RealGM

Shai is like clockwork. His performance is steady and predictable (in a positive sense) throughout the entire season.

Luka has slumps and hot streaks, but I think he’s capable of reaching levels (the series against the Suns in 2022, against the Wolves last year, 72 vs Atlanta, 60-21-10) that Shai -for now- can’t quite reach.
Or maybe SGA still has one more big leap in him, like the one he’s made over the past two seasons.

IMHO, PO Doncic is even more reliable when the ball is hot if healthy.
On the other hand, Shai is always ready to go.
So, for a whole post season, I can't tell who I'd got.

Doncic has a low ceiling because his defensive ceiling is a lot lower than Shai''s.
And Doncic is probably going to get even slower in the next 5 years... which would lower his defense.
And offensively I don't get the impression Doncic is evolving, as he seems set in his ways.

I think "ceiling" discussions need an age cutoff.

Also, Shai just won MVP, scoring title, and a championship. Not sure how you go up from there other than longevity. He's at the very top of NBA achievement right now.

Until Luka wins a championship, all comparisons to SGA need to be postponed.

SelfishPlayer wrote:Until Luka wins a championship, all comparisons to SGA need to be postponed.

I don't get the so-called "ring culture".
Sure, the whole point of the game is winning. But it's a team game.

Would OKC have won without Shai? Of course not.
Did Luka lead the Mavs to greater heights than anyone expected? Absolutely.

Luka is better. Imagine Shai trying to lead those Mavericks teams to the playoffs, let alone a finals appearance

SelfishPlayer wrote:Until Luka wins a championship, all comparisons to SGA need to be postponed.

It takes a great team to win a title. Sometimes great players don’t have that.

Luka will never peak higher than 25 Shai. 24 Shai is also better than any version of Luka.

Sure, I guess. SGA's offense is methodically consistent and his defense is obviously much better... in the regular season. SGA had a chance to solidify himself in the playoffs but I was pretty underwhelmed with his offensive performance and extremely underwhelmed by his defensive one.

Luka's higher ceiling so to speak I find preferable in a postseason setting and the substantial defensive disadvantage that would normally neutralize it, I simply didn't see evidence of in the playoffs.

Primedeion wrote:Luka will never peak higher than 25 Shai. 24 Shai is also better than any version of Luka.

I’m not arguing with you, honest question:
Do you think Shai could do what Luka did in Game 7 vs the Suns (in Phoenix) back in ’22?"

i dont know if its his playstyle or what it is honestly. Nothing about SGA blows me away besides his advanced stats. When i see him play i dont see anyhting special about him. He is just consistently really really good. tbf i have not watched OKC that much, so i understand my opinion is just my opinion and not a fact before anybody feels offended. But does he take over games like other superstars, like luka shown he can?

luka lately is really inconsistent and not healthy so its hard to argue for him, but everybody is on the same page... When luka is on he is just a really special player and somehow i have not seen that in SGA. So yea, i kinda would agree with the title at the moment.

does higher floor mean being a better lousy player?

as in it couldn't get any worse for sga is better than it couldn't get any worse for luka? i agree. i mean that's the whole point of athleticism = at least he can jump

luka has a higher ceiling because he's smarter. you never get less smart

Luka has a level of offensive fire power that shai won’t have until he develops a more consistent three. I’ve always thought that a good way to compare their differences is in a three games series both guys score 120 points. Luka goes for 30, 35 and 55. Shai goes for 40, 40 and 40.

Yeah I can see that argument.

I love Shai but I cannot see him dragging those pretty sub par Mavs teams to the finals. That first wcf team especially I thought i was legit not good and Luka has shown himself to be an amazing playoff riser before he’s even hit 30

Rubios wrote:

SelfishPlayer wrote:Until Luka wins a championship, all comparisons to SGA need to be postponed.

I don't get the so-called "ring culture".
Sure, the whole point of the game is winning. But it's a team game.

Would OKC have won without Shai? Of course not.
Did Luka lead the Mavs to greater heights than anyone expected? Absolutely.

because in that pantheon of goats, rings matter. you can questions rings if you like,,,,, if all you care about is if a player is ONLY good

but luka don't get the secret code if he has no ring

call it unfair.... but all the goats have a ring.
it's a catch-22, boss. "player X was great and deserves to stand next to the other goats... its just that he never won a ring". "well,,, he doesn't and that's why"

of course, to be clear, I'm using the word "goat" to draw the line because yes,,,it shouldn't matter to sub-goat players. we're talking about shai and luka? so hellz yes rings matter

I mean Luka started with the higher floor, and SGA caught and then surpassed him.

I’m not sure Luka has the higher ceiling, maybe on offense. But not overall as a player given injuries and defense

Also the only reason the Mavs beat the Thunder in the playoffs two years ago was the Mavs supporting cast, who were better than that of the Thunder. PJ in particular. Shai outplayed Luka in that series pretty handily.

Shai can defend. That's the difference.

I rated luka higher for a while but sga has really surpassed all my expectations . Hes officially surpassed and separated himself from luka last season. I never understood how he was able to put up that kind of statline for a guard that's not particularly big strong or super athletic. Super skilled and super crafty. To be able to sustain that level of efficiency and production for entirety of regular and postseason is impressive.

Disagree. SGA can turn it up higher on defense, Luka can turn it up higher on offense, but the defense gap is bigger.

MoneyTalks41890 wrote:I mean Luka started with the higher floor, and SGA caught and then surpassed him.

I’m not sure Luka has the higher ceiling, maybe on offense. But not overall as a player given injuries and defense

Also the only reason the Mavs beat the Thunder in the playoffs two years ago was the Mavs supporting cast, who were better than that of the Thunder. PJ in particular. Shai outplayed Luka in that series pretty handily.

This was last season (2024) and you guys were the 1 seed 57 games won