How many Hawks Fans would NOT select Luka Doncic if he somehow fell to #3?

[hawkmanreturns]

Hmmmm.

Two of the most obnoxious posters I know going head-to-head for the crown?

This is one of those battles..................








where absolutely no one comes out a winner.

Wait, I'm an obnoxious poster? Most of my posts are pretty benign.

[ChokeFasncists]

Hmmmm.

Two of the most obnoxious posters I know going head-to-head for the crown?

This is one of those battles..................








where absolutely no one comes out a winner.

Wait, I'm an obnoxious poster? Most of my posts are pretty benign.

If most of your posts are real benign then I guess it might be me, I suspect he might have been hurt in a recent debate, sorry......

Or could it be us both battling/engaging in a debate and Bob8 is the crown?

[Bob8]

Hmmmm.

Two of the most obnoxious posters I know going head-to-head for the crown?

This is one of those battles..................








where absolutely no one comes out a winner.

Wait, I'm an obnoxious poster? Most of my posts are pretty benign.

If most of your posts are real benign then I guess it might be me, I suspect he might have been hurt in a recent debate, sorry......

Or could it be us both battling/engaging in a debate and Bob8 is the crown?

anybody who uses word obnoxious, should look in the first place in the mirror.

[dms269]

You might doubt Doncic’s body, athleticism or shape in comparison to some incredible athletes, but not in comparison to Trae. If Doncic cannot guard Pgs, Trae cannot guard them either, with a difference that 6’8”, 230 guy can guard someone else and be of some use in team defense and rebounds. I doubt that Trae will be better assistant or rebounder, or that he will easily beat his opponents. The only way Trae’s ceiling is higher than Doncic’s if you believe Trae would be elite shooter and Doncic bad shooter. But that’s not exactly something given. I believe Doncic can be at least 37% + shooter and Trae is long way from elite.

What if we looked his not the best shape as + for future? Dominating even not being in great shape. Don’t forget that he had something like 3 months less time to prepare for the season than NCAA players. Trae and Doncic won’t never be great athletes but my guess is, if realgm forum writers can get in the shape if we put time and money in, professional basketball player can get too.

I see that many rankings for next season has Doncic in top 100 and nobody has Young in top 100. That must mean something.

As assistant what?

I'm not native speaker and I admit my English is not the best, on the other hand I can communicate in 5 different languages and somehow doubt that many Americans, including you, can do that.

I'm sure that you have understood, what I meant with assistant.

I'm not sure what the point of this was at all. Consider this a warning about making a personal attack like this. It would have been just find saying that English wasn't your first language.

In terms of what assistant means, I am assuming you meant that Doncic would average more assists than Trae. Considering Trae is widely considered the better passer and distributor, I highly doubt that this would be the case.

[Bob8]

As assistant what?

I'm not native speaker and I admit my English is not the best, on the other hand I can communicate in 5 different languages and somehow doubt that many Americans, including you, can do that.

I'm sure that you have understood, what I meant with assistant.

I'm not sure what the point of this was at all. Consider this a warning about making a personal attack like this. It would have been just find saying that English wasn't your first language.

In terms of what assistant means, I am assuming you meant that Doncic would average more assists than Trae. Considering Trae is widely considered the better passer and distributor, I highly doubt that this would be the case.

The best part of Doncic’s game is his passing, reading the game and making his teammates better. He was never considered as elite scoring threat. If Trae was really better passer, distributer and shooter, he would have been much better prospect than Doncic and we would have never seen the trade. And no, Trae is not widely considered as better passer and disrubuter. Not even in Atlanta. But he’s better shooter for sure.

I have understood, you have problem with my English. It for sure looked like that. Sorry if that wasn’t the case.

[jayu70]

Dirk Nowitzki is likely to play a reserve role for the Dallas Mavericks this season.....Dallas is also expected to start Luka Doncic at power forward.

Interesting....the first game he'll be matched up againt Prince or John Collins as I think he and Barnes are interchangeBke at SF/PF.

[ChokeFasncists]

Because Trey has got better body and is in great shape by Nba standards?

Looks like he's in pretty good shape:


He's just a bit small, but not really undersized as a PG.

The main thing he's got is range.

He's also got very good handle and passing skills.

He was one of the greatest college player ever, as a freshman.

You might doubt Doncic’s body, athleticism or shape in comparison to some incredible athletes, but not in comparison to Trae. If Doncic cannot guard Pgs, Trae cannot guard them either, with a difference that 6’8”, 230 guy can guard someone else and be of some use in team defense and rebounds.

