Lets admit the obvious: SGA is a better player than Luka

[Rubios]

And Luka has done things SGA has not been able to do, or not yet.

What things? It seems like the list of things SGA has been able to do that Luka hasn't is the longer list at this point.

We can think different and that's OK. Answer me this question, it's not a Socratical one but an actual question.

Current SGA is on the Mavs team that faced the Suns in '22. Do they make it to the WCF?
He put 45/12/8 in game 7. In Phoenix.

Current SGA is on the Mavs team that walked through Wolves in 5 in the past season WCF. Luka was playing on one leg but let's keep this aside because being healthy is a player's asset as is height, or size.
Do they get to the Finals?

[Patches Perry]

And Luka has done things SGA has not been able to do, or not yet.

What things? It seems like the list of things SGA has been able to do that Luka hasn't is the longer list at this point.

We can think different and that's OK. Answer me this question, it's not a Socratical one but an actual question.

Current SGA is on the Mavs team that faced the Suns in '22. Do they make it to the WCF?
He put 45/12/8 in game 7. In Phoenix.

Current SGA is on the Mavs team that walked through Wolves in 5 in the past season WCF. Luka was playing on one leg but let's keep this aside because being healthy is a player's asset as is height, or size.
Do they get to the Finals?

Maybe? I don't see how you could say what the outcome of SGA on Dallas would be either way without just assuming your own conclusion. It's not a useful hypothetical because people will just confidently state something that's totally unfalsifiable. With the way Boston was targeting Luka in the finals, I could easily say Dallas would have been better off with SGA to remove the defensive weak link while still providing efficient elite scoring and playmaking. Still, I wouldn't make that argument because it would just be assuming my own conclusion.

SGA made the WCF this season, and made the finals this season, so yes, SGA can get his teams to those levels. SGA has had crazy games too. 40/10/9 game in pivotal swing game 4 against Minnesota. He scored 93 points on 58 shots in games 5,6,7 against Denver. He also outplayed Luka head to head for a series a year ago, and he has improved since then.

I understand there is an intangible "magic" about Luka that fans like, and SGA is quiet, head-down, plays both ends and is not as smiley or outgoing on the court, but looking at impact, stats and accomplishments over the last 3 seasons, it's hard to find anything Luka can actually boast over SGA at this point.

[___Rand___]

This SGA season is better than any season Luka had yes, Luka has been better for much longer, but seems like SGA is peaking higher, but only time will tell, but your premise is false and the opposite of reality.
Twice in his career Luka has been on elite defenses, the 1st time was with personnel that had no business being elite, teams don't need to hide Luka on defense, he showed he can be part of great defense and contribute to it.

Come on man. A bit disappointing hearing this hogwash statement coming from a mod who is supposed to be a bit more knowledgeable about basketball. What you are saying is "any member of a team who played great defense is a good contributor to that defense regardless of their ability". Steph's been on more great defensive teams than Luka ever has. Steph has admitted publicly he isn't a good defensive player. I don't think Luka will ever claim to be a good defensive player. If you ever watched him, you can tell he makes no effort, nor has the instincts to defend.

SGA is by a million miles better on defense than Luka EVER HAS or EVER WILL. And he's just as good 1 on 1 or creating shots for himself or for others.

[Mavrelous]

This SGA season is better than any season Luka had yes, Luka has been better for much longer, but seems like SGA is peaking higher, but only time will tell, but your premise is false and the opposite of reality.
Twice in his career Luka has been on elite defenses, the 1st time was with personnel that had no business being elite, teams don't need to hide Luka on defense, he showed he can be part of great defense and contribute to it.

Come on man. A bit disappointing hearing this hogwash statement coming from a mod who is supposed to be a bit more knowledgeable about basketball. What you are saying is "any member of a team who played great defense is a good contributor to that defense regardless of their ability". Steph's been on more great defensive teams than Luka ever has. Steph has admitted publicly he isn't a good defensive player. I don't think Luka will ever claim to be a good defensive player. If you ever watched him, you can tell he makes no effort, nor has the instincts to defend.

SGA is by a million miles better on defense than Luka EVER HAS or EVER WILL. And he's just as good 1 on 1 or creating shots for himself or for others.

Sorry to disappoint but this rotatiom was 6th best defense in 2022
Powell/Kleber
DFS/
Luka/Dinwiddie
Bullock
Jalen Brunson/Dinwiddie

Point me to the defensive juggernauts that covered for Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie and Powell.

[og15]

Both the poll and the thread discussion seems to suggest they are the same level and people will take one or the other based on personal preference or bias as well as little minutia details.

[___Rand___]

This SGA season is better than any season Luka had yes, Luka has been better for much longer, but seems like SGA is peaking higher, but only time will tell, but your premise is false and the opposite of reality.
Twice in his career Luka has been on elite defenses, the 1st time was with personnel that had no business being elite, teams don't need to hide Luka on defense, he showed he can be part of great defense and contribute to it.

Come on man. A bit disappointing hearing this hogwash statement coming from a mod who is supposed to be a bit more knowledgeable about basketball. What you are saying is "any member of a team who played great defense is a good contributor to that defense regardless of their ability". Steph's been on more great defensive teams than Luka ever has. Steph has admitted publicly he isn't a good defensive player. I don't think Luka will ever claim to be a good defensive player. If you ever watched him, you can tell he makes no effort, nor has the instincts to defend.

SGA is by a million miles better on defense than Luka EVER HAS or EVER WILL. And he's just as good 1 on 1 or creating shots for himself or for others.

Sorry to disappoint but this rotatiom was 6th best defense in 2022
Powell/Kleber
DFS/
Luka/Dinwiddie
Bullock
Jalen Brunson/Dinwiddie

Point me to the defensive juggernauts that covered for Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie and Powell.

