ESPN on Luka's defense

[BigGargamel]

It is in ESPN's best interest to glaze the Lakers at any chance. There are multiple articles about this team on their page every day. The team being good again is the media's wet dream.

There's a reason the Mavericks sabotaged their team to get eyes back on the sport. It was for the greater good.

[CobraCommander]

People watch stats and don’t watch games so they think he was good last finals-

Luka was horrible on defense against the Celtics -

Luka was either hurt or demoralized when they played the Celtics -

Luka IS and can be good on defense when he LOCKED in on defense - if he got in shape he will be a great defender cause he has all the tools - size quickness and strength - plus he appears to have a decent basketball iq… so why not?

The problem is- last playoff Luka was definitely hurt and is definitely still hurt - and hasn’t been in prime shape for over a year and his numbers on both sides/

I think when Luka locks in gets healthy - we will find out how good he is on defense -

This sort of response is the response that gets me every time with Luka - hes ALWAYS hurt. He plays through it to his credit. But what you see is what you get right now. He's not going to magically turn back the clock to 2020 bubble Luka as far as the shape he was in

What you get is 5x in a row first All Nba team, the best scorer of Nba and Finalist last year. I would say that's pretty good. Someone obviously saw a player, who should be traded in mid season in the middle of the night.

This year sga is the best scorer in the nba and the year Luka won the scoring title Embiid was the best scorer till he got hurt - Love Luka but don’t lie about Luka - it’s weird behavior -

Luka defense is better when he is in shape and not hurt - but in Feb Luka shot 22% from 3 - in March it’s back in the 30s. - Luka hasn’t been himself - and if Luka gonna avg 30 on bad defense while Tatum and Sga and Giannis avg the same or more on better defense, then Luka is the least of these guys no matter how bad yall love him

And I still think Luka hurt - if not he hasn’t improved at all over the last 4 years and has regressed from last year

[Mavrelous]

Luka is 6'7" wide shoulders and massive torso who isn't very athletic in NBA standards, he is exactly the type of guy to target on an island, the problem becomes worse late in games when he gets tired, or when he's injured, despite that:
In 2022, Luka was able to be part of a top 6 defense while playing next to another problematic defender in Brunson and w/o any rim protectors or player above generous 6'10" in the rotation and took the team to the WCF.
In 2024, Luka was able to be part of an elite defense that went to the finals, held the Celtics to their worst offensive rating in the PO with a healthy margin, but couldn't score, and he was the team's best offensive player.
In both cases the team defensive rating was better with him on the floor than him off of it.

[Lalouie]

ESPN never passes up a chance to stroke LAL.

that's hard to believe

[Johnny Firpo]

It's really simple if you break it down. Luka (as well as Jokic) is terrible at a certain portion of defense, which is staying in front of an opponent (and Jokic is also a bad rim protector). Due to their slow feet, sometimes they get beaten to a degree that results in wide open lanes and dunks, and then everybody sees that and freaks out, and especially their haters, pretty much ignore everything else. I mean, who cares if they are great defensive rebounders, big and strong, and have excellent hands? Sure those things don't matter, if they are slow for their position. I mean, every possession is a blow by in the NBA, right? That's why clearly you cannot build winning teams around them (obviously being sarcastic here).

So they are terrible, and they really are, at a certain portion of defense. And yet they are, most of the time, net positive defenders according to most stats. How can this happen? The only conclusion is that "staying in front of your man" and having 'quick feet" are not nearly as important as it was in the 90's ISO era. Some of you see their flat-footedness, and think, well, that just means they cannot be net positive because they get beaten with the first step. Like the possession ends there, and like there aren't 100+ possessions in a game. I'm sure you know that though. So obviously, the only explanation for ignoring that and the pretty clear picture that impact stats paint, is that you don't like the guy. Which is okay I guess, but the "watch the games" nonsense still remains nonsense. Everybody watches the games, but when you watch it with a pre-conceived notion that is based on your emotions, that's never gonna be a good result (and yes, hate will actually cloud your opinion more than liking and being a fan of the guy, clearly).

