All Things Luka Doncic

[reanimator]

Yes, I doubt a big gets drafted over him in todays positionless NBA. Porter obviously has a chance claiming #1.

What makes you think Doncic is multi-positional? I personally don't buy the guard talk and his best chance of being a star is as a small ball 4. Don't see any team turning down any of the bigs because of versatility.

[Thespianoid]

Yes, I doubt a big gets drafted over him in todays positionless NBA. Porter obviously has a chance claiming #1.

What makes you think Doncic is multi-positional? I personally don't buy the guard talk and his best chance of being a star is as a small ball 4. Don't see any team turning down any of the bigs because of versatility.

He's a big wing, which is the smallball 4. Guys of his archetype are guards offensively (PnR usage) with added big stuff (post mismatch + passing). Defensively they guard wings/shift to small bigs/contain guards in PnR action, so I'm not sure how that isn't multi-positional. Unless you think that he's never going to be able to guard wings.

[burek3]

Slovenia NT is playing friendly match today vs Hungary NT.

Goran Dragic also joined the team Aug 1st. Will be interesting to see how Doncic fares in this combination.

[GimmeDat]

Slovenia NT is playing friendly match today vs Hungary NT.

Goran Dragic also joined the team Aug 1st. Will be interesting to see how Doncic fares in this combination.

Slovenia were a capable internation threat in the last olympics, will be interesting to see how they are with Doncic. Just noticed when I checked that Anthony Randolph is playing for them as well.

[UcanUwill]

Slovenia NT is playing friendly match today vs Hungary NT.

Goran Dragic also joined the team Aug 1st. Will be interesting to see how Doncic fares in this combination.

Slovenia were a capable internation threat in the last olympics, will be interesting to see how they are with Doncic. Just noticed when I checked that Anthony Randolph is playing for them as well.

I dont think they ever were in Olympics, do they?

[Juree93]

Slovenia NT is playing friendly match today vs Hungary NT.

Goran Dragic also joined the team Aug 1st. Will be interesting to see how Doncic fares in this combination.

Slovenia were a capable internation threat in the last olympics, will be interesting to see how they are with Doncic. Just noticed when I checked that Anthony Randolph is playing for them as well.

I dont think they ever were in Olympics, do they?

we werent. but back in 2014 we were pretty good in World Cup (atleast in group stage)...

[GimmeDat]

Slovenia were a capable internation threat in the last olympics, will be interesting to see how they are with Doncic. Just noticed when I checked that Anthony Randolph is playing for them as well.

I dont think they ever were in Olympics, do they?

we werent. but back in 2014 we were pretty good in World Cup (atleast in group stage)...

Sorry, that's what I was referring to!

[XTraderXL]

Ahh, Slovenia has an average team. There are 2 really good players in Dragic and Randolph, Doncic is a stud but too young to be a dominant player in the playoff rounds (I hope I am wrong about this) and the rest of the players are sub par. Especially the bench is terrible and the top players will have to play 33+ minutes in the later stages to get anything done. As LeBron would say, we are top heavy as ****)))

[reanimator]

Yes, I doubt a big gets drafted over him in todays positionless NBA. Porter obviously has a chance claiming #1.

What makes you think Doncic is multi-positional? I personally don't buy the guard talk and his best chance of being a star is as a small ball 4. Don't see any team turning down any of the bigs because of versatility.

He's a big wing, which is the smallball 4. Guys of his archetype are guards offensively (PnR usage) with added big stuff (post mismatch + passing). Defensively they guard wings/shift to small bigs/contain guards in PnR action, so I'm not sure how that isn't multi-positional. Unless you think that he's never going to be able to guard wings.

Doncic is never playing guard and defense will never be a strength. PnR + passing out of post ups does not make one multi positional.

Being able to operate from multiple areas on the floor on offense isn't the same as being able to guard multiple types of players (multi-positional). Doncic is versatile on offense but I'd be surprised if he can slide up and down a lineup....which is valuable because it allows GMs/coaches tons of flexibility in who they sign and play.

[burek3]

Slovenia wins 84:64
The guy is sublime. A whole another dimension from the rest of the team. No official stats posted yet. He scored 18, s-load of rebounds and passes, lots of passes ruined by incompetent teammates.

Dragic didn't play much, coach wanted to see other candidates for the team.

[Thespianoid]

Doncic is never playing guard and defense will never be a strength. PnR + passing out of post ups does not make one multi positional.

How is Doncic never going to play guard? Plenty of non-smalls already initiate possessions and run PnR as the ballhandler. That's all that entails being a guard on offense. Defense will never be a strength, I definitely agree, but it's not going to be liability level bad.

On offense, being able to operate from multiple areas on the floor absolutely makes a player multi-positional.

Guard (PnR)
Wing (Spot Up + Attack Closeout)
Big (Post Mismatch + Roll)

Being multi-positional isn't incredibly significant a label though as pretty much every player is a mix of those traits. But I would argue that versatility on offense at a certain size makes a player an easy fit to shift up or down in lineup combinations.

Being able to operate from multiple areas on the floor on offense isn't the same as being able to guard multiple types of players (multi-positional). Doncic is versatile on offense but I'd be surprised if he can slide up and down a lineup....which is valuable because it allows GMs/coaches tons of flexibility in who they sign and play.

I'm confused about what you're saying here, because it essentially read like "offense isn't defense"? Multi-positional offensively != multi-positional defensively, I agree.

We're likely gonna disagree about Doncic not being able to guard multiple types of players. Gonna be guarding wings (small to big) and shifting up to small bigs eventually. Even if it's just maybe 1.5 positions, there's enough flexibility there.