Warriors were #1 in team defense in 2015. Warriors have been a top defensive team for a very long time, not like Mavs. That doesn't make Steph a good or great defensive player. Again you prove to me nothing. You're either a pure stat freak who doesn't watch basketball, or so in love with Luka, or doesn't know basketball. Which are you? Don't make this the hill you die on, defending Luka's defensive prowess.

[durden_tyler]

Luka is an all-timer. SGA will be lucky to crack Top 50.


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[PierceFan4ever]

SGA is better and is the clear 2nd best player in the league to me imo.

[Mavrelous]

Come on man. A bit disappointing hearing this hogwash statement coming from a mod who is supposed to be a bit more knowledgeable about basketball. What you are saying is "any member of a team who played great defense is a good contributor to that defense regardless of their ability". Steph's been on more great defensive teams than Luka ever has. Steph has admitted publicly he isn't a good defensive player. I don't think Luka will ever claim to be a good defensive player. If you ever watched him, you can tell he makes no effort, nor has the instincts to defend.

SGA is by a million miles better on defense than Luka EVER HAS or EVER WILL. And he's just as good 1 on 1 or creating shots for himself or for others.

Sorry to disappoint but this rotatiom was 6th best defense in 2022
Powell/Kleber
DFS/
Luka/Dinwiddie
Bullock
Jalen Brunson/Dinwiddie

Point me to the defensive juggernauts that covered for Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie and Powell.

Warriors were #1 in team defense in 2015. Warriors have been a top defensive team for a very long time, not like Mavs. That doesn't make Steph a good or great defensive player. Again you prove to me nothing. You're either a pure stat freak who doesn't watch basketball, or so in love with Luka, or doesn't know basketball. Which are you? Don't make this the hill you die on, defending Luka's defensive prowess.

I can choose my hills myself very thank hou very much, and I have 0 interest in proving things to the convinced.
This is the premise I replied to

No team can hide Luka's inability to defend. Even Goatruso can't save him.

And I still stand by my comment.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Luka is an all-timer. SGA will be lucky to crack Top 50.


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You think Luka is a better player right now?

[mademan]

Luka is an all-timer. SGA will be lucky to crack Top 50.


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SGA will have a MVP and FMVP while being only a year older than Luka. He's also put up a better individual season this year than any year Luka ever has. I get that Luka was better to start basically being a star right out of the gate, but Shai has clearly (currently) peaked higher and will be more accomplished.

Im not seeing this gap, and its more likely at this point that OKC wins multiple titles with Shai grabbing those FMVP's boosting his career resume

[durden_tyler]

Luka is an all-timer. SGA will be lucky to crack Top 50.


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You think Luka is a better player right now?

Not this year. Career-wise, it’s going to be Luka over SGA no doubt.


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[greekman]

careerwise it will be sga and it's not close.

[Talbot44]

Forget Luka, Shai is working on the best non-Jordan guard season ever. It's really being under-appreciated because of a GOAT level peak playing in the league at the same time,

Eh, Curry 2016 was significantly better. In addition to unanimous MVP, dude somehow finished 4th in Most Improved Player the year after winning MVP. Led points, steals, FT%, win share, efficiency. And about half as many FTA as Shai.

[mademan]

Forget Luka, Shai is working on the best non-Jordan guard season ever. It's really being under-appreciated because of a GOAT level peak playing in the league at the same time,

Eh, Curry 2016 was significantly better. In addition to unanimous MVP, dude somehow finished 4th in Most Improved Player the year after winning MVP. Led points, steals, FT%, win share, efficiency. And about half as many FTA as Shai.

Curry 16 was certainly a better player, but its hard to ignore the finals collapse

[The Servant]

I feel like these threads come up as a jinx to force OKC to lose. Game 1 it was Chet and Hartenstein's flowers, game 3 it's SGA over Luka.

Stop it. Get some help.

[___Rand___]

Sorry to disappoint but this rotatiom was 6th best defense in 2022
Powell/Kleber
DFS/
Luka/Dinwiddie
Bullock
Jalen Brunson/Dinwiddie

Point me to the defensive juggernauts that covered for Luka, Brunson, Dinwiddie and Powell.

Warriors were #1 in team defense in 2015. Warriors have been a top defensive team for a very long time, not like Mavs. That doesn't make Steph a good or great defensive player. Again you prove to me nothing. You're either a pure stat freak who doesn't watch basketball, or so in love with Luka, or doesn't know basketball. Which are you? Don't make this the hill you die on, defending Luka's defensive prowess.

I can choose my hills myself very thank hou very much, and I have 0 interest in proving things to the convinced.
This is the premise I replied to

No team can hide Luka's inability to defend. Even Goatruso can't save him.

And I still stand by my comment.

[Optms]

Forget Luka, Shai is working on the best non-Jordan guard season ever. It's really being under-appreciated because of a GOAT level peak playing in the league at the same time,

Eh, Curry 2016 was significantly better. In addition to unanimous MVP, dude somehow finished 4th in Most Improved Player the year after winning MVP. Led points, steals, FT%, win share, efficiency. And about half as many FTA as Shai.

Curry 16 was certainly a better player, but its hard to ignore the finals collapse

In defense to Curry, that Cavs team mops the floor with this Thunder team. It took the greatest team ever assembled to stop Lebron.

[Optms]

Shai is the best player in the league if he wins the chip. The stats, team record, accolades and the chip would meet all criteria figures for his status. Luka would not even be in the conversation.

[mademan]

Shai is the best player in the league if he wins the chip. The stats, team record, accolades and the chip would meet all criteria figures for his status. Luka would not even be in the conversation.

I'd still have Jokic over him, but Shai would be a fine choice there too. Luka is part of the convo that starts at 4, after Shai/Jokic and then Giannis