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

[Johnny Bball]

There is one thing Luka was better at this season. Rebounding. SGA was arguably better in every other area.

[og15]

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.

Well, nothing anyone posts in a forum will affect the outcomes of the games, so we don't have to worry about that.

This thread was also created in May, so it doesn't line up

[AleksandarN]

There is one thing Luka was better at this season. Rebounding. SGA was arguably better in every other area.

Luka is also a better playmaker than SGA. But other than that it is sga

[Primedeion]

25 Shai smokes any version of Luka.

[Johnny Bball]

There is one thing Luka was better at this season. Rebounding. SGA was arguably better in every other area.

Luka is also a better playmaker than SGA. But other than that it is sga

But he wasn't. Not when you add turnovers into the discussion.

[1993Playoffs]

I think SGA is clearly better at this point

[AleksandarN]

There is one thing Luka was better at this season. Rebounding. SGA was arguably better in every other area.

Luka is also a better playmaker than SGA. But other than that it is sga

But he wasn't. Not when you add turnovers into the discussion.

Just because he had a better assist to turnover ratio doesn’t make him a better playmaker even this season.

[Johnny Bball]

Luka is also a better playmaker than SGA. But other than that it is sga

But he wasn't. Not when you add turnovers into the discussion.

Just because he had a better assist to turnover ratio doesn’t make him a better playmaker even this season.

Its not just the ratio, you even just subtract turnovers from assists and SGA is still better here. You can't give away the ball a bunch and call yourself a the best playmaker.

[Black Jack]

I get the stats probably say SGA is better and lack of discipline means Luka need to go on ozempic. And Lukas defense is ugly.

But I do still think peak Luka is a better player, his shot making is just next level.

[AleksandarN]

But he wasn't. Not when you add turnovers into the discussion.

Just because he had a better assist to turnover ratio doesn’t make him a better playmaker even this season.

It’s not just the ratio, you even just subtract turnovers from assists and SGA is still better here. You can't give away the ball a bunch and call yourself a the best playmaker.

Again if that was the case Tyrus Jones would be the second best playmaker in the league which he is not and no one will say that SGA is the better playmaker than Luka. SGA is better than Luka in the majority of skills playmaking is not one of them. Just for the record I voted for. SGA

[Archx]

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.

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.

Pacers are also shooting 50% in a direct 1v1 matchup vs SGA on 14 attempts. Not even this or last year playoffs Luka allowed that. But obviously no one will talk about it because it's not politically correct these days.

[Mirotic12]

In the 2023 FIBA World Cup and in the 2024 FIBA Olympics, SGA couldn't guard anyone. He was one of the worst defending guards in both tournaments.

So I'm not at all buying that he's a better defender than Luka.

[Mr. Perfect]

SGA had a better year than Luka, he's definitely not a better player though. I don't know how you can watch both players play and think SGA is better.

[___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.

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.

Pacers are also shooting 50% in a direct 1v1 matchup vs SGA on 14 attempts. Not even this or last year playoffs Luka allowed that. But obviously no one will talk about it because it's not politically correct these days.

Cherry picking stats. You watch both of them play and you say Luka is the better defender? Really? lol oh man. You have no credibility. zilch. Like I said, stat freaks cherry picking stats without watching basketball. NUMBERS are NOT BASKETBALL.

Here's a stat: in last year's playoffs, SGA had 10th best defensive rating amongst all starters. Luka your darling boy, was ranked 27th.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense?Season=2023-24&StarterBench=Starters&dir=A&sort=DEF_RATING

This year's playoffs, SGA is the 5th best defender amongst all starters.
Luka? 71st.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense?StarterBench=Starters&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Playoffs&TeamID=0

This is over-all individual defensive rating. So stats are saying, over-all, SGA is a million miles better than Luka. And people watching the game sees that on the court too.

[Archx]

Cherry picking stats. You watch both of them play and you say Luka is the better defender? Really? lol oh man. Like I said, stat freaks cherry picking stats without watching basketball. NUMBERS are NOT BASKETBALL.

Haha, this is EXACTLY the response i expected. Now suddenly the argument is "cherry picked stat" when last season it blew up like an atomic bomb.

But, to be fair, i never said Luka is a better defender than SGA. You argued with Mavrelous who watched every single game of his and you tried to tell him that he was wrong. In reality, no matter what, people will spin their narratives however they like and it's funny reading reactions when you use the exact same narrative in return.

[___Rand___]

Cherry picking stats. You watch both of them play and you say Luka is the better defender? Really? lol oh man. Like I said, stat freaks cherry picking stats without watching basketball. NUMBERS are NOT BASKETBALL.

Haha, this is EXACTLY the response i expected. Now suddenly the argument is "cherry picked stat" when last season it blew up like an atomic bomb.

But, to be fair, i never said Luka is a better defender than SGA. You argued with Mavrelous who watched every single game of his and you tried to tell him that he was wrong. In reality, no matter what, people will spin their narratives however they like and it's funny reading reactions when you use the exact same narrative in return.

