Luka Dončić Discussion - Year 2

[Pointguard01]

His main question mark is that when guarded by some long and mobile guy (6'6-6'8 height, w/ 7'0-7'3 wingspan), can he get by them or create enough space to get his shot off? He was not good against DeAndre Kane in Europe.

I can see him struggle a lot facing Andre Roberson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dante Exum, Trevor Ariza, OG Anunoby, or even Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges may give him major problems.

Who does not struggle against Andre Roberson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dante Exum, Trevor Ariza?
He is 29, ups 19 years old. He is not there...

The league is so much PnR that it's relatively easy to get a switch from those guys onto a big man.

This video from P3 Sports Science in Santa Barbara sheds light in a positive light about what Doncic COULD be:

Read on Twitter

At the end of the day, it's all speculation. What I like is that our ceiling is MUCH higher with Doncic. You take that risk to have a transcendent talent that can change your team, culture and impact winning. The fact that he is even working out with P3 is a good sign.

Can't wait to see him in action!

[thr3ep01nte4]

His main question mark is that when guarded by some long and mobile guy (6'6-6'8 height, w/ 7'0-7'3 wingspan), can he get by them or create enough space to get his shot off? He was not good against DeAndre Kane in Europe.

I can see him struggle a lot facing Andre Roberson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dante Exum, Trevor Ariza, OG Anunoby, or even Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges may give him major problems.

Who does not struggle against Andre Roberson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dante Exum, Trevor Ariza?
He is 29, ups 19 years old. He is not there...

The league is so much PnR that it's relatively easy to get a switch from those guys onto a big man.

Can't wait to see him in action!

Watch on YouTube

He couldn't get by big men in Eurobasket. (Starts 3:06.)

[Archx]

Watch on YouTube

He couldn't get by big men in Eurobasket. (Starts 3:06.)

You don't think it's fixable with NBA coaches and also being mentored by seasoned players?

[XTraderXL]

Who does not struggle against Andre Roberson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dante Exum, Trevor Ariza?
He is 29, ups 19 years old. He is not there...

The league is so much PnR that it's relatively easy to get a switch from those guys onto a big man.

Can't wait to see him in action!

Watch on YouTube

He couldn't get by big men in Eurobasket. (Starts 3:06.)

This is my main concern actually. I expect him to improve phisically in the next few years but will it be enough to at least be decent? Hard to tell... If he can improve enough on that, he will be very limited in what he can do in the NBA. Could end up being just an average starter.

[J_T]

His trade value is all time high. Just saying...

[Rn5ho]

Luka was afraid of physical contact pretty much this whole year. He needs to get more brave and confident and then he'll also be able to drive past defenders. If you check carefully, he never went for any risky drives, which could also be a consequence of his ankle injury during Eurobasket.

Anyway, I think he has it in him to get past defenders and he will show it.

[arkuo]

Nothing you cant fix at 19 years old. He has a lot of time. A lot.

[Rn5ho]

Indeed.

This is one thing that college prospects have it easier - they play against clearly (especially physically) inferior competition where they're able to drive past defender at easy and most of the time physically dominate them, so they get a lot more confident in that regard - but it's a whole another thing when you have to do this against fully grown men, who are physically in the prime of their careers when defensive system set in place that pretty much nullify any space. This is something Luka will have to learn and get used to and something that college kids already have plenty of experience with. But of course NBA is a whole another level, though again - there so much more space with bigger court and the 3 second rule, something that's not the case in Europe.

[J_T]

I don't know... it's still not too late to trade him for Young+2nd round pick and cut the losses.

[Pointguard01]

I’m less worried about his getting past someone. I’m more curious about him being a good shooter. He seems to have that potential. If he can become a 37%+ 3-FG shooter and make the defense play that, he’ll be special.

I don't know... it's still not too late to trade him for Young+2nd round pick and cut the losses.

Jokes?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[XTraderXL]

I’m less worried about his getting past someone. I’m more curious about him being a good shooter. He seems to have that potential. If he can become a 37%+ 3-FG shooter and make the defense play that, he’ll be special.

I don't know... it's still not too late to trade him for Young+2nd round pick and cut the losses.