[dirkdiggler4177]

The twitter video was a fun watch. But that account looks like the ultimate celtics homer page. If Luka was truly as bad as that video showed, OKC should've hunted for that mismatch in last years playoffs and feasted on him.

I've noticed even players with a bad rep for defense, in the playoffs where everyone is dialed in completely, most of the time they become at least pass-able.

Watch on YouTube

highlight videos are just fun. video doesnt show me luka is a bad defender.

yeah he scorerd 24 in game1. heres mcdaniels next 4 games, where the wolves lost the series 1-4: 2 points, 15 points, 10 points, 8 points.

i watched every single play. luka 1on1, let his defender drive by into paint, he gambled for a reach in steal failed leading to easy bucket. another 1on1 on the right wing, guard blows past luka into paint, doesnt score but collapses the defense. so thats two plays with blow bys.

yes hes in all the clips, but sometimes its ant driving, luka is weak side defender, 1on2, guarding both the corner 3 and the wing 3. its not lukas fault at that point, they already generated an open look at soon as ant drove into the paint. only a really elite team defense can scramble and rotate correctly to salvage the play.

Yes, not the whole clip is Luka playing bad defense. He is an excellent help defender and reads the offense very well when he plays defense. His problem is that he can't explode and recover quickly enough, so he usually lets his man be too open or get past him.

Like here is to close and the offensive player gets past him:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/518/409ec98a-ba77-ac01-9bdb-0cbf2fb8ac88_1280x720.mp4

He also uses defense to recover a lot and zone out. Like I don't have a big problem with it, but this play is made because Luka doesn't pay attention and is not fast enough to follow his man:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/329/7beae24e-4804-3828-2bf8-2849bac5a1e1_1280x720.mp4

He is also much more engaged later in games, like here for example:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/568/f6ec78ad-af2c-9ba8-d817-5fe12fda2ce8_1280x720.mp4

Here you see Kyrie being able to recover quickly and gives his all:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/10/19997fea-6631-33b4-8389-03dfaf1333af_1280x720.mp4

He is also able to recover and move with his drive:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/107/158c5dea-2114-ce69-7793-a19ea3ca6afc_1280x720.mp4

You might think I am nitpicking here, but I looked at all the plays of Lue Dort, and time and time again Luka plays lazy, but he does play great help defense. You could argue that Gafford needs to switch earlier here, but this play happens because Luka is just too lazy to follow Dort.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/23/6a51f6d0-ba46-0f71-6039-ab180d8e56f4_1280x720.mp4

Here he explodes, but unlike a good defender can't recover because he uses all his force to explode:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/59/2488d968-7dd5-3b09-069f-9c311fa69ab2_1280x720.mp4

Here they double and switch, but when Jones switches back again Luka does not recover quickly enough and Dort is open:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/187/d48f3586-5e2d-1bdc-9c9c-56730ad06edd_1280x720.mp4

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/209/c458d898-7755-3978-cf60-a6d5428a37b4_1280x720.mp4


This was just a good shot, nothing Luka could have done:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/446/ea9cff0d-17a1-029c-8d00-ebae6d230b4a_1280x720.mp4

Here he loses his man for a tiny moment, is able to recover has a quick reaction time, and doesn't bite the fake. Best defense so far:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/504/70417a3e-8c5f-47f5-1d5f-b256995efba9_1280x720.mp4



I don't think Luka is a bad defender the way people make it out to be, but he does not just have the tools or the stamina. He runs the second-best offense in the league, you can't expect him to be great on defense. I gave Harden a pass during the Rockets days. Like he was doing 36 a game and people was raging because of his defense.

[ITYSL]

Spoiler:

Yes, not the whole clip is Luka playing bad defense. He is an excellent help defender and reads the offense very well when he plays defense. His problem is that he can't explode and recover quickly enough, so he usually lets his man be too open or get past him.

