Luka Dončić Discussion - Year 2

[BoardCrusher]

That was nasty. This is how you shut down the hype. It's going to be a learning curve for Luka on defense. Probably years before he is not a liability.

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You seem to be implying he will be guarding fast 6′2 guys on regular basis.

And you seem to think he will need years to learn how to defend smaller players, if thats the case he should just pack his stuff and go back to Europe right away.

Its really hard to take some of you seriously

[XTraderXL]

That was nasty. This is how you shut down the hype. It's going to be a learning curve for Luka on defense. Probably years before he is not a liability.

Watch on YouTube

You seem to be implying he will be guarding fast 6′2 guys on regular basis.

And you seem to think he will need years to learn how to defend smaller players, if thats the case he should just pack his stuff and go back to Europe right away.

Its really hard to take some of you seriously

Well, he will be getting killed on switches. Oponents will be running the same plays that Cavs were running in the finals when they won the title. What DSJ did here was just too easy. They will need to hide him on defense but thats nothing new...

[arkuo]

All the more I think Luka can be a stretch 4. He doesnt need the foot speed to defend PGs. And he's 6'8 to 6'9. He can stretch defenses and DJ has his back the same way Tyson had Dirk's. I think he'll be ok at PF.

[BoardCrusher]

That was nasty. This is how you shut down the hype. It's going to be a learning curve for Luka on defense. Probably years before he is not a liability.

You seem to be implying he will be guarding fast 6′2 guys on regular basis.

And you seem to think he will need years to learn how to defend smaller players, if thats the case he should just pack his stuff and go back to Europe right away.

Its really hard to take some of you seriously

Well, he will be getting killed on switches. Oponents will be running the same plays that Cavs were running in the finals when they won the title. What DSJ did here was just too easy. They will need to hide him on defense but thats nothing new...

He will be getting killed on switches, just like the smaller 6′2 players are getting killed on switches by the bigger players, its rather a poor argument, that its sadly being made a lot

[J_T]

The league is made in favor of offense. Good offensive players will never be stopped, that's the whole point of the rules. If you match up all players in the league, as evenly as possible, in offensive-defensive pairings, the offense will have major advantage. I'd prefer NBA to return to the old rules and the rules European basketball is using, but this is what we have. Don't worry, DSJ can't stop Doncic either.

[batigol18]

If there was one action in two hours long practise worth of showing, how Luka was outplayed then I would say he held pretty well...

[dirkules_41]

Let's just say it's a good problem to have both Luka and DSJ. 2 years ago this franchise looked hopeless.

[arkuo]

Yeah. The franchise seems like it will be in good hands when Dirk decides to hang it up. Before DSJ and Luka came the franchise probably pinned their hopes on Barnes becoming Kobe. That has changed since with the addition of those two kids + DJ and with max cap room next summer.

[Teffer10]

All the more I think Luka can be a stretch 4. He doesnt need the foot speed to defend PGs. And he's 6'8 to 6'9. He can stretch defenses and DJ has his back the same way Tyson had Dirk's. I think he'll be ok at PF.

He'll guard 2s, 3s and 4s before he'll ever guard a 1.

The only time he'll be asked to primarily guard a 1 will be when Carlisle decides to bench DSJ, Barea, Brunson and Devin all at the same time and we all know that isn't going to happen. One or two (hell even 3 knowing Rick) of those four will always be on the court.

And even if Carlisle ever decides to go with a "Jumbo" lineup, someone like Finney-Smith, Wes or even Barnes will be guarding the 1 before Luka.

[Lord Cuban]

All the more I think Luka can be a stretch 4. He doesnt need the foot speed to defend PGs. And he's 6'8 to 6'9. He can stretch defenses and DJ has his back the same way Tyson had Dirk's. I think he'll be ok at PF.

Bro... Lets stop this PF stuff

[Archx]

I also don't understand why people think Luka will be guarding PF's.. He is not strong and athletic enough to guard players like AD etc.. He will be guarding slow SG's or SF's and that's about it.

[thr3ep01nte4]

He's gonna be toasted on switches.

[juanc]

I also don't understand why people think Luka will be guarding PF's.. He is not strong and athletic enough to guard players like AD etc.. He will be guarding slow SG's or SF's and that's about it.

He can't guard players like AD? You are talking like AD is some **** PF and not a stud who can be guarded(questionable) by 2-3 players in the NBA.
But yes he would have problem against the stronger PF's like Randolph, Aldrige and so on, but when someone like PJ Tucker plays the PF I think Luka is more than capable to stop him.
And yes no rookie is able to guard top 25 players in the league. Even the rooks who are supposed to be great defenders(JJJ, Mikal) are going to struggle against the best of the best...

