Luka Dončić Discussion - Year 2

[Bob8]

I haven't watched the game yet and i'm just reading comments from all over the internet, something tells me i will be greatly upset when i do see the replay.
Apparently RC had Doncic on the bench for far too long and it costed them the game... But like i said, i haven't watched the game yet, just reading what people are saying.
Makes me wonder though. What does Luka have to do in order for RC realize that he is their most important and best player. Even tanking teams play their rookies more to develop, i really don't understand.

Mavs were 7 down and bench brought them to 111:111, that’s way RC played with the bench that long. And 2 minutes after starters came in the game, the game was more or less lost.

[wolfram]

Luka is not in good enough shape to play more minutes. You can see it on defense and offense in 4th quarter. Still he had a great game. But in 3 years if he's healthy and properly conditioned, man.. Can't wait.

[Drygon]

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[Archx]

I haven't watched the game yet and i'm just reading comments from all over the internet, something tells me i will be greatly upset when i do see the replay.
Apparently RC had Doncic on the bench for far too long and it costed them the game... But like i said, i haven't watched the game yet, just reading what people are saying.
Makes me wonder though. What does Luka have to do in order for RC realize that he is their most important and best player. Even tanking teams play their rookies more to develop, i really don't understand.

Mavs were 7 down and bench brought them to 111:111, that’s way RC played with the bench that long. And 2 minutes after starters came in the game, the game was more or less lost.

Ah ok... still, i feel i'll be angry after i watch it

[Archx]

Luka is not in good enough shape to play more minutes. You can see it on defense and offense in 4th quarter. Still he had a great game. But in 3 years if he's healthy and properly conditioned, man.. Can't wait.

Yeah this is seriously hurting his production and also shoot % in my opinion. When you watch him, you can just feel how much more he could do if his body would allow it.

[wolfram]

Luka is not in good enough shape to play more minutes. You can see it on defense and offense in 4th quarter. Still he had a great game. But in 3 years if he's healthy and properly conditioned, man.. Can't wait.

Yeah this is seriously hurting his production and also shoot % in my opinion. When you watch him, you can just feel how much more he could do if his body would allow it.

Man, I hope they have a long term plan for him. But mostly I hope he will be commited to take care of his body during offseasons. I know he loves to practice basketball, but I'm not really sure he enjoys weights and stuff... He needs a mentor in this area. On the other hand, Lebron is his idol

[Bob8]

Luka is not in good enough shape to play more minutes. You can see it on defense and offense in 4th quarter. Still he had a great game. But in 3 years if he's healthy and properly conditioned, man.. Can't wait.

Yeah this is seriously hurting his production and also shoot % in my opinion. When you watch him, you can just feel how much more he could do if his body would allow it.

How much more? If he would take few shots more and have better %, he would be around MVP numbers. Player, who is able to score 20 points with an ease almost every night is for sure solidly prepared. He has room of improvement in that department of course, but not that much as some people here believe.

[Archx]

Luka is not in good enough shape to play more minutes. You can see it on defense and offense in 4th quarter. Still he had a great game. But in 3 years if he's healthy and properly conditioned, man.. Can't wait.

Yeah this is seriously hurting his production and also shoot % in my opinion. When you watch him, you can just feel how much more he could do if his body would allow it.

How much more? If he would take few shots more and have better %, he would be around MVP numbers. Player, who is able to score 20 points with an ease almost every night is for sure solidly prepared. He has room of improvement in that department of course, but not that much as some people here believe.

Well yea i know what you mean. But i look at it this way. If he takes 20 shots per game on 45%-50% shooting along with some 3pts and FT's... He is easily 25-30ppg guy. In his prime as a true leader and superstar of his team, that's basically a given. So in my opinion he can drastically improve. The only question is, how much better of a rebounder and playmaker can he get.

[Bob8]

Yeah this is seriously hurting his production and also shoot % in my opinion. When you watch him, you can just feel how much more he could do if his body would allow it.

How much more? If he would take few shots more and have better %, he would be around MVP numbers. Player, who is able to score 20 points with an ease almost every night is for sure solidly prepared. He has room of improvement in that department of course, but not that much as some people here believe.

Well yea i know what you mean. But i look at it this way. If he takes 20 shots per game on 45%-50% shooting along with some 3pts and FT's... He is easily 25-30ppg guy. In his prime as a true leader and superstar of his team, that's basically a given. So in my opinion he can drastically improve. The only question is, how much better of a rebounder and playmaker can he get.

yes, in his prime. don't forget that he's 19 years old kid. expectations are becoming a bit wild in last month. he's some years from there.

[Archx]

How much more? If he would take few shots more and have better %, he would be around MVP numbers. Player, who is able to score 20 points with an ease almost every night is for sure solidly prepared. He has room of improvement in that department of course, but not that much as some people here believe.

