SGA vs Doncic

[iggymcfrack]

I've never seen a player drop 30+ a night as effortlessly as Luka. I know defense matters, but Jokic has shown that a once in a generation offensive talent is good enough to lead a team to a title. Now Dallas has a long way to go before surrounding Luka with a support cast like the one in Denver, and the Thunder has done a better job in that aspect.

SGA also drops 30+ effortlessly though and he does it more efficiently with less turnovers. Like even just on offense, they’re very, very close, and you could argue either guy. On defense, they’re not close at all. SGA’s an honest to god DPOY candidate and Luka’s average at best.

[Texas Chuck]

I've never seen a player drop 30+ a night as effortlessly as Luka. I know defense matters, but Jokic has shown that a once in a generation offensive talent is good enough to lead a team to a title. Now Dallas has a long way to go before surrounding Luka with a support cast like the one in Denver, and the Thunder has done a better job in that aspect.

SGA also drops 30+ effortlessly though and he does it more efficiently with less turnovers. Like even just on offense, they’re very, very close, and you could argue either guy. On defense, they’re not close at all. SGA’s an honest to god DPOY candidate and Luka’s average at best.

Haven't looked this year, but Luka has led the league (and by a fair margin) in both quantity and quality of looks for teammates for the past 3 seasons. I think Luka still has a pretty clear offensive edge when you look beyond simply their own scoring. And its not just number of assists. For instance last season Luka was part of 2 of the 3 most efficient PNR duos in the entire league(and this is a PNR league) and 3 of the top 5 volume 3 pt shooters with the most open or wide open attempts were Luka teammates. He really just makes offense so easy for everyone around him.

Now maybe this year SGA has closed that gap--haven't seen the numbers yet, but Luka has been doing that sort of thing since his 2nd year in the league.

I don't believe there really is a case for SGA offensively yet. Which is no knock on him. Jokic is a better offensive player. Maybe Steph. But Luka is absurd. Not being Luka level isn't any kind of knock on an offensive player.

[slick_watts]

luka is one of the best offensive engines ever. sga is a tough shot maker and can create efficient offense for himself any time he wants, but luka can create that for himself and his entire team too.

[Wargreymon]

Luka has so much gravitational pull on offense that it doesn't even matter if he sucks on D. I say Luka but not by much even though I love SGA's 2 way game. Now if SGA starts to hit 3s at a respectable clip on higher volume? Then I would easily pick SGA.

[nbafan38]

Luka could be better but I've seen more downside to him than to SGA.

[WestbrookGOATed]

SGA still can't shoot 3s which is a major flaw in his game. Give me Luka.

He's not a bad 3 point shooter at all. He just doesn't take alot of them.

[CobraCommander]

Depends on the day...last night it was SGA...putting up 40 in a win against Denver- Christmas it was Luka...

Luka shoots better from 3 but takes 10 3s a game...SGA 30 with what 3 a game ?

SGA 90% from ft and Luka mid 70s%...

SGA defense much much better - Luka 2 more points per game...

It’s preference - if you prefer a 2 way player that can lock up the other guy and give you 30 it’s SGA-

If you prefer a primary ball dominant offensive guy that has victory or defeat in his hands all game running the Show it’s Luka


It’s healthy Kawhi or baby MJ vs a baby harden - can’t go wrong either way

You really are Luka's biggest hater/secret fan I can't tell which

I love him but I’m objective -

IMO The greatest pure talent since Lebron but still not committed to defense or fitness necessary to be the best version of himself. Plus the arrogance fueled by minor success and the worse coach on earth limiting his need to make the changes needed to be the become that perfect player....


SGA may not have the raw talent but seems have enough talent work ethic to be great on both ends - These two could pick up after

Jokic and Giannis age out of the top spots

[Ruma85]

Depends on the day...last night it was SGA...putting up 40 in a win against Denver- Christmas it was Luka...

Luka shoots better from 3 but takes 10 3s a game...SGA 30 with what 3 a game ?

SGA 90% from ft and Luka mid 70s%...

SGA defense much much better - Luka 2 more points per game...

