone the current one.

[Yuri36]

Is Luka the only player who seems to put on weight as the season progresses? He looked trimmer in the early season than he does now.

It's because he played in the World Cup last Summer.

Usually he shows up to the season fat and plays his way into shape, but this year he showed up skinny and ate himself out of shape.

I mean the excess calories he must have been putting away eating/drinking to actually gain weight over a high cardio NBA season. Shaq was notorious for showing up out of shape in his Laker years but ending up in respectable shape by the time of the playoffs.

The difference being it's much less of a problem at center than it is when you're playing at guard position in NBA.

[bnets]

He put on a lot of weight. This + playing over 40min is game over for him and Mavs. He looks like he gained 50 pounds. His shooting and health are paying the price

[Wolfgang630]

We need Bubble Luka

[HotRocks34]

I noted this in another thread:

Luka is the only player on either team to have a positive +/- in all four games.

The Mavs probably don't think they can afford to rest him much. But if he's going to play like 45 minutes he has to manage them. Or else you just get gassed.

I'd play decoy a bit and try to exploit the focus the Clips are putting on you with their defense. Look to pass a bit more IMO, especially if your shot is not falling.

[G R E Y]

Haven't checked if this was pointed out but Mavs only committed 21 fouls and 9 - NINE - were on their two best players combined? Lol ok...

The amount of fouls definitely reflected the physicality too. Coffey was the only Clipper to play who had fewer than 3 fouls

It's the timing of them, too, so that Luka with 2 early on touch fouls meanwhile physicality was more present later seems inconsistent.

I think fans and teams just want that consistency.

[10DayContract]

People in here are blaming Kidd for leaving Kleber in the game like Luka wasn't getting cooked 10 times on the perimeter like fried chicken. Kidd needed the floor spaced and wanted shooting.

[madmaxmedia]

Lue blew a 31 point lead and then told Paul George to hit a crazy shot?

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Kidd doesn't adjust well in game IMO. He never has. He's better between games.

On Mavs radio they pointed out that the Clips were iso-ing Harden on 5-foul Luka down the stretch via screens to get the switch.

I think Harden scored three straight times with that setup. Then Kidd took a timeout to change it up. But still no rim protector.

Harden had something like 13 points in the last 5 minutes of the game. George had like 4. And 10 of those Harden points came on baskets within 10 feet or less.

It is what it is.

Not reading all of that.

Paul George almost went out of bounds... and then hit a ridiculous shot.

Spoiler:

Quote me for post game reactions that explain the game plan there.

Generally PG having to bail out the shot clock from the perimeter is not a great thing, but that particular shot was a thing of beauty (if still high difficulty and not ideal.) He knew the shot clock and set that one up, on the step back hop he planted both feet perfectly right behind the line. Step backs are not normally a big part of his game.

[HotRocks34]

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20 of the Clippers 34 points in the 4th quarter came in the paint.

[ChipotleWest]

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20 of the Clippers 34 points in the 4th quarter came in the paint.

If he insisted on playing Maxi, there's no logical reason he couldn't have had 1 of the 2 rim protectors in the game also. The only reason Maxi being the rim protector made Harden shoot 2's instead of 3's is that he was easily exploitable and him and other Clippers ate at the rim. Something that was not an issue before he made that adjustment. This is 100% Kidd's fault, because he not only made a poor decision he stuck with it the entire 4th quarter sat on his hands and didn't adjust.

[ChipotleWest]

People in here are blaming Kidd for leaving Kleber in the game like Luka wasn't getting cooked 10 times on the perimeter like fried chicken. Kidd needed the floor spaced and wanted shooting.

Forget Luka, you don't think one of the other 2 7 foot bigs could have stopped the scoring in the paint? Then why weren't Clippers scoring with ease in the paint before Maxi was the only big in?

[JShuttlesworth]

Clippers are playing better without Kawhi right now

This series could go 7

[ChipotleWest]

I literally saw Maxi back off Harden who was coming at him in the lane and guard some other player while Harden went in for the easy score, on multiple occasions. He didn't even try to put a hand up or anything. It was like Kidd or Maxi had some gambling debt they had to pay off by taking a dive.

[ChipotleWest]

Watch Maxi back off and just let Harden score. (2nd video, can't separate it from the first one)

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