All Things Luka Doncic

[SportsGuy8]

When looking at why foreign perimeter players don't often fare well transitioning to the NBA, we don't look at spacing enough not just the gap in quick twitch athleticism and length.

NCAA prospects at schools like UK, Arizona or Kansas are playing on teams with limited shooting and get a "spacing bump" when they transition to the league.

Its easier to play in space and its often a criticism brought against my team Michigan because of how efficient Beilein is in optimizing spacing: https://patternofbasketball.blogspot.com/2014/12/john-beilein.html

If we are going to boast about the "physicality" Doncic plays against then we need to acknowledge the spacing he plays in.

Like the postup and the pullup in the footage above....hope he can continue to build on that.

This is a good point.

However, NCAA defenses are still really badly disorganized. But so are offenses, it's quite hard to even watch.

[pohani komarac]

16 points (7/14), 10 assists, 7 rebounds is final tally in win against Valencia in ACB league.

one more game where they didn't want to play defense on him

[J_T]

16 points (7/14), 10 assists, 7 rebounds is final tally in win against Valencia in ACB league.

one more game where they didn't want to play defense on him

Yeah, but... everyone who has ever watched a single basketball game in Europe clearly and obviously knows, that it's a fact that 16/7/10 from this game is equivalent to 40/19/24 in a Eurobasket playoff game. Especially if Spanoulis is not playing.

To what extent do people think his facilitating will translate to the NBA?

He obviously has great instincts/feel/execution as a passer. I'm not sure he's a 'PG' per se, but he can definitely run your offense from the wing.

I ask the question because I'm looking at Valentine, who we drafted in 2016. In college he averaged 7.8 assists per game his final season. Not a great athlete but a really good shooter and a great passer with a strong feel for the game.

In the NBA, he's basically just a spot up shooter. He can't 'play PG' because he can't penetrate and create lanes/opportunities to make passes.

Doncic is a more well rounded scorer, is quicker in the open court and has better handles than Valentine, but I do think his limitations beg the question of how transferrable his playmaking is against NBA athletes.

You can see what Valentine was like as a passer in college here. When he went to his stint in the D-League he immediately turned in to that guy again as well.

Doncic will find his own way how to handle things. Especially in offense, since offensive player always has an advantage. His defense is not as impressive, but I don't think it's because of his athleticism. He simply has to learn and will learn how to play better defense.

BTW, is it just me or he looks leaner and quicker? I'm not certain, it just seems to me like he has lost 10 pounds of baby fat in last couple of months. What's your opinion? Wait... wait... what I meant to say was that it has to be obvious to anyone who has watched a single game of basketball ever in his life, that Doncic looks leaner and quicker than he looked in the last season. It's not even worth discussing.

[baldur]

already 3 years of pro-basket experience, younger than his counterparts, being a go-to-guy, leader of a euroleague contender. So many reasons he is going to be selected as the top pick.

[Bob8]

16 points (7/14), 10 assists, 7 rebounds is final tally in win against Valencia in ACB league.

one more game where they didn't want to play defense on him

Yeah, but... everyone who has ever watched a single basketball game in Europe clearly and obviously knows, that it's a fact that 16/7/10 from this game is equivalent to 40/19/24 in a Eurobasket playoff game. Especially if Spanoulis is not playing.

To what extent do people think his facilitating will translate to the NBA?

He obviously has great instincts/feel/execution as a passer. I'm not sure he's a 'PG' per se, but he can definitely run your offense from the wing.

I ask the question because I'm looking at Valentine, who we drafted in 2016. In college he averaged 7.8 assists per game his final season. Not a great athlete but a really good shooter and a great passer with a strong feel for the game.

In the NBA, he's basically just a spot up shooter. He can't 'play PG' because he can't penetrate and create lanes/opportunities to make passes.

Doncic is a more well rounded scorer, is quicker in the open court and has better handles than Valentine, but I do think his limitations beg the question of how transferrable his playmaking is against NBA athletes.

You can see what Valentine was like as a passer in college here. When he went to his stint in the D-League he immediately turned in to that guy again as well.

Doncic will find his own way how to handle things. Especially in offense, since offensive player always has an advantage. His defense is not as impressive, but I don't think it's because of his athleticism. He simply has to learn and will learn how to play better defense.