Sorry, been busy the past few days. I don't see how Trae won't be able to guard relatively small sized PGs like Bledsoe, Lowry, Collison, Kemba etc. He should be able to adjust to the bigger ones later on.

I doubt that Trae will be better assistant or rebounder, or that he will easily beat his opponents. The only way Trae’s ceiling is higher than Doncic’s if you believe Trae would be elite shooter and Doncic bad shooter. But that’s not exactly something given. I believe Doncic can be at least 37% + shooter and Trae is long way from elite.

Doncic would surely be the better rebounder, I think in terms of passing both have big potential. I do think Luka would be a good shooter, Trae has a chance to be elite.

What if we looked his not the best shape as + for future? Dominating even not being in great shape. Don’t forget that he had something like 3 months less time to prepare for the season than NCAA players. Trae and Doncic won’t never be great athletes but my guess is, if realgm forum writers can get in the shape if we put time and money in, professional basketball player can get too.

~lol~ Yea, I don't think that should be a big problem, (but you never know) it's more about whether they can deal with elite athletes in the NBA on both ends of the floor.

I see that many rankings for next season has Doncic in top 100 and nobody has Young in top 100. That must mean something.

I can definitely see Luka playing better in his rookie season than Trey, he has played with grown men for a long time and isn't undersized. The ceiling is all about their peaks during their prime years.

[macd-gm]

Trae's size 'issue' is overblown. 6'1" isn't that unusual for a PG and when you're 6'1" you've been playing against bigger guys for a while.

With both Luka and Trae we'll have to see if they are quick enough to guard NBA players. I suspect this is why they are already putting Luka at the 4. But Luka has been used to having the ball in his hands and being the playmaker. He'll have to adjust his approach to the game if he's playing the 4.

[Jamaaliver]

Trae's size 'issue' is overblown. 6'1" isn't that unusual for a PG and when you're 6'1" you've been playing against bigger guys for a while.

With both Luka and Trae we'll have to see if they are quick enough to guard NBA players. I suspect this is why they are already putting Luka at the 4. But Luka has been used to having the ball in his hands and being the playmaker. He'll have to adjust his approach to the game if he's playing the 4.

I suspect Luka playing PF is primarily for defensive purposes. He'll definitely have the ball in his hands a fair amount.

Regarding Trae's size deficiency, there will be some issues...specifically on defense in the post season.

But yeah, Chris Paul and Stephen [Curry] have had their defensive issues hidden for years. Nash didn't even play defense.

With proper schemes and personnel, we can get past it if Trae puts up the type of production we hope he does...

[Bob8]

Luka was playing as true Pg in Real and was guarding Pfs many times in D. Nothing new for him. That’s the advantage you have, if you’re 6’8, 230, with playmaking abilities and that’s big difference to Young. He was guarded by SFs, best opponents defenders, in Europe. Because guards were too small to stop him. Imho he will be playing something in between how he was playing in Real, true Pg, and in national team, where he played more off ball with Dragic being Pg. He for sure won’t be playing as Pf on offense. But one of his best characteristics is intiating fast break immediately after rebound. So him defending Pfs can have some big advantages for the Mavs. He won’t never be the most athletic guy in the team, but his body can become very strong in few years time. He’s built like a tank.

[Jamaaliver]

David Blatt thinks Luka Doncic was biggest miss of 2018 NBA Draft

David Blatt believes Luka Doncic should’ve been the No. 1 overall pick.

Former NBA head coach David Blatt has an extremely high opinion of Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic, and he believes the teams that passed on him this summer will live to regret it.

"[In] my opinion, the biggest miss in the NBA draft. He was the No. 1 pick no question,” Blatt said to Eurohoops TV. “In my mind, but that’s my orientation and knowing both leagues and understanding I think that teams in many cases draft for position or maybe draft for potential, but in terms of readiness, NBA readiness. There was no player in the draft that was more NBA ready than Luka Doncic, unquestioned, hands down. Now to say that a team has to draft that guy for that reason. They don’t. You can draft whoever you want and for whatever reasons you want. But Luka is a unique talent and he’s going to have a great NBA career in my opinion."