Like here is to close and the offensive player gets past him:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/518/409ec98a-ba77-ac01-9bdb-0cbf2fb8ac88_1280x720.mp4

He also uses defense to recover a lot and zone out. Like I don't have a big problem with it, but this play is made because Luka doesn't pay attention and is not fast enough to follow his man:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/329/7beae24e-4804-3828-2bf8-2849bac5a1e1_1280x720.mp4

He is also much more engaged later in games, like here for example:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/568/f6ec78ad-af2c-9ba8-d817-5fe12fda2ce8_1280x720.mp4

Here you see Kyrie being able to recover quickly and gives his all:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/10/19997fea-6631-33b4-8389-03dfaf1333af_1280x720.mp4

He is also able to recover and move with his drive:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/107/158c5dea-2114-ce69-7793-a19ea3ca6afc_1280x720.mp4

You might think I am nitpicking here, but I looked at all the plays of Lue Dort, and time and time again Luka plays lazy, but he does play great help defense. You could argue that Gafford needs to switch earlier here, but this play happens because Luka is just too lazy to follow Dort.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/23/6a51f6d0-ba46-0f71-6039-ab180d8e56f4_1280x720.mp4

Here he explodes, but unlike a good defender can't recover because he uses all his force to explode:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/59/2488d968-7dd5-3b09-069f-9c311fa69ab2_1280x720.mp4

Here they double and switch, but when Jones switches back again Luka does not recover quickly enough and Dort is open:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/187/d48f3586-5e2d-1bdc-9c9c-56730ad06edd_1280x720.mp4

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/209/c458d898-7755-3978-cf60-a6d5428a37b4_1280x720.mp4


This was just a good shot, nothing Luka could have done:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/446/ea9cff0d-17a1-029c-8d00-ebae6d230b4a_1280x720.mp4

Here he loses his man for a tiny moment, is able to recover has a quick reaction time, and doesn't bite the fake. Best defense so far:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/504/70417a3e-8c5f-47f5-1d5f-b256995efba9_1280x720.mp4

I don't think Luka is a bad defender the way people make it out to be, but he does not just have the tools or the stamina. He runs the second-best offense in the league, you can't expect him to be great on defense. I gave Harden a pass during the Rockets days. Like he was doing 36 a game and people was raging because of his defense.

Great breakdown and I agree. Luka probably gets more **** than he should for his defense (I'm guilty of it). But he's a generational player on the other side of the ball. There's no need to pretend that he's a good defender.

[Johnny Firpo]

Spoiler:

Yes, not the whole clip is Luka playing bad defense. He is an excellent help defender and reads the offense very well when he plays defense. His problem is that he can't explode and recover quickly enough, so he usually lets his man be too open or get past him.

Like here is to close and the offensive player gets past him:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/518/409ec98a-ba77-ac01-9bdb-0cbf2fb8ac88_1280x720.mp4

He also uses defense to recover a lot and zone out. Like I don't have a big problem with it, but this play is made because Luka doesn't pay attention and is not fast enough to follow his man:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/329/7beae24e-4804-3828-2bf8-2849bac5a1e1_1280x720.mp4

He is also much more engaged later in games, like here for example:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/568/f6ec78ad-af2c-9ba8-d817-5fe12fda2ce8_1280x720.mp4

Here you see Kyrie being able to recover quickly and gives his all:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/10/19997fea-6631-33b4-8389-03dfaf1333af_1280x720.mp4

He is also able to recover and move with his drive:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/107/158c5dea-2114-ce69-7793-a19ea3ca6afc_1280x720.mp4

You might think I am nitpicking here, but I looked at all the plays of Lue Dort, and time and time again Luka plays lazy, but he does play great help defense. You could argue that Gafford needs to switch earlier here, but this play happens because Luka is just too lazy to follow Dort.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/23/6a51f6d0-ba46-0f71-6039-ab180d8e56f4_1280x720.mp4

Here he explodes, but unlike a good defender can't recover because he uses all his force to explode:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/59/2488d968-7dd5-3b09-069f-9c311fa69ab2_1280x720.mp4