[arkuo]

I also don't understand why people think Luka will be guarding PF's.. He is not strong and athletic enough to guard players like AD etc.. He will be guarding slow SG's or SF's and that's about it.

He can't guard players like AD? You are talking like AD is some **** PF and not a stud who can be guarded(questionable) by 2-3 players in the NBA.
But yes he would have problem against the stronger PF's like Randolph, Aldrige and so on, but when someone like PJ Tucker plays the PF I think Luka is more than capable to stop him.
And yes no rookie is able to guard top 25 players in the league. Even the rooks who are supposed to be great defenders(JJJ, Mikal) are going to struggle against the best of the best...

The rest of the league is having trouble guarding AD. That's like 99% of the players right there.

But gentlemen, let's not forget that Cuban is a risk taker. He thinks ahead of the curve. Back in 98 they were having Dirk, a seven footer shooting threes. In Nellie's sets that were almost unheard of in the NBA who had the likes of Shawn Kemp at PF. But that changed the game. In hindsight if we had Dirk just rebound and score off put backs he wouldnt be the legend he is today. Who are we to say what Luka can and cannot do? He has yet to log a minute of playing time in the NBA. Saying he cant do this he cant do that is tantamount to giving me the winning lottery numbers tomorrow. You get the gist.

[Archx]

I also don't understand why people think Luka will be guarding PF's.. He is not strong and athletic enough to guard players like AD etc.. He will be guarding slow SG's or SF's and that's about it.

He can't guard players like AD? You are talking like AD is some **** PF and not a stud who can be guarded(questionable) by 2-3 players in the NBA.
But yes he would have problem against the stronger PF's like Randolph, Aldrige and so on, but when someone like PJ Tucker plays the PF I think Luka is more than capable to stop him.
And yes no rookie is able to guard top 25 players in the league. Even the rooks who are supposed to be great defenders(JJJ, Mikal) are going to struggle against the best of the best...

Well that's exactly what i said, didn't i? PJ Tucker is and never will be a true PF.. He is a slower SF. Ofc you can put him at PF in today's game but all in all you get my point.

[BoardCrusher]

Barrett more explosive, worse shooter. I like Barrett better, but I really like Barrett, hes my fav. Both have similar game, that Manu Ginobili like smarts, I just like Barrett ability to go pass defenders, draw fouls and just score better.

Are you sure you like Barrett?

[arkuo]

All the more I think Luka can be a stretch 4. He doesnt need the foot speed to defend PGs. And he's 6'8 to 6'9. He can stretch defenses and DJ has his back the same way Tyson had Dirk's. I think he'll be ok at PF.

Bro... Lets stop this PF stuff

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/251190/Mavericks-Likely-To-Start-Luka-Doncic-At-Power-Forward-Dirk-Nowitzki-Off-Bench

I really think they would. Tobias Harris played PF next to DJ in LA. He's probably an inch taller than Luka.

[Goon]

This article is garbage... seems like the quote from Dirk to come off the bench and Banres old quote that he prefers the SF position, got merged into a story that Luka will play PF.

No actual quotes out of Dallas that Luka will actually play the PF position, nothing but low effort guess work.

[J_T]

This article is garbage... seems like the quote from Dirk to come off the bench and Banres old quote that he prefers the SF position, got merged into a story that Luka will play PF.

No actual quotes out of Dallas that Luka will actually play the PF position, nothing but low effort guess work.

Read on Twitter

This is literally the ONLY source mentioning Luka starts as PF. All other articles originate from there. I doubt Luka plays PF, he might defend PF, depending on the opponent. From all the reports from the training camp, it seems like Luka is having ball a lot.

[Goon]

This article is garbage... seems like the quote from Dirk to come off the bench and Banres old quote that he prefers the SF position, got merged into a story that Luka will play PF.

No actual quotes out of Dallas that Luka will actually play the PF position, nothing but low effort guess work.

Read on Twitter

This is literally the ONLY source mentioning Luka starts as PF. All other articles originate from there. I doubt Luka plays PF, he might defend PF, depending on the opponent. From all the reports from the training camp, it seems like Luka is having ball a lot.

Interesting, thanks for linking the tweet, didn't see it.

In any case, in the new positionless basketball for which Luka is perfect for, doesn't even matter what you're labeled, a SF or PF or PG etc, what matters is how you play on the floor anyway.