Luka is going to win MVP this season

[J-Wolves]

I placed a wager on him months ago when all the skinny Luka images were surfacing, and I’m doubling down on it today. Dude is motivated as ever and out for redemption after how things ended last season. It’s still not too late to place your futures.

Here’s a look at all the records he broke today:

First Laker ever to start a season with two consecutive 40 point games and only the 4th player in league history to do so. (AD, MJ, Wilt being others)

First player ever with consecutive 40/10/5 games to start a season.

Most points ever by a guard through the first two games of the season

Most points ever as a Laker in his first 2 games - 92 surpassing Jerry West's 81.

Luka Doncic is also shooting 23-26 (88.5%) on two pointers to start the season.

Hey legend thanks for the financial advice.
I am going to sack my financial advisor immediately and get some real returns.

[Pistol_Pete]

All these stats you just listed, and he’s not even close to being the best player in the league.

Also, kinda cute how all the Lakers fans act like he was acquired *naturally* from Dallas.

[Mephariel]

SGA is the clear favorite to me due to how good his team looks right now.

[AussieBuck]

And I think there's a better chance of the Bucks finishing Top 2 in East than Lakers finishing Top 4 in West.

I disagree with that, Bucks are just not good enough, if Giannis misses any time, thats a top tanking squad right there. I would probably bet on Lakers being top 4 seed in a west (unlikely), than Bucks being top 4 in the East... Not sure about that, but East still have CAVS, Knicks, Magic... Those should be top 3 and then you still have Hawks and other teams that are right there with Bucks. I jsut do not believe in this Bucks team as a whole, no way they finnish top 2 in the East. I think Luka has bigger shot at MVP than Giannis, but there are other 3 guys - Victor, Jokic, SGA.

If I tried to be cute now, I would bet on VIctor, maybe its recency bias speaking.

The Bucks are a fair bit better this season than last. Turner is a massive upgrade over the corpse of Lopez and Lillard was stats but no impact last season. We're much better on the perimeter with 5 good role players even if they are all guards. We've gone from the slowest team in the league to being much quicker. Substance over name recognition, the difference is significant. The added bonus is these scrappy dudes don't have that rep, so Giannis will get more credit than he otherwise would carrying names that don't live up to it.

[bonita_the_frog]

Giannis is the best player I've ever seen at carrying role players, and he's got role players now, so good chance he wins MVP and reaches the Finals.

[tsherkin]

Giannis is the best player I've ever seen at carrying role players, and he's got role players now, so good chance he wins MVP and reaches the Finals.

That doesn't really make sense. There are a whole bunch of better teams out there, which leaves a pretty good chance we don't see Milwaukee exit the 2nd round. They might, but I wouldn't call it a "good chance."

[JN61]

Never count out Lebron ruining other peoples chances of winning MVP.

[bonita_the_frog]

Giannis is the best player I've ever seen at carrying role players, and he's got role players now, so good chance he wins MVP and reaches the Finals.

That doesn't really make sense. There are a whole bunch of better teams out there, which leaves a pretty good chance we don't see Milwaukee exit the 2nd round. They might, but I wouldn't call it a "good chance."

There were a whole bunch of better teams in 2021 too, but Giannis had the role-players to win. He's unlike everyone everyone else, because he just needs spot-up shooters and some defense. Lillard was a bad fit, poor defense and held the ball too much.

Never count out Lebron ruining other peoples chances of winning MVP.

I don't know how LeBron could ruin anyone's chance. He doesn't get to vote...

[JN61]

Never count out Lebron ruining other peoples chances of winning MVP.

I don't know how LeBron could ruin anyone's chance. He doesn't get to vote...

But he gets to play

[bonita_the_frog]

But he gets to play

True, I guess if LeBron plays enough, and plays well enough he could hurt Doncic's chances.

[leolozon]

This isn’t a good bet, because you are also betting on the Lakers being a top team. Who knows what is going on with Lebron. Plus the supporting cast hasn’t proven it is elite, unlike OKC.

Without counting injuries, OKC will very likely finish ahead. So you have to think that Luka will be a whole tier ahead of Shai.