Here they double and switch, but when Jones switches back again Luka does not recover quickly enough and Dort is open:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/187/d48f3586-5e2d-1bdc-9c9c-56730ad06edd_1280x720.mp4

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/209/c458d898-7755-3978-cf60-a6d5428a37b4_1280x720.mp4


This was just a good shot, nothing Luka could have done:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/446/ea9cff0d-17a1-029c-8d00-ebae6d230b4a_1280x720.mp4

Here he loses his man for a tiny moment, is able to recover has a quick reaction time, and doesn't bite the fake. Best defense so far:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/504/70417a3e-8c5f-47f5-1d5f-b256995efba9_1280x720.mp4

I don't think Luka is a bad defender the way people make it out to be, but he does not just have the tools or the stamina. He runs the second-best offense in the league, you can't expect him to be great on defense. I gave Harden a pass during the Rockets days. Like he was doing 36 a game and people was raging because of his defense.

Great breakdown and I agree. Luka probably gets more **** than he should for his defense (I'm guilty of it). But he's a generational player on the other side of the ball. There's no need to pretend that he's a good defender.

But no need to insist that he is terrible either, when he clearly isn't, and there are definitely more people who pretend/wants to say he is a terrible defender than fans of his who say he is elite.

[the_process]

ESPN never passes up a chance to stroke LAL.

They were so excited when that "trade" happened.

[the_process]

Duplicate post.

[HotRocks34]

Luka again had one of the better LAL DRTG figures (individual and team) last night in the win against Denver. Let's go through some of his stops.


1. Close out to Porter left side three point attempt. Miss.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=64&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=MISS

2. LA misses a jumper. Watson rebound for DEN. Luka steals the ball.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=68&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Doncic

3. Westbrook drives to the rim. Luka chest bumps him. Westbrook misses layup.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=110&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=MISS

4. Nnaji drives past Luka to the hoop. Luka recovers and knocks the ball out of Nnaji's hand and it hits Nnaji in the leg and goes out of bounds.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=159&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Doncic

5. Westbrook drives against Luka and puts a shoulder in his chest. Luka tries to draw a charge. Westbrook misses layup.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=346&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=MISS

6. Gordon tries to pass the ball inside. Luka steal.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=384&GameID=0022401006&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Doncic

[Accurim]

Watch on YouTube

highlight videos are just fun. video doesnt show me luka is a bad defender.

yeah he scorerd 24 in game1. heres mcdaniels next 4 games, where the wolves lost the series 1-4: 2 points, 15 points, 10 points, 8 points.

i watched every single play. luka 1on1, let his defender drive by into paint, he gambled for a reach in steal failed leading to easy bucket. another 1on1 on the right wing, guard blows past luka into paint, doesnt score but collapses the defense. so thats two plays with blow bys.

yes hes in all the clips, but sometimes its ant driving, luka is weak side defender, 1on2, guarding both the corner 3 and the wing 3. its not lukas fault at that point, they already generated an open look at soon as ant drove into the paint. only a really elite team defense can scramble and rotate correctly to salvage the play.

Yes, not the whole clip is Luka playing bad defense. He is an excellent help defender and reads the offense very well when he plays defense. His problem is that he can't explode and recover quickly enough, so he usually lets his man be too open or get past him.

Like here is to close and the offensive player gets past him:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/518/409ec98a-ba77-ac01-9bdb-0cbf2fb8ac88_1280x720.mp4

He also uses defense to recover a lot and zone out. Like I don't have a big problem with it, but this play is made because Luka doesn't pay attention and is not fast enough to follow his man:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/329/7beae24e-4804-3828-2bf8-2849bac5a1e1_1280x720.mp4

He is also much more engaged later in games, like here for example:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/22/0042300311/568/f6ec78ad-af2c-9ba8-d817-5fe12fda2ce8_1280x720.mp4