Jokes?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He will start the season shoothing better than most expect. He is a very good shooter actually, just look at his % in the first half of last season. As the season went on and he became physically worse, the % dropped as well. His shooting % seem heavily related to his physical condition. Last season after January his mechanics changed, he had no more lift and even on stepbacks he was slower than in months before. I mentioned this in the other thread a few times, for me it all comes down to what shape he will start he season in and if he can stay in shape during the season. If he deteriorates like last season in Real, he will have a terrible second half of the year...

Hopefully the Mavs realise that and will really focus on getting him ready and keeping him in good shape.

[Rn5ho]

https://clutchpoints.com/mavs-news-jj-barea-raves-about-luka-doncic-control-game/

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/735794/rick-carlisle-urges-fans-to-buy-season-tickets-because-of-doncic-or-they-will-sorely-regret-it/

So far positive feedback (though I guess, not much else to expect).

[Raido]

Luka Doncic full workout (over 8 minutes):

Watch on YouTube

[J_T]

http://www.sportspromedia.com/most-marketable/2018

His agent must be loving this.

[mcmurphy]

http://www.sportspromedia.com/most-marketable/2018

His agent must be loving this.

no Cristiano Ronaldo and no Lebron in the first 50... strange list

[wolfram]

http://www.sportspromedia.com/most-marketable/2018

His agent must be loving this.

no Cristiano Ronaldo and no Lebron in the first 50... strange list

It's a list of marketing potential in the next 3 years, not established stars

[UcanUwill]

I’m less worried about his getting past someone. I’m more curious about him being a good shooter. He seems to have that potential. If he can become a 37%+ 3-FG shooter and make the defense play that, he’ll be special.

I don't know... it's still not too late to trade him for Young+2nd round pick and cut the losses.

Jokes?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

37% is pretty easy objective, maybe not first year, but he will be better shooter than that I expect in the future. I have no worries about his shot at all.

[JPF]

https://www.mavs.com/dirk-talks-luka-dennis-and-tennis-with-ben-skin/
Dirk on Luka

On what he’s seen so far from Luka Doncic: “I really like what I’m seeing. He’s incredible with the ball for a big guy — I mean, he’s a legit 6-8, 6-9. He handles the ball. He even like, when somebody scores, he runs back, gets the ball, and literally brings the ball up like a point guard. He’s unbelievable in pick-and-roll play. He did over-the-head, between-the-leg passes to cutters. I think the savviness that he brings, the court vision, is already unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I saw for a 19, 20-year-old. Unbelievable.”

On not wanting Doncic to feel pressure: “Obviously I don’t want to put too much pressure on him either. Coming over from a different country, I went through the same thing about 20 years ago. It’s tough to adjust to a lot of things, to living in a different country, another culture, to a different game, different coaching, different play style. For me, that took a full year. My first year was really, really tough. So we’re gonna do everything we can to help this kid develop and have fun and learn, so we can see the best Luka here in a year or a couple more years. But he is an incredible talent. His court vision and passing for his size at his age is something I’ve never seen in my 20 years.”

[burek3]

12 days to go...

[XTraderXL]

I’m less worried about his getting past someone. I’m more curious about him being a good shooter. He seems to have that potential. If he can become a 37%+ 3-FG shooter and make the defense play that, he’ll be special.

I don't know... it's still not too late to trade him for Young+2nd round pick and cut the losses.

Jokes?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

37% is pretty easy objective, maybe not first year, but he will be better shooter than that I expect in the future. I have no worries about his shot at all.

He is a much better shooter than his % suggest. The problem is his shot selection (too many stepbacks) and his physical fitness. If you look closely, his shooting from was much better at the beginning of the season when he was fresh and the % were higher. As the season went on, the shot was getting flatter and in the end he couldnt even hit FTs consistently anymore. He shot FTs over 90% for the first 15-20 games.

If/when he gets his body right the % will go up significantly. He will also be able to break down his defenders more often which also means less step back trees. Of course thats best case scenario. He could just as easily not be well prepared and his might be called a bust after 10 games.

I really dont know what to expect, I have mixed feelings about him...