BTW, is it just me or he looks leaner and quicker? I'm not certain, it just seems to me like he has lost 10 pounds of baby fat in last couple of months. What's your opinion? Wait... wait... what I meant to say was that it has to be obvious to anyone who has watched a single game of basketball ever in his life, that Doncic looks leaner and quicker than he looked in the last season. It's not even worth discussing.

Of course he’s quicker and he will be even quicker in next years. Which athlete has reach max. speed at 18? Even Usain Bolt needed several years to become the fastest man in the planet. Doncic’s “problem” always was that he played against grown men. If he had played against kids like others, he would have looked much faster and athletic. Does anybody really think that other school kids would look that athletic and fast if they played Euroleague with 17 years? Or 17 years old Spanoulis.

[Mulhollanddrive]

10 assists, 1 turnover is impressive.

Lonzo Ball did that (or better) twice in college.

[Mulholland]

https://youtu.be/9OZZX9hi9EQ

Enviado desde mi SM-A500FU mediante Tapatalk

[burek3]

The X factor is through the roof...

When he enters the game it just simply lights up.

Teammates listening to him what he wants and run sprinting blocks as if there is no tomorrow, everyone starts cutting, trying to get open etc. Because they know, they will be rewarded with a pass if they do a good job.

Wondrous.

That little flea called Campazzo is giving me headaches on the other hand...

[XTraderXL]

This was terrinble. Valencia coach made every mistake in the book, they didnt even guard him. And when they tried, they put the worst defender in Azerbejan league on him. This competititon is on the same level as Romanian league anyway so it doesnt really count...

[burek3]

It's a long wait for the facts to come out...

[SportsGuy8]

Watch on YouTube

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Good highlights, also showing some unfinished assists, missed shots and some defensive possessions.

24kobemon's really been doing a fantastic job for more than a year making these Doncic videos, basically showing every possession Doncic's involved in.

[Mrnjav]

16 points (7/14), 10 assists, 7 rebounds is final tally in win against Valencia in ACB league.

I watched the game and there was one thing I didn't like: I got the feeling he was kind of "lazy" (or just not paying enough attention) when defending.

[burek3]

Well, there is some 80ish more games to be played this season...

[reanimator]

https://youtu.be/9OZZX9hi9EQ

Enviado desde mi SM-A500FU mediante Tapatalk

Now this is the type of stuff I want to see. Good highlights.

[UcanUwill]

This is completely random, but this blew my mind. I just realized that when Roland Emmerich's Godzila came out, Luka wasn't even born yet. Man, I still remember all the advertising for that movie, I always forget how old it is now. In a few years, we will see players entering the league who were born after 911, that blows my mind. Makes you feel old.

[CptCrunch]

This was terrinble. Valencia coach made every mistake in the book, they didnt even guard him. And when they tried, they put the worst defender in Azerbejan league on him. This competititon is on the same level as Romanian league anyway so it doesnt really count...

Tricking the opposing coach into not guarding you is also a superpower.

[SportsGuy8]

This is completely random, but this blew my mind. I just realized that when Roland Emmerich's Godzila came out, Luka wasn't even born yet. Man, I still remember all the advertising for that movie, I always forget how old it is now. In a few years, we will see players entering the league who were born after 911, that blows my mind. Makes you feel old.

Ha ha, yeah, seriously. Sports has a unique way of reminding you how old you are. Not just sports. Take this forum, for example. My sign up date for this account is 2006, but I remember being a lurker for several years before that, probably from 2003.

Damn.

Even a special someone's claim of having an 197 IQ is from 2009, I think. And I can actually remember that discussion ... Sigh.

[J_T]

This just out! The experts over there at Metro.us put out their first mock draft, after thorough research and having received many NBA scouts' feedback.

1. Chicago Bulls: Michael Porter, SF, Missouri
2. New York Knicks: Marvin Bagley, PF, Duke
3. Boston Celtics: Jaren Jackson Jr, PF, Michigan State
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Wendell Carter, PF, Duke
5. Orlando Magic: Luka Doncic, SG, Slovenia
6. Sacramento Kings: DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona
7. Dallas Mavericks: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

At least they have Doncic, Ayton and Bamba in round 1.

[burek3]

Nooooooo, anything but Orlando pls

[XTraderXL]

He is going to be fine wherever he goes. Players like Doncic are special and they dont come around very often. They always find a way to be efficient. With that said, I would like to see him in New York, that would be a fun team to watch.