Here you see Kyrie being able to recover quickly and gives his all:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/10/19997fea-6631-33b4-8389-03dfaf1333af_1280x720.mp4

He is also able to recover and move with his drive:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/09/0042300222/107/158c5dea-2114-ce69-7793-a19ea3ca6afc_1280x720.mp4

You might think I am nitpicking here, but I looked at all the plays of Lue Dort, and time and time again Luka plays lazy, but he does play great help defense. You could argue that Gafford needs to switch earlier here, but this play happens because Luka is just too lazy to follow Dort.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/23/6a51f6d0-ba46-0f71-6039-ab180d8e56f4_1280x720.mp4

Here he explodes, but unlike a good defender can't recover because he uses all his force to explode:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/59/2488d968-7dd5-3b09-069f-9c311fa69ab2_1280x720.mp4

Here they double and switch, but when Jones switches back again Luka does not recover quickly enough and Dort is open:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/187/d48f3586-5e2d-1bdc-9c9c-56730ad06edd_1280x720.mp4

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/209/c458d898-7755-3978-cf60-a6d5428a37b4_1280x720.mp4


This was just a good shot, nothing Luka could have done:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/446/ea9cff0d-17a1-029c-8d00-ebae6d230b4a_1280x720.mp4

Here he loses his man for a tiny moment, is able to recover has a quick reaction time, and doesn't bite the fake. Best defense so far:
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2024/05/11/0042300223/504/70417a3e-8c5f-47f5-1d5f-b256995efba9_1280x720.mp4



I don't think Luka is a bad defender the way people make it out to be, but he does not just have the tools or the stamina. He runs the second-best offense in the league, you can't expect him to be great on defense. I gave Harden a pass during the Rockets days. Like he was doing 36 a game and people was raging because of his defense.

good breakdown. we agree then, hes not a great defender, but hes not horrendously bad either.

its clear as day hes not DPOY material or all-defensive team material, like a marcus smart, lou dort, prime kawhi, og anunoby, etc.

i just have issue with critiques of him like hes complete garbage and isnt in the running for potential future champion because of his defense/shape. but i get it, most media/fans are into athleticism and run/jumping ability, so hes an easy target.

[HotRocks34]

During the Lakers-Nuggets game last night, ESPN took time to discuss Luka's defense and Redick's opinion of Luka's defense.






Similar thoughts to my own -- Luka has the mind and the instincts to defend well, he's just not always focused on doing that. But when he wants to do it, he's capable.

He'll always have certain athletic limits but hopefully Redick can encourage him to further hone his defensive skills. Also hopefully the Lakers won't overburden Luka on offense so that he has enough energy left over for the other side of the ball.

[dantas]

When Luka is focused and in good physical condition, he can be an average to good defender, nothing special.

In Dallas, he seemed to be in a comfort zone, in Los Angeles he's more focused in that respect, but we need to see if that's something consistent in the long term or if he'll relax again soon.

[Kobeskillz]

Watching Luka more now that he's on the Lakers i'm impressed by how he can play defense but also worried about how slow he looks now at 26 compared to his early 20s. He looks like how i would think he would look around 30-35.

So when he does get into his 30's he might be way way slower which worries me.

He used to blow by defenders. Now he herky jerks his way barely pass them. It's all pace now not speed.

[JRoy]

ESPN never passes up a chance to stroke LAL.

that's hard to believe

Only for LAL fans.

[Lalouie]

ESPN never passes up a chance to stroke LAL.

that's hard to believe

Only for LAL fans.

ll

let me be clear,,,i'm no lal fan

you're just jumping to a conclusion because of my avatar. i'm a player fan not a team fan

[JRoy]

that's hard to believe

Only for LAL fans.

ll

let me be clear,,,i'm no lal fan

you're just jumping to a conclusion because of my avatar. i'm a player fan not a team fan

Why do you think I was talking about you?

[HotRocks34]

Luka hater Tim MacMahon says that Luka can be a good defender, as he was for Dallas late last year.

[Dr Aki]

edit