It is cherry picking. Some random 1 off stat which MOST PEOPLE DO NOT USE when it comes to defining a player's defensive prowess. Your stat has very little legitimacy in the context of the over-all stat that says Luka is, just a pile of turd on the court when it comes to defending. Your stat is saying Luka is getting blown by less? He's a fat cone if you watch him. Look at him play then look at the stats. If you still somehow say THIS IS THE ONLY STAT that matters, then you have ZERO idea what defending is, or what basketball is. And you are not serious.

[Archx]

Cherry picking stats. You watch both of them play and you say Luka is the better defender? Really? lol oh man. Like I said, stat freaks cherry picking stats without watching basketball. NUMBERS are NOT BASKETBALL.

Haha, this is EXACTLY the response i expected. Now suddenly the argument is "cherry picked stat" when last season it blew up like an atomic bomb.

But, to be fair, i never said Luka is a better defender than SGA. You argued with Mavrelous who watched every single game of his and you tried to tell him that he was wrong. In reality, no matter what, people will spin their narratives however they like and it's funny reading reactions when you use the exact same narrative in return.

It is cherry picking. Some random 1 off stat which MOST PEOPLE DO NOT USE when it comes to defining a player's defensive prowess. Your stat has very little legitimacy in the context of the over-all stat that says Luka is, just a pile of turd on the court when it comes to defending. Your stat is saying Luka is getting blown by less? He's a fat cone if you watch him. Look at him play then look at the stats. If you still somehow say THIS IS THE ONLY STAT that matters, then you have ZERO idea what defending is, or what basketball is. And you are not serious.

You're way too emotional to have any serious discussion. I did say i never claimed Luka is a better defender than SGA, there is that. Mavrelous also tried to explain it to you in the nicest way, relative to his own team, he's absolutely not as horrible as you're trying to portray him to be. So i'll just leave it that.

[bbms]

There is one thing Luka was better at this season. Rebounding. SGA was arguably better in every other area.

i think luka is more creative for better and worse because it generates turnovers. but i'd take him to creat something out of nothing.

[therealbig3]

Cherry picking stats. You watch both of them play and you say Luka is the better defender? Really? lol oh man. Like I said, stat freaks cherry picking stats without watching basketball. NUMBERS are NOT BASKETBALL.

Haha, this is EXACTLY the response i expected. Now suddenly the argument is "cherry picked stat" when last season it blew up like an atomic bomb.

But, to be fair, i never said Luka is a better defender than SGA. You argued with Mavrelous who watched every single game of his and you tried to tell him that he was wrong. In reality, no matter what, people will spin their narratives however they like and it's funny reading reactions when you use the exact same narrative in return.

It is cherry picking. Some random 1 off stat which MOST PEOPLE DO NOT USE when it comes to defining a player's defensive prowess. Your stat has very little legitimacy in the context of the over-all stat that says Luka is, just a pile of turd on the court when it comes to defending. Your stat is saying Luka is getting blown by less? He's a fat cone if you watch him. Look at him play then look at the stats. If you still somehow say THIS IS THE ONLY STAT that matters, then you have ZERO idea what defending is, or what basketball is. And you are not serious.

Idk I think a guard not being able to stay in front of opposing players matters.

It’s also relevant because if Luka is going to be called a traffic cone, which implies he can’t move his feet, then what does that say about Shai who’s moving his feet worse?

And by eye test, I was actually surprised at how easy it was for Pacers players to get a step on Shai and get in the paint. Even Siakam was taking him off the dribble.

All this to say, I think he’s a good defender and better than Luka, he’s more active with his hands and is more of a shot blocker, but he’s also surrounded by MUCH better defenders that cover for him quite a bit. He’s like the 5th or 6th best defensive player on his own team.

There’s a lot of hyperbole you’re using regarding the difference is the point, even if Shai is better, and is the main reason I would also take him over Luka overall. But we’re not talking Amare Stoudemire vs Kevin Garnett here.

[___Rand___]

Haha, this is EXACTLY the response i expected. Now suddenly the argument is "cherry picked stat" when last season it blew up like an atomic bomb.

But, to be fair, i never said Luka is a better defender than SGA. You argued with Mavrelous who watched every single game of his and you tried to tell him that he was wrong. In reality, no matter what, people will spin their narratives however they like and it's funny reading reactions when you use the exact same narrative in return.

It is cherry picking. Some random 1 off stat which MOST PEOPLE DO NOT USE when it comes to defining a player's defensive prowess. Your stat has very little legitimacy in the context of the over-all stat that says Luka is, just a pile of turd on the court when it comes to defending. Your stat is saying Luka is getting blown by less? He's a fat cone if you watch him. Look at him play then look at the stats. If you still somehow say THIS IS THE ONLY STAT that matters, then you have ZERO idea what defending is, or what basketball is. And you are not serious.

You're way too emotional to have any serious discussion. I did say i never claimed Luka is a better defender than SGA, there is that. Mavrelous also tried to explain it to you in the nicest way, relative to his own team, he's absolutely not as horrible as you're trying to portray him to be. So i'll just leave it that.

LMAO. you're trying to wiggle out of your own defense of Luka's defensive prowess now after posting some cherry picked isolated defensive stat to defend Luka? Nice try but it's all out there for everyone to see. You're trying to take a position but saying you're not taking a position on this? That's WEAK man. Just weak!

What emotion? You're an irrational non-basketball fan. Just a Luka fan without any basketball sense.