Luka Dončić Discussion - Year 2

[Rn5ho]

Yeah, a more refined post game can be very helpful. His biggest weakness is when the long and tall defender is giving him some cushion to shoot but can close onto him and contest pretty quick. Those guys are not very fast, so the little fakes Luka does can't make them out of position. It's like you can't really pump fake Marc Gasol that often in the post b/c he's too slow to react... Luka needs to develop a better iso-game in the mid-post / FT-line area. Right now, his only money move is step-back 3, which is a highly volatile shot. He obviously needs more than that. An example is Paul Pierce.

I remember a fadeaway jumpshot (like Dirk) he made against the Lakers. It was perfect. Defender had no chance. Don't know why I remember this... Must be the childish look at the bench after he made it

It was against Lonzo Ball. Don't know whether he could do that against Ingram.

To be honest before coming to the end of this thread I already thought about mentioning the Dirk faceaway - I think he's long enough to be able to pull it off and the main thing about it is that you're protect space with your knee/foot anyway, which makes extra separation. I really hope he's secretly practicing this and waiting with it till he's more proficient to bring it out and become the ultimate heir to Dirk

[thr3ep01nte4]

I remember a fadeaway jumpshot (like Dirk) he made against the Lakers. It was perfect. Defender had no chance. Don't know why I remember this... Must be the childish look at the bench after he made it

It was against Lonzo Ball. Don't know whether he could do that against Ingram.

To be honest before coming to the end of this thread I already thought about mentioning the Dirk faceaway - I think he's long enough to be able to pull it off and the main thing about it is that you're protect space with your knee/foot anyway, which makes extra separation. I really hope he's secretly practicing this and waiting with it till he's more proficient to bring it out and become the ultimate heir to Dirk

I hope so. Luka and Dirk both have that uncanny balance you can't teach.

[Archx]

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[arkuo]

The best thing we could hope for is for Cuban to be able to build a good team around Doncic so he wouldn't leave during free agency. Not everybody is as loyal as Dirk.

[DJ_3_Ball]

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Someone has to explain these stats to me. Sorry, hopefully I'm not the only un-enlightened one, though. Lol...

Luka is shooting 42.9% FG this season, so how does his FG% jump to 52.9 with more possessions?

Unless, MacMahon had a typo... but then I'm curious if he got the rest of the stat line correct.

[Archx]

Someone has to explain these stats to me. Sorry, hopefully I'm not the only un-enlightened one, though. Lol...

Luka is shooting 42.9% FG this season, so how does his FG% jump to 52.9 with more possessions?

Unless, MacMahon had a typo... but then I'm curious if he got the rest of the stat line correct.

These are stats for the last 5 minutes of the game only when game is close. They say its "clutch" time. And he compared LBJ's rookie year with Doncic per 100 possessions, because apparently it is more fair that way. And clearly you can see that Luka is miles ahead of LBJ in efficiency when it comes to closing out the game. But that's not surprising since Luka is, statistically, ( i think ) nr1 player in the NBA when it comes to clutch time. That's why all veterans on Mavs team say that they prefer to give the ball to Luka in closing minutes, because he'll do something good with it.

[Pointguard01]

The best thing we could hope for is for Cuban to be able to build a good team around Doncic so he wouldn't leave during free agency. Not everybody is as loyal as Dirk.

Well, we have 8 seasons. It’s virtually a lock that he resigns when he is a RFA or he loses millions (no one takes a qualifying offer of 10-mill instead of 30-mill). Plus, he seems to like Dallas.

Bigger issue i see is that Dallas MGMT/Cuban and Co. doesn’t risk the long-term contender status to be just “good” right now.

Don’t trade 1st rounders
Don’t sign anyone to long-term deals
Don’t trade youngsters for players in/past their prime

Be patient, collect assets and build from within, while maintaining cap flexibility over the next 2-years.

[Rn5ho]

I'm 99.9% confident that Luka will build his own legacy in Dallas. He's a VERY loyal player and cares more about legacy/success/popularity/fans/team/city than the money. He's young so there's not much to base this off of, but so far that's 100% my impression of him and I'm following him closely since his 1st Real Madrid game (and before that as much as it was possible to find about him online). He is also elite competitor who doesn't like things the easy way. Just like he wasn't scared of the challenge with Slovenia last year, how he wasn't scared of taking on the pivotal role in Madrid after Llull went down and carried whole Madrid team on his own back at 18 years old, he will want to prove himself as THE man on Mavs team. I think he'd rather not win a ring than go leave the team to build a super team.

The only thing I think that will happen (could change, really depends on how his career at age 35 and onward will look like) is that he leaves NBA entirely to go play a season at Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) or Real Madrid. He once said that he'd like to finish his career in Belgrade and also he's really attached to Madrid. But this is something to "worry about" 15-20years down the line.

Imo, unless some weird stuff happens, he's Mav for life. And I'm really happy about that as Mavs were one of my favourite teams before Luka so it was really easy to become a true fan after Luka is there now.

[thr3ep01nte4]

Luka and AD are a match made in heaven.

[DJ_3_Ball]

Luka and AD are a match made in heaven.

It won't happen, but if I were AD, I'd play out my contract (go wherever they trade me to for a year like Kawhi is doing), and then I'd team up with Giannis in Milwaukee. I guess Luka could be, but I think over the next decade Giannis will add a jump shot and become the most dominant player in the NBA. The Eastern conference is weak. Kawhi will leave TOR. Kyrie's knees are weak & BOS is a collection of ill-fitting parts (although, they'd fit a lot better if AD joins the Celts lol), and Ben Simmons doesn't have a jumper and I'm not sure he ever will. Would be a cake walk to the Finals every year for a decade if Giannis & AD teamed up, just like LeBron enjoyed, and then role players would start to come to MIL of all places to chase their rings.

