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

[Jamaaliver]

Mind-numbingly dull play here.

I'm glad our rookie never takes and makes these kinds of shots.

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

The Whiteboard: Luka Doncic should’ve been the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft



The Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks all erred in a big way by not drafting (or keeping) Luka Doncic.

Luka Doncic is going to be the best player selected in the 2018 NBA Draft. That might be considered a hot take, and definitely would’ve been a couple months ago, but through 19 games Doncic is making it look obvious.

Doncic is averaging 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game while hitting 45.7 percent of his field goals and 39.8 percent of his 3-pointers. A common critique of Doncic was that he wouldn’t be athletic enough to score on NBA defenses. All he’s done since entering the NBA is outscore every other rookie in his class, while leading the 10-9 Dallas Mavericks in scoring.

This, for once, is not revisionist history. In addition to the Doncic doubters, there were plenty of analysts who earnestly believed he should’ve been the easy first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. These days the Sacramento Kings get a good amount of shade thrown their way for taking Marvin Bagley instead of Doncic at the second spot, but it shouldn’t just be the Kings who take the blame for not selecting the Slovene phenom.

After all, three teams had a shot at having Doncic before Dallas traded up for him. The Atlanta Hawks, for a fleeting second, actually had Doncic themselves before trading him for Trae Young and a future Dallas pick.

If Luka keeps the Mavericks winning games that pick won’t be worth much, and thus far Doncic is just demonstrably better than Young is. Yikes.

The Stepback

[Spud2nique]

The Whiteboard: Luka Doncic should’ve been the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft



The Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks all erred in a big way by not drafting (or keeping) Luka Doncic.

Luka Doncic is going to be the best player selected in the 2018 NBA Draft. That might be considered a hot take, and definitely would’ve been a couple months ago, but through 19 games Doncic is making it look obvious.

Doncic is averaging 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game while hitting 45.7 percent of his field goals and 39.8 percent of his 3-pointers. A common critique of Doncic was that he wouldn’t be athletic enough to score on NBA defenses. All he’s done since entering the NBA is outscore every other rookie in his class, while leading the 10-9 Dallas Mavericks in scoring.

This, for once, is not revisionist history. In addition to the Doncic doubters, there were plenty of analysts who earnestly believed he should’ve been the easy first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. These days the Sacramento Kings get a good amount of shade thrown their way for taking Marvin Bagley instead of Doncic at the second spot, but it shouldn’t just be the Kings who take the blame for not selecting the Slovene phenom.

After all, three teams had a shot at having Doncic before Dallas traded up for him. The Atlanta Hawks, for a fleeting second, actually had Doncic themselves before trading him for Trae Young and a future Dallas pick.

If Luka keeps the Mavericks winning games that pick won’t be worth much, and thus far Doncic is just demonstrably better than Young is. Yikes.

The Stepback

Doesn’t Luka strike you as the fragile type that might get his leg snapped in 2 like pg13? I dunno he has a frail body still to me..then again Durant couldn’t bench 135lbs.

[Jamaaliver]

Doesn’t Luka strike you as the fragile type that might get his leg snapped in 2 like pg13?

Nah. Luka's kinda chubby.

Plus he doesn't get high enough off the ground for that type of injury.

He does strike me as a guy who will consistently be targeted by young black wing players around the league for years to come.

Watch on YouTube

But that's something most Euro's have to deal with, particularly high profile ones.

[Spud2nique]

Doesn’t Luka strike you as the fragile type that might get his leg snapped in 2 like pg13?

Nah. Luka's kinda chubby.

Plus he doesn't get high enough off the ground for that type of injury.

He does strike me as a guy who will consistently be targeted by young black wing players around the league for years to come.

Watch on YouTube

But that's something most Euro's have to deal with, particularly high profile ones.

I wouldn’t fight Jaylen if I’m Luka...don’t do it..clean up isle 9...

But Luka’s lower body is still subject to injury imo

[Jamaaliver]

I wouldn’t fight Jaylen if I’m Luka...don’t do it..clean up isle 9...

But Luka’s lower body is still subject to injury imo

1. Agreed. Jaylen's a tough cookie.

2. There's a chance you've paid much more attention to...<ahem> Luka's lower body than I have.

[Bob8]

Mind-numbingly dull play here.

I'm glad our rookie never takes and makes these kinds of shots.

Read on Twitter

another very dull play.

Watch on YouTube

[Spud2nique]

I wouldn’t fight Jaylen if I’m Luka...don’t do it..clean up isle 9...

But Luka’s lower body is still subject to injury imo

1. Agreed. Jaylen's a tough cookie.

2. There's a chance you've paid much more attention to...<ahem> Luka's lower body than I have.

ummmm

Seriously watch his legs in the air...(that didn’t sound right)...I dunno there’s a funky thing about his little legs. They look so crossed and innocent...I don’t know where I’m going with this..

[Spud2nique]

EDIT EDIT

[macd-gm]

I never understood why Bagley was so highly regarded. I'm sure he'll be good but wasn't what i wanted.

Luka is better than i thought. I wanted Trae or Luka but just wasn't sure about Luka. I'm actually shocked that he is shooting so well in the NBA. Really better than ever. I'm still confident in Trae though but it is a bit of a drag that Luka is doing so well. We also have to remember that Trae is playing with a bunch of other rookies and 2nd year players.

[tbhawksfan1]

Doncic is showing signs, putting up stats and leading his team to big wins in impressive ways. Very scarry for TS... and Hawks fans

[Vae Victus]

Dallas basically found their Dirk replacement.

Literally just when Dirk retires his heir apparent gets drafted. Its freaking nuts.

Yea right now it looks ugly for ATL. Casual fans and pundits already clowning and taunting the decision.