[Mirotic12]

What makes you think Doncic is multi-positional? I personally don't buy the guard talk and his best chance of being a star is as a small ball 4. Don't see any team turning down any of the bigs because of versatility.

There is nothing about his physical tools, nor his skill set, that would make him a small ball 4.

[reanimator]

I'll be concise. You are what you guard @Thespianoid.

Running PnR doesn't mean two guards won't have to be out on the floor with Doncic. There is no literal shifting of any of the positions, just the skillsets perhaps of the kinds of guards you're allowed to put out on the floor.

Being versatile defensively offers way more flexibility IMO than offensive versatility in terms of line-ups. If Doncic could guard 1-4, for example, then you can get way more creative with your roster both in terms of positional talent and skillsets.

I take it you're a fan of Ben Simmons at PG then? Not assuming the primary handler role but literally slotting in at PG?

[Thespianoid]

I'll be concise. You are what you guard @Thespianoid.

Running PnR doesn't mean two guards won't have to be out on the floor with Doncic. There is no literally shifting of any of the positions, just the skillsets perhaps of the kinds of guards you're allowed to put out on the floor.

Being versatile defensively offers way more flexibility IMO than offensive versatility in terms of line-ups.

I take it you're a fan of Ben Simmons at PG then? Not assuming the primary handler role but literally slotting in at PG?

That's very true. you are what you guard.

I view Simmons similarly as primary handler on offense but even less flexibility defensively because he can only guard 4's. Doncic can at least guard wings. So while there will likely need to be two guards on the floor with, there's the flexibility to go to 3 guards + Doncic.

[reanimator]

What makes you think Doncic is multi-positional? I personally don't buy the guard talk and his best chance of being a star is as a small ball 4. Don't see any team turning down any of the bigs because of versatility.

There is nothing about his physical tools, nor his skill set, that would make him a small ball 4.

Admittedly, I am expecting him to continue to develop the flashes of game he has shown out of the post.

Somewhere between 6'7-9 probably be 230-240 in his prime with plus vision and some footwork then why not?

I'll be concise. You are what you guard @Thespianoid.

Running PnR doesn't mean two guards won't have to be out on the floor with Doncic. There is no literally shifting of any of the positions, just the skillsets perhaps of the kinds of guards you're allowed to put out on the floor.

Being versatile defensively offers way more flexibility IMO than offensive versatility in terms of line-ups.

I take it you're a fan of Ben Simmons at PG then? Not assuming the primary handler role but literally slotting in at PG?

That's very true. you are what you guard.

I view Simmons similarly as primary handler on offense but even less flexibility defensively because he can only guard 4's. Doncic can at least guard wings.

I think you're more bullish on him as a defender than I am hence the disconnect...

[Mirotic12]

Ahh, Slovenia has an average team. There are 2 really good players in Dragic and Randolph, Doncic is a stud but too young to be a dominant player in the playoff rounds (I hope I am wrong about this) and the rest of the players are sub par. Especially the bench is terrible and the top players will have to play 33+ minutes in the later stages to get anything done. As LeBron would say, we are top heavy as ****)))

Vidmar isn't a good player overall, (no offense and no sill) but he's a huge body and he's pretty athletic. NBA is full of worse centers than him actually.

Blazic is an average second two guard in EuroLeague, but he's still an OK player.

Guys like Begic and Omic are definitely not good centers overall, but they are huge bodies, and can defend the paint and rim area, and Begic is a good shot blocker.

Cancar is probably too young to do anything, but he's got good good size and athleticism.

So yeah, it's an average level team fro European standards probably. They will miss the perimeter defense of Joksimovic and Zoran Dragic.

[Mirotic12]

Admittedly, I am expecting him to continue to develop the flashes of game he has shown out of the post.

Somewhere between 6'7-9 probably be 230-240 in his prime with plus vision and some footwork then why not?

First, this again assumes he might grow 2 inches from age 18......

Second, so what if he does? A player's position isn't just by his height and weight.

I can't think of a single thing he does, other than shoot 3s, that would make him a possible power forward. And I can't see any way he is guarding anyone in the low post or high post at that position. He can't even guard low post and high post 3s in EuroLeague.

I also don't see how him being 240 would change that...He's already 230 pounds per his team's trainers, and not strong enough to guard most 3s in ACB and EuroLeague. So why would him gaining 10 pounds suddenly make him fine to guard power forwards?

[Thespianoid]

I think you're more bullish on him as a defender than I am hence the disconnect...

I just don't think he's going to be that bad defensively. Not a huge positive but not liability level bad. I've seen enough of him guarding wings and 4's in the ACB/Euroleague to foresee a similar level of flexibility at the NBA level eventually.

[reanimator]

Admittedly, I am expecting him to continue to develop the flashes of game he has shown out of the post.

Somewhere between 6'7-9 probably be 230-240 in his prime with plus vision and some footwork then why not?

First, this again assumes he might grow 2 inches from age 18......

Second, so what if he does? A player's position isn't just by his height and weight.

I can't think of a single thing he does, other than shoot 3s, that would make him a possible power forward. And I can't see any way he is guarding anyone in the low post or high post at that position. He can't even guard low post and high post 3s in EuroLeague.

I also don't see how him being 240 would change that...He's already 230 pounds per his team's trainers, and not strong enough to guard most 3s in ACB and EuroLeague. So why would him gaining 10 pounds suddenly make him fine to guard power forwards?

Strength and weight are not exactly the same. Its no question that Doncic will get much stronger as he becomes a man.

And I gave a measurement range because we don't know if he is still growing hence 67' 230.

[burek3]

SLO vs HUN Dončić stats:



TOČ = points

As I said before, the turnovers weren't his fault. Plus there were at least another 5 wasted assists.