Well yea i know what you mean. But i look at it this way. If he takes 20 shots per game on 45%-50% shooting along with some 3pts and FT's... He is easily 25-30ppg guy. In his prime as a true leader and superstar of his team, that's basically a given. So in my opinion he can drastically improve. The only question is, how much better of a rebounder and playmaker can he get.

yes, in his prime. don't forget that he's 19 years old kid. expectations are becoming a bit wild in last month. he's some years from there.

Ah, i thought you were talking in general over his whole career. But you meant only rookie year.

[wolfram]

He is already so good, it is hard to imagine how much better can he get. He can become much better defensively. Also more consistent shooter. Can get some hops. Get stronger. Work on ballhandling, iso-moves.. Playmaking is a given to him - he just needs experience in NBA games.

[Darren]

I think it is difficult to find the right piece next to Doncic. Individually, besides defense, not much to complain against Luka. But if the franchise player has only step back 3s to offer, it is difficult to excel against elite players in PO.

[wolfram]

I think it is difficult to find the right piece next to Doncic. Individually, besides defense, not much to complain against Luka. But if the franchise player has only step back 3s to offer, it is difficult to excel against elite players in PO.

What are you talking about?

P.s. No need to reply, your opinion is irrelevant after reading your comment in the Denver game thread.

[J_T]

I think it is difficult to find the right piece next to Doncic. Individually, besides defense, not much to complain against Luka. But if the franchise player has only step back 3s to offer, it is difficult to excel against elite players in PO.

What are you talking about?

P.s. No need to reply, your opinion is irrelevant after reading your comment in the Denver game thread.

Yeah, I think it's ignore list time, although I will miss some of the trade proposals, though.

But i think LAC will be a rough game, they have multiple players who can defend Luka pretty well. Until he gets his body in shape, he will struggle against stronger and taller players.

I have noticed you often write this. Can you list all teams in NBA that you think are problematic for Luka to score against? I am not saying that Luka can score at will against everyone, but I think you are too pessimistic about his ability to score. The way he is scoring, physical disadvantage is not as important. He has been scoring just fine against some of the toughest defenders in the league and when I try to see why, my impression is that the defenders are... too quick if that makes sense. They are too twitchy and Luka's stop&go's or just stop&step backs work well. You know who would have big problem scoring without quickness? RW.

[Archx]

But i think LAC will be a rough game, they have multiple players who can defend Luka pretty well. Until he gets his body in shape, he will struggle against stronger and taller players.

I have noticed you often write this. Can you list all teams in NBA that you think are problematic for Luka to score against? I am not saying that Luka can score at will against everyone, but I think you are too pessimistic about his ability to score. The way he is scoring, physical disadvantage is not as important. He has been scoring just fine against some of the toughest defenders in the league and when I try to see why, my impression is that the defenders are... too quick if that makes sense. They are too twitchy and Luka's stop&go's or just stop&step backs work well. You know who would have big problem scoring without quickness? RW.

Hehe, well... I don't think that i say this often, but so far i was right, except this time

I still need to watch the game vs LAC, waiting for the torrent to be uploaded, but i look at it from a player perspective. Even in EU he had problems shooting over long and agile defenders. I had no clue who will guard Luka, i thought it was going to be Harris or Bradley. But apparently he is already so far ahead, that he figured out how to operate freely against smaller or even quicker guards.

I still stand by my observation that he will have problems scoring against Brandon Ingram type of players. But only until he gets stronger, faster... so when he can't shoot over them, he can just bully them inside and drive to the basket like LBJ for example.
Keep in mind, his step back 3 wont always fall at 50%, he'll have bad shooting nights like before. But top players figure out how to score regardless. And i see it in his game that he is more and more taking it to the rim, which is amazing. Also drawing fouls is one of his best traits. So when i say that he is going to have problem vs. some teams, i mostly try to predict his ability to draw fouls, get to the basket at will or shoot long shots over defenders.

[wolfram]

Smaller guards don't work on him. He has problems with guards his size and agility. Also length bothers him like everyone else.
He has a body made for bullying

[wolfram]

Top 50 player? I think he will be more than that. See around 6:40.

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[thr3ep01nte4]

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His iso game needs some improvement. This ESPN piece mentioned that he basically has a horrible diet. That's something worth monitoring going forward.

[J_T]

Top 50 player? I think he will be more than that. See around 6:40.

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Maybe he thought top 50 player of all time? Sure, top 50 player of all time is a big praise, but on the other hand saying that Luka Doncic "might become top 50 player in the league" is just beyond stupid. I gotta give him benefit of the doubt.

[2011Champs]

The only concern about Luka is if he might already be close to his ceiling which of course is already great.

I’d like to see Luka become a 30/10/10 superstar leading a perennial playoff powerhouse in Dallas. Whether he can improve that much more remains to be seen.