Still, it's early, Trae just needs to put it together and polish his all around game. Doncic was already highly polished due to balling with grown ass men in international ball. What sucks for ATL, is DAL being a fringe PO team and the draft picking going from 6-10 to being 12-18 range.

[Bob8]

I never understood why Bagley was so highly regarded. I'm sure he'll be good but wasn't what i wanted.

Luka is better than i thought. I wanted Trae or Luka but just wasn't sure about Luka. I'm actually shocked that he is shooting so well in the NBA. Really better than ever. I'm still confident in Trae though but it is a bit of a drag that Luka is doing so well. We also have to remember that Trae is playing with a bunch of other rookies and 2nd year players.

Everyone from Europe is shooting much better in Nba, even Rubio. More space, different rules, different D.

[marco102]

Doncic is showing signs, putting up stats and leading his team to big wins in impressive ways. Very scarry for TS... and Hawks fans

Not really, Trae's not playing like a bust at least. Luka is just playing really well. If the second half of the season Luka falls off and Trae picks up, Travis will look great. Actually Travis looks great any way with the additional pick. Dallas is not making the playoffs in the west.

[Bob8]

Doncic is showing signs, putting up stats and leading his team to big wins in impressive ways. Very scarry for TS... and Hawks fans

Not really, Trae's not playing like a bust at least. Luka is just playing really well. If the second half of the season Luka falls off and Trae picks up, Travis will look great. Actually Travis looks great any way with the additional pick. Dallas is not making the playoffs in the west.

maybe not, but Dallas won't be worse than 10th either. What will you get for 10th-14th pick? And even if Luka falls in second half, he already proved that he can play, it would be mostly because of his conditioning. (Btw. he already lost 15 pounds from the beginning of the season.) The easiest thing to repair, especially with 5 months time. In Europe he had 1 month max between seasons. Next year it will be his first time to really work on his body. Expect totally different Luka next year.

[Geaux_Hawks]

maybe not, but Dallas won't be worse than 10th either. What will you get for 10th-14th pick? And even if Luka falls in second half, he already proved that he can play, it would be mostly because of his conditioning. (Btw. he already lost 15 pounds from the beginning of the season.) The easiest thing to repair, especially with 5 months time. In Europe he had 1 month max between seasons. Next year it will be his first time to really work on his body. Expect totally different Luka next year.

I could certainly see the Mavs pick top 10. Simply don't expect Doncic to have the ability to carry the Mavs over the bottom teams of the West.

The Rockets and Spurs should bounce back eventually. Jazz are a better team. Pels at least have AD. Sacto is possibly just as good.

Then you have to factor in how the ping pong balls might fall. I say all of that to say that even if the pick is more 8-12, we can still come out with a good, high upside prospect.

No matter what, the rookie wall is coming, and in the West, if it comes to early, the Mavs could really find themselves closer to a lottery team instead of fringe playoff team challenging for the 8th spot.

[marco102]

[/quote] maybe not, but Dallas won't be worse than 10th either. What will you get for 10th-14th pick? And even if Luka falls in second half, he already proved that he can play, it would be mostly because of his conditioning. (Btw. he already lost 15 pounds from the beginning of the season.) The easiest thing to repair, especially with 5 months time. In Europe he had 1 month max between seasons. Next year it will be his first time to really work on his body. Expect totally different Luka next year.[/quote]

I'm not sure if you thought I was bashing Luka. I was not. He's been playing great! Luka has a more nba ready body than Trae, I believe Trae will be much better next season too. They both are doing well for rookies. Trae has to work on his efficiency, if he shoots about 44% and 38% from three next season I'll be very encouraged.

[Spud2nique]

Doesn’t Luka strike you as the fragile type that might get his leg snapped in 2 like pg13?

Nah. Luka's kinda chubby.

Plus he doesn't get high enough off the ground for that type of injury.

He does strike me as a guy who will consistently be targeted by young black wing players around the league for years to come.

Watch on YouTube

But that's something most Euro's have to deal with, particularly high profile ones.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/mavericks-luka-doncic-wont-play-due-to-injury/



The hip bone is connected to the leg bone? Don’t doubt me Jamaal. I’m a vet.

[macd-gm]

I never understood why Bagley was so highly regarded. I'm sure he'll be good but wasn't what i wanted.

Luka is better than i thought. I wanted Trae or Luka but just wasn't sure about Luka. I'm actually shocked that he is shooting so well in the NBA. Really better than ever. I'm still confident in Trae though but it is a bit of a drag that Luka is doing so well. We also have to remember that Trae is playing with a bunch of other rookies and 2nd year players.

Everyone from Europe is shooting much better in Nba, even Rubio. More space, different rules, different D.

Wow! Rubio most of really sucked at shooting overseas. He's a 38% shooter for his nba career.

[Bob8]

I never understood why Bagley was so highly regarded. I'm sure he'll be good but wasn't what i wanted.

Luka is better than i thought. I wanted Trae or Luka but just wasn't sure about Luka. I'm actually shocked that he is shooting so well in the NBA. Really better than ever. I'm still confident in Trae though but it is a bit of a drag that Luka is doing so well. We also have to remember that Trae is playing with a bunch of other rookies and 2nd year players.

Everyone from Europe is shooting much better in Nba, even Rubio. More space, different rules, different D.

Wow! Rubio most of really sucked at shooting overseas. He's a 38% shooter for his nba career.

Yes, he was much worse in Euroleague. He was very limited player too, 6/3/3 guy in his last season. That’s why almost nobody in Europe understood hype about him USA. He was hyped in Europe, when he was 16 years old. When he was 20, the hype was over in Europe.

http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=LFW#!careerstats