It won't happen, but that's what AD should do if he wants to win rings.

[Dirk]

That death stare at the bench. I... I liked it.

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

[Archx]

That death stare at the bench. I... I liked it.

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

For me this was the best shot of the night from him. He should incorporate this into his arsenal. Mid range game, he would be literally unstoppable.

[thr3ep01nte4]

t won't happen, but if I were AD, I'd play out my contract (go wherever they trade me to for a year like Kawhi is doing), and then I'd team up with Giannis in Milwaukee. I guess Luka could be, but I think over the next decade Giannis will add a jump shot and become the most dominant player in the NBA. The Eastern conference is weak. Kawhi will leave TOR. Kyrie's knees are weak & BOS is a collection of ill-fitting parts (although, they'd fit a lot better if AD joins the Celts lol), and Ben Simmons doesn't have a jumper and I'm not sure he ever will. Would be a cake walk to the Finals every year for a decade if Giannis & AD teamed up, just like LeBron enjoyed, and then role players would start to come to MIL of all places to chase their rings.

It won't happen, but that's what AD should do if he wants to win rings.

Right, agree that AD is not going to Milwaukee. Luka needs to work on that tampering and get AD to Dallas.

[arkuo]

t won't happen, but if I were AD, I'd play out my contract (go wherever they trade me to for a year like Kawhi is doing), and then I'd team up with Giannis in Milwaukee. I guess Luka could be, but I think over the next decade Giannis will add a jump shot and become the most dominant player in the NBA. The Eastern conference is weak. Kawhi will leave TOR. Kyrie's knees are weak & BOS is a collection of ill-fitting parts (although, they'd fit a lot better if AD joins the Celts lol), and Ben Simmons doesn't have a jumper and I'm not sure he ever will. Would be a cake walk to the Finals every year for a decade if Giannis & AD teamed up, just like LeBron enjoyed, and then role players would start to come to MIL of all places to chase their rings.

It won't happen, but that's what AD should do if he wants to win rings.

Right, agree that AD is not going to Milwaukee. Luka needs to work on that tampering and get AD to Dallas.

Barnes + DSJ + 2019 pick for AD. Make it happen!

[Drygon]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[J_T]

That death stare at the bench. I... I liked it.

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

For me this was the best shot of the night from him. He should incorporate this into his arsenal. Mid range game, he would be literally unstoppable.

It was a great shot but not one he should do often. He only did it because the time was running out. As a coach I would be benching players doing this too often when there is enough time left.

[Mr B]

The best thing we could hope for is for Cuban to be able to build a good team around Doncic so he wouldn't leave during free agency. Not everybody is as loyal as Dirk.

That’s what I worry about. Honestly Cuban should keep us nose out of it and let Donnie do his thing. They are going to be loaded with cap space the next two seasons but as we all know that doesn’t guarantee anything. If they are not able to draw in that “big fish” or two to play alongside Luka they better be exploring every possible trade. Losing Luka to FA would be worse than passing on Giannis.

[Mr B]

I'm 99.9% confident that Luka will build his own legacy in Dallas. He's a VERY loyal player and cares more about legacy/success/popularity/fans/team/city than the money. He's young so there's not much to base this off of, but so far that's 100% my impression of him and I'm following him closely since his 1st Real Madrid game (and before that as much as it was possible to find about him online). He is also elite competitor who doesn't like things the easy way. Just like he wasn't scared of the challenge with Slovenia last year, how he wasn't scared of taking on the pivotal role in Madrid after Llull went down and carried whole Madrid team on his own back at 18 years old, he will want to prove himself as THE man on Mavs team. I think he'd rather not win a ring than go leave the team to build a super team.

The only thing I think that will happen (could change, really depends on how his career at age 35 and onward will look like) is that he leaves NBA entirely to go play a season at Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) or Real Madrid. He once said that he'd like to finish his career in Belgrade and also he's really attached to Madrid. But this is something to "worry about" 15-20years down the line.

Imo, unless some weird stuff happens, he's Mav for life. And I'm really happy about that as Mavs were one of my favourite teams before Luka so it was really easy to become a true fan after Luka is there now.

The Mavs and us fans would be absolutely blessed to have another player as loyal as Dirk. I sure hope you’re right.

[Mr B]

Luka and AD are a match made in heaven.

It won't happen, but if I were AD, I'd play out my contract (go wherever they trade me to for a year like Kawhi is doing), and then I'd team up with Giannis in Milwaukee. I guess Luka could be, but I think over the next decade Giannis will add a jump shot and become the most dominant player in the NBA. The Eastern conference is weak. Kawhi will leave TOR. Kyrie's knees are weak & BOS is a collection of ill-fitting parts (although, they'd fit a lot better if AD joins the Celts lol), and Ben Simmons doesn't have a jumper and I'm not sure he ever will. Would be a cake walk to the Finals every year for a decade if Giannis & AD teamed up, just like LeBron enjoyed, and then role players would start to come to MIL of all places to chase their rings.

It won't happen, but that's what AD should do if he wants to win rings.

I’m wondering if the Mavs will make a run at Boogie in the off season. I absolutely expect them to make a run at Porzingis in 2020 when he’ll be a UFA. A front like of Boogie/KP/Luka would be pretty formidable.

[mabundo_nagumbe]

Luka and KP is my wet dream aswell