It’s preference - if you prefer a 2 way player that can lock up the other guy and give you 30 it’s SGA-

If you prefer a primary ball dominant offensive guy that has victory or defeat in his hands all game running the Show it’s Luka


It’s healthy Kawhi or baby MJ vs a baby harden - can’t go wrong either way

You really are Luka's biggest hater/secret fan I can't tell which

I love him but I’m objective -

IMO The greatest pure talent since Lebron but still not committed to defense or fitness necessary to be the best version of himself. Plus the arrogance fueled by minor success and the worse coach on earth limiting his need to make the changes needed to be the become that perfect player....


SGA may not have the raw talent but seems have enough talent work ethic to be great on both ends - These two could pick up after

Jokic and Giannis age out of the top spots

It’s a interesting question, I watched Luka play for Real Madrid at 16 and he’s talent was through the roof, I couldn’t pick Shai just based on no playoff success, Luka destroyed suns it was crazy to watch, I was sitting there laughing and shaking my head.

[CobraCommander]

You really are Luka's biggest hater/secret fan I can't tell which

I love him but I’m objective -

IMO The greatest pure talent since Lebron but still not committed to defense or fitness necessary to be the best version of himself. Plus the arrogance fueled by minor success and the worse coach on earth limiting his need to make the changes needed to be the become that perfect player....


SGA may not have the raw talent but seems have enough talent work ethic to be great on both ends - These two could pick up after

Jokic and Giannis age out of the top spots

It’s a interesting question, I watched Luka play for Real Madrid at 16 and he’s talent was through the roof, I couldn’t pick Shai just based on no playoff success, Luka destroyed suns it was crazy to watch, I was sitting there laughing and shaking my head.

What SGA did to a better Denver team was just as impressive-

The good news is we don’t have to decide who better...they both in the west and they will have to face each other-

I think the world of REALGM thinks it’s Luka by a landslide but based on recent mvp writers - they have SGA ahead of Luka on MVP ballots... so essentially two informed groups have these guys neck and neck....

Like Jokic and Giannis - Can’t go wrong either way -

I always pick the American in SGA

Spoiler:

I know Canadians hate when I say that

[Lalouie]

it takes more skill to do what luka does given he has less athleticism. this part of the equation ALWAYS has to be considered

QED

[CobraCommander]

it takes more skill to do what luka does given he has less athleticism. this part of the equation ALWAYS has to be considered

QED

No more BS than this take-

Luka gets credit for being “unathletic” but SGA doesn’t get even more credit for being less “talented” - I guess you gonna tell me Luka has a higher IQ next...

What if I told you that what Luka and Curry and Harden and Jokic and other players that don’t depend on running fast or jumping high know...there is more to basketball than jumping high and running fast- Plus Luka and all the other players are HUGE - if Luka was 5’8” do you think he would be as good...if not his body is part of his story too...

Plus if Luka got in better shape I guess he could be more athletic...don’t blame SGA for that

[Shaka_Zulu]

Offensively its little of an edge for Luka for the elite playmaking and true 3 level scoring. Defensively by far Shai.


But most importantly of all for me to suss who is better is what they do when the light shine brightest. And Luka tho not in a winning team for playoffs, has shown he has the true superstar ability to take over games and destroy, we seen few times. Clippers in bubble playoffs. Suns last season. The man is a complete menace when he sets his mind to it. Hollywood script all time great level take over habits.



Shai is absolutely insane over entire regular season, but the two times he I seen him in playoffs, it felt like the moment was too big for him and he shirked off a little, became inefficient and was foul baiting not playing confidently. So he needs a true alpha performance in playoffs to stake his claim in the superstar convo with the rest of them.


I dont mean win championship (not necessarily even win a series), Luka ain't close to that at all either, but just show in playoffs performance you are one of THE guys. Fullstop.


Like Ant Edwards is not in Shais calibre at all (yet), but even in losing playoff series he showed vs Grizzlies and Nuggets two seasons in a row he is an animal that rises to the occasion individually, and improved from his regular season production in playoff series.



I badly want to see something similar from Shai. Big fan of his game.


He needs to awaken his inner Jamal Murray.