Luka Doncic ('24 NBA Scoring Leader) & Kyrie Irving - 23-24 NBA Thread

Post #221 » by **Texas Chuck** » Sat May 25, 2024 3:36 am

Starting to think Doc is onto something. Maybe he can't ever be the best player in the RS, but man in the playoffs, even on a terrible knee and facing elite defenders and elite defensive teams....

TroubleS0me · Post #222 » by **TroubleS0me** » Sun May 26, 2024 1:13 am

Texas Chuck wrote:Starting to think Doc is onto something. Maybe he can't ever be the best player in the RS, but man in the playoffs, even on a terrible knee and facing elite defenders and elite defensive teams....

He's already there. The MVP could have went to him too. He's has been solid in the playoffs so far and he has been putting more effort on defense.
&
yes having Kyrie with him as another ball handler & Gafford & Lively shoot a high FG% is working well...

looks like another Finals appearance for Dallas....

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TroubleS0me · Post #223 » by **TroubleS0me** » Mon May 27, 2024 2:41 am

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Post #224 » by **tsherkin** » Mon May 27, 2024 1:10 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:Starting to think Doc is onto something. Maybe he can't ever be the best player in the RS, but man in the playoffs, even on a terrible knee and facing elite defenders and elite defensive teams....

I can't remember if it was SVG or Reggie or whomever, but they made a good point about Luka; once he gets ahead of his defender and gets them on his back, it's done. He's getting a good shot from the bottom of the circle, or taking that fadeaway, and you're just roasted. It was fun to watch. And of course, the lob connection is wild in Dallas.

I hope Lively is okay.

TroubleS0me · Post #225 » by **TroubleS0me** » Mon May 27, 2024 1:49 pm

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Post #226 » by **tsherkin** » Mon May 27, 2024 1:54 pm

Well that's good to hear, at least.

f4p · Post #227 » by **f4p** » Mon May 27, 2024 5:55 pm

Has there ever been a team like this Mavs team? They are a lower-seeded team making a run to the Finals, but neither of their 2 best offensive weapons are having an amazing playoffs. In fact, their stats are significantly below their regular season numbers, and yet they can't be beat. It would be interesting what they look like if guys like Jones and Washington experienced an extended slump from the 3 point line (they seem like they make every big one right now), but their defense is just so solid. I don't really want the Mavs to win, but given the choice between them and the Celtics, I'm definitely rooting for the Mavs.

Cavsfansince84 · Post #228 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Mon May 27, 2024 6:46 pm

TroubleS0me wrote:
He's already there. The MVP could have went to him too. He's has been solid in the playoffs so far and he has been putting more effort on defense.
&
yes having Kyrie with him as another ball handler & Gafford & Lively shoot a high FG% is working well...

looks like another Finals appearance for Dallas....

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Agreed that he's close enough there that if he just turns down the scoring a bit/turns up the efficiency and plays on a 57+ win team he'd be getting mvps and plenty of talk as the best rs player. I think Kyrie compliments him really well for the most part. We didn't know where Kyrie's mind would be at in Dal but I think he got on board almost right away with it being Luka's team and not trying to make it into his team. Which not only affects the on the court stuff but also the chemistry which has to work if a team is going to actually get anywhere. They just need a wing or two that can be more consistent from 3. Washington showed up in rd 2 but someone is going to need to do that again in the finals most likely. The def improvement is also a big thing as mentioned above. Instead of terrible they are now decent.

TroubleS0me · Post #229 » by **TroubleS0me** » Mon May 27, 2024 9:52 pm

tsherkin wrote:Well that's good to hear, at least.

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Post #230 » by **tsherkin** » Mon May 27, 2024 9:58 pm

TroubleS0me wrote:
tsherkin wrote:Well that's good to hear, at least.

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That is sensible. No sense risking his health in a series that is essentially already over.

dygaction · Post #231 » by **dygaction** » Tue May 28, 2024 5:40 pm

f4p wrote:Has there ever been a team like this Mavs team? They are a lower-seeded team making a run to the Finals, but neither of their 2 best offensive weapons are having an amazing playoffs. In fact, their stats are significantly below their regular season numbers, and yet they can't be beat. It would be interesting what they look like if guys like Jones and Washington experienced an extended slump from the 3 point line (they seem like they make every big one right now), but their defense is just so solid. I don't really want the Mavs to win, but given the choice between them and the Celtics, I'm definitely rooting for the Mavs.

Luka was seriously bothered by his knees earlier.
In his first 7 playoff games, he averaged 28.3/8.4/9.4a/1.1s, but at .40/.23/.79 shooting.
Since the pivotal game 5 vs OKC, in the past 5 games, he is averaging 31.6/8.6r/9.4a/2.0s at .50/.45/.88 shooting. Playing 42mpg with needed defense, this should be the best version of Luka as of now.

TroubleS0me · Post #232 » by **TroubleS0me** » Wed May 29, 2024 3:20 am

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Post #233 » by **tsherkin** » Wed May 29, 2024 3:39 am

TroubleS0me wrote:

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3/10 inside the arc wasn't really helping. 1/5 in the 4th REALLY didn't help.

TroubleS0me · Post #234 » by **TroubleS0me** » Wed May 29, 2024 7:10 pm

tsherkin wrote:
TroubleS0me wrote:

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3/10 inside the arc wasn't really helping. 1/5 in the 4th REALLY didn't help.

Yea he seem to lack energy and Kyrie struggled too. Had feeling they would lose game 4.

Post #235 » by **tsherkin** » Wed May 29, 2024 7:26 pm

TroubleS0me wrote:Yea he seem to lack energy and Kyrie struggled too. Had feeling they would lose game 4.

It's tough to go 4-0, especially when the games are close and contested, for sure.

TroubleS0me · Post #236 » by **TroubleS0me** » Fri May 31, 2024 1:53 am

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TroubleS0me · Post #237 » by **TroubleS0me** » Fri May 31, 2024 3:20 am

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frica · Post #238 » by **frica** » Fri May 31, 2024 11:52 am

Luka-Kyrie is like a modern Carmelo-Iverson.

dygaction · Post #239 » by **dygaction** » Fri May 31, 2024 4:57 pm

frica wrote:Luka-Kyrie is like a modern Carmelo-Iverson.

They want to portrait Luka-Kyrie combo would end up like Carmelo-Iverson, but Lukai turned out to be what people imagined what Carmelo-Iverson could have been.

dygaction · Post #240 » by **dygaction** » Fri May 31, 2024 5:01 pm

And he has more games to play, but to this point

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