Blatt is currently the head coach of Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League, and so he definitely has a pulse on the basketball talent in Europe. He also has head coaching experience in the NBA. He briefly coached LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it should be noted that he only lasted a season and a half before being fired. Doncic is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year according to Vegas, and the expectations are going to be high for him from the beginning. Whether or not he lives up them remains to be seen.

...there are already rumblings that the Atlanta Hawks made a grave error in essentially picking Trae Young over the EuroLeague’s reigning MVP.

The Step Back

[Jamaaliver]

I gotta say, it was brilliant of Mavs and Cuban to have Doncic make his NBA 'debut' against non-NBA competition.

I do think the kid will put up steady production. But introducing him against lesser competition is a solid way to ease him into the fire of the NBA season.

Dennis Smith Jr. Looked pretty damn good, also.

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[Robo_Claw]

I gotta say, it was brilliant of Mavs and Cuban to have Doncic make his NBA 'debut' against non-NBA competition.

I do think the kid will put up steady production. But introducing him against lesser competition is a solid way to ease him into the fire of the NBA season.

Dennis Smith Jr. Looked pretty damn good, also.

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM mobile app

Love DSJ, one of the most exciting young players. No idea what the hell dallas is doing in general but DSJ and Luka are gonna be a solid exciting young combo.

[leo7]

I gotta say, it was brilliant of Mavs and Cuban to have Doncic make his NBA 'debut' against non-NBA competition.

I do think the kid will put up steady production. But introducing him against lesser competition is a solid way to ease him into the fire of the NBA season.

Dennis Smith Jr. Looked pretty damn good, also.

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM mobile app

Tough luck for Trae, he has to match up against Jrue or Elfrid. I hope he doesn't struggle too much.

[Jamaaliver]

Meh, it's gotta happen at some point. He might not even start, though. This early in the rebuild... we're more than happy to bring him along slowly.

[jayu70]

I gotta say, it was brilliant of Mavs and Cuban to have Doncic make his NBA 'debut' against non-NBA competition.

I do think the kid will put up steady production. But introducing him against lesser competition is a solid way to ease him into the fire of the NBA season.


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Not sooo fast....It was announced on April 18th, 2018 that Dallas would be playing games in China in the preseason, long before the Mavericks traded for Luka.

[Jamaaliver]

Then it was fortuitous they had that option.

Debuting against non-NBA talent should work out well for the first couple of pre season games.

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[jayu70]

Then it was fortuitous they had that option.

Debuting against non-NBA talent should work out well for the first couple of pre season games.

Sent from my RC555L using RealGM mobile app

I think they're playing the Sixers next, in China.

[Jamaaliver]

It's starting earlier than I had imagined...

The Mavericks Could Be Better Than You Think, Sooner Than You Think

Luka Doncic has arrived (in preseason). In his Mavs debut, the Slovenian wunderkind showed glimpses of why things are suddenly looking up in Dallas

Watch on YouTube

On Saturday, Doncic quickly confirmed why so many gushed over his game leading into the draft: He dropped 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting with two assists, six rebounds, and three blocks. There is nothing more exciting than the feeling of hope a new star player can bring to a franchise, and Doncic provided that to Dallas in his first game in a Mavs uniform.

Luka’s performance on Saturday doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Still, Saturday’s game was a reminder of why the Mavs traded up on draft night to get him. because of talented young players like Doncic and upcoming cap flexibility, it might not take the Mavs all that long to get back into the playoff mix. If there’s one thing Doncic didn’t get to show in his debut, it’s his passing. Doncic is already advanced at reading pick-and-rolls, changing speeds, and creating angles to throw dagger passers above and through the defense.


...the Mavs were 12-38 last season in games that were within five points in the final five minutes. If that seems like a lot of close losses, it’s because it is. No other team has had more than 37 since 1996-97, the first recorded season for this stat. The Western Conference is so stacked that Dallas [likely] tops out as a scrappy, lovable team that finishes somewhere around 10th place.


There’s a long season ahead for the Mavericks in what could be Nowitzki’s farewell tour. Dallas would need a lot to break right to make the playoffs. But if they’re competitive again, and Doncic replicates his success during the regular season, there will be more games like Saturday that provide hope for Mavs’ future.

The Ringer

[kg01]

Hmmmm.

Two of the most obnoxious posters I know going head-to-head for the crown?

This is one of those battles..................

where absolutely no one comes out a winner.

Wait, I'm an obnoxious poster? Most of my posts are pretty benign.

Haha. I think you were just collateral damage. Methinks that barb was mainly intended for the other guy.