[Optms]

Gonna be tough with GOATyama and Shai still doing Shai things. But not counting out Luka.

[tsherkin]

There were a whole bunch of better teams in 2021 too, but Giannis had the role-players to win. He's unlike everyone everyone else, because he just needs spot-up shooters and some defense. Lillard was a bad fit, poor defense and held the ball too much.

But that's disingenuous. He had Jrue Holiday, who was All-D 1st team and a decent PG. He had Brook Lopez, who was still a quality defensive player and a spacing center. He had 20/6/5 out of Khris Middleton, who didn't make an All-Star team but was worth it. That was a good team. And they went through the Heat, the Nets with Harden and Kyrie each missing 3 games that series, the Hawks and the Suns. Not a particularly difficult field in the playoffs.

It's a valid title, but not one you want to use to project against a field of more legitimate competition.

[Mavrelous]

There were a whole bunch of better teams in 2021 too, but Giannis had the role-players to win. He's unlike everyone everyone else, because he just needs spot-up shooters and some defense. Lillard was a bad fit, poor defense and held the ball too much.

But that's disingenuous. He had Jrue Holiday, who was All-D 1st team and a decent PG. He had Brook Lopez, who was still a quality defensive player and a spacing center. He had 20/6/5 out of Khris Middleton, who didn't make an All-Star team but was worth it. That was a good team. And they went through the Heat, the Nets with Harden and Kyrie each missing 3 games that series, the Hawks and the Suns. Not a particularly difficult field in the playoffs.

It's a valid title, but not one you want to use to project against a field of more legitimate competition.

Giannis went down in the ECF with the series tied 2-2, the "role players" closed out the Hawks w/o him.

[bonita_the_frog]

There were a whole bunch of better teams in 2021 too, but Giannis had the role-players to win. He's unlike everyone everyone else, because he just needs spot-up shooters and some defense. Lillard was a bad fit, poor defense and held the ball too much.

But that's disingenuous. He had Jrue Holiday, who was All-D 1st team and a decent PG. He had Brook Lopez, who was still a quality defensive player and a spacing center. He had 20/6/5 out of Khris Middleton, who didn't make an All-Star team but was worth it. That was a good team. And they went through the Heat, the Nets with Harden and Kyrie each missing 3 games that series, the Hawks and the Suns. Not a particularly difficult field in the playoffs.

It's a valid title, but not one you want to use to project against a field of more legitimate competition.

That's why I said Giannis "just needs spot-up shooters and some defense".
Holiday, Lopez and Middleton gave him that.
But you're right, 2021 wasn't the hardest path to a championship (but Chris Paul delivered in the NBA Finals with 21.8 points, .550 field, .522 threes, 8.2 assists.....and Booker 28.2 points....Ayton 14.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks).

[tsherkin]

That's why I said Giannis "just needs spot-up shooters and some defense".

But he had a lot more than just spot-up shooting and defense, is the counterpoint.

But you're right, 2021 wasn't the hardest path to a championship

It's an argument used against many, including Jokic. And normally I wouldn't really intersect with it much, but when we're projecting a team's ability in the current season when the competition is better than it was during a COVID season, it becomes relevant, you know?

Giannis went down in the ECF with the series tied 2-2, the "role players" closed out the Hawks w/o him.

This really reinforces the quality of the team, and them being much more than bonita is discussing, I agree. And also the relative weakness of the Hawks to some degree, but still. It was an impressive close-out.

[TheProfessor]

Giannis is the best player I've ever seen at carrying role players, and he's got role players now, so good chance he wins MVP and reaches the Finals.

Lebron....

[Infinite Llamas]

Being out a week might cost him some momentum.

[scrabbarista]

Being out a week might cost him some momentum.

The fact that it's for a jammed finger and a bruised leg kind of makes me wonder if there's going to be some LAL tanking this year...

[Optms]

Giannis is the best player I've ever seen at carrying role players, and he's got role players now, so good chance he wins MVP and reaches the Finals.

Lebron....

Curry took a washed up Klay and Draymond to the Finals and won a chip. All this recent Giannis glazing getting out of contol.