Tatum VS Luka

[nikster]

KP is what he has always been. He gave the Mavs 20/9/2blks one season. He became a bad player after playing with Luka. You can't be a bad player producing those numbers while another player is ball hogging.

So you're using stats as the base of your argument like most casual fans who box score watch and don't actually watch games.

KP has been an All Star not a problem.

In 20-21 KP averaged 24/10/2 on 64TS% per 36 minutes when he was on the court with Luka. Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries. No evidence at all that Luka made KP worse or held him back.

[GeorgeSears]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

With Luka, I feel as though he's got another level he can reach if he's willing to commit himself. Will he become selfish and commit himself in the offseason and say no to his national team? Just based on some of his decisions in the offseason, the answer is he won't. He might just stay at this level for the rest of his career. This isn't a bad thing, but he could be so much more.

[SelfishPlayer]

So you're using stats as the base of your argument like most casual fans who box score watch and don't actually watch games.

KP has been an All Star not a problem.

In 20-21 KP averaged 24/10/2 on 64TS% per 36 minutes when he was on the court with Luka. Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries. No evidence at all that Luka made KP worse or held him back.

So KP was a good player in Dallas?

[SelfishPlayer]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

With Luka, I feel as though he's got another level he can reach if he's willing to commit himself. Will he become selfish and commit himself in the offseason and say no to his national team? Just based on some of his decisions in the offseason, the answer is he won't. He might just stay at this level for the rest of his career. This isn't a bad thing, but he could be so much more.

Tatum can easily get better by simply reverting back to the elite shooter that he was once projected to be. He isn't knocking them down as consistently

[nikster]

KP has been an All Star not a problem.

In 20-21 KP averaged 24/10/2 on 64TS% per 36 minutes when he was on the court with Luka. Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries. No evidence at all that Luka made KP worse or held him back.

So KP was a good player in Dallas?

for stretches, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries."

[SelfishPlayer]

In 20-21 KP averaged 24/10/2 on 64TS% per 36 minutes when he was on the court with Luka. Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries. No evidence at all that Luka made KP worse or held him back.

So KP was a good player in Dallas?

for stretches, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries."

If Luka needs more than 20/9/2blks out of his #2 to win a championship with Luka ball, then I'm quite sure he will not. Luka may never have a teammate better than KP.

[nikster]

So KP was a good player in Dallas?

for stretches, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries."

If Luka needs more than 20/9/2blks out of his #2 to win a championship with Luka ball, then I'm quite sure he will not. Luka may never have a teammate better than KP.

He never had that in the playoffs tho. KP was playing great in 2020 but went down to injury, 2021 he was not himself due to injury. Kristaps is a good enough player to be #2, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries." Its like your being purposely obtuse

[SelfishPlayer]

for stretches, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries."

If Luka needs more than 20/9/2blks out of his #2 to win a championship with Luka ball, then I'm quite sure he will not. Luka may never have a teammate better than KP.

He never had that in the playoffs tho. KP was playing great in 2020 but went down to injury, 2021 he was not himself due to injury. Kristaps is a good enough player to be #2, but "Hes been completely inconsistent due to a ton of injuries." Its like your being purposely obtuse

No, I'm just acknowledging the good NBA players that have been in Dallas and that still are in Dallas. Players good enough to win playoff games without their future Hall of Famer.

[dygaction]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

With Luka, I feel as though he's got another level he can reach if he's willing to commit himself. Will he become selfish and commit himself in the offseason and say no to his national team? Just based on some of his decisions in the offseason, the answer is he won't. He might just stay at this level for the rest of his career. This isn't a bad thing, but he could be so much more.

I don't understand the "say no to his national team" thing. For Luka's country men Slovenians (I am not), they want Luka to get better in NBA so he could elevate their national team. NBA players get traded and fans move from team to team, players usually play for one country and fans support one country.

[Bob8]

Not sure if you watched the playoffs that year, but Tatum was absolutely the best player on that ECF team. He went head to head with Bron as a ROOKIE.

So you are comparing him to Jordan.
The comparison does not even make sense because Jordan was an elite defender.

You have problem with reading. I'm comparing only their offensive production. Nothing else.

How you gonna say I have a problem with reading when you can't make a proper sentence?

Either way offensively Jordan is much better. Led the league in scoring in his 4th year of his career. You also said Jordan didn't play much defense at this time in his career.. but he also won defensive player of the year that season as well. Honestly comparing Luka to Jordan is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Why do that to your favorite player

You should be proud speaking better than someone, who is using English only in this forum.

I have never said Luka and Jordan are comparable as players, their counting stats in playoffs are. But you have no interest in Luka's playoffs stats, aren't you? You rather move target and talk about Jordan's D.

[3toheadmelo]

You have problem with reading. I'm comparing only their offensive production. Nothing else.

How you gonna say I have a problem with reading when you can't make a proper sentence?

Either way offensively Jordan is much better. Led the league in scoring in his 4th year of his career. You also said Jordan didn't play much defense at this time in his career.. but he also won defensive player of the year that season as well. Honestly comparing Luka to Jordan is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Why do that to your favorite player

You should be proud speaking better than someone, who is using English only in this forum.

I have never said Luka and Jordan are comparable as players, their counting stats in playoffs are. But you have no interest in Luka's playoffs stats, aren't you? You rather move target and talk about Jordan's D.

Bob just let it out. You know deep down you think Luka is better than Jordan or at least on his level. we see it. For someone who keeps comparing his stats to him but denies that you’re comparing them as players is very telling

[Wagonband]

I appreciate your post- A Slovian should back Luka 100%

And like I have said, I don’t think it’s a foregone collusion Luka doesn’t become great at defense. We have never seen him in great shape… yet

The who now? Ah yes, the mighty Slovian nation backs their own players all the time. Unlike the Amrians

How is this thread still going... I love how people are saying Luka is worse than MJ like that is a bad thing and has anything to do with the Luka vs Tatum debate

[Bob8]

How you gonna say I have a problem with reading when you can't make a proper sentence?

Either way offensively Jordan is much better. Led the league in scoring in his 4th year of his career. You also said Jordan didn't play much defense at this time in his career.. but he also won defensive player of the year that season as well. Honestly comparing Luka to Jordan is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Why do that to your favorite player

You should be proud speaking better than someone, who is using English only in this forum.

I have never said Luka and Jordan are comparable as players, their counting stats in playoffs are. But you have no interest in Luka's playoffs stats, aren't you? You rather move target and talk about Jordan's D.

Bob just let it out. You know deep down you think Luka is better than Jordan or at least on his level. we see it. For someone who keeps comparing his stats to him but denies that you’re comparing them as players is very telling

Yes, deep down I think that 23 years old Luka is better than GOAT.

Stats are used for comparison. Luka is having phenomenal start of his career in playoffs. But in the end only titles matters. When Luka wins 6th title, I will seriously compare those 2 as players. Until then you have Tatum, Harden, Melo, Trae...on that list too. And you can compare how successful and efficient they are in playoffs. Maybe you will reconsider your opinion that Luka is similar to Melo, with that claim we started our discussion btw. I understand, if you're a little bit embarrassed about it.

[SelfishPlayer]

It's much easier to build a championship team with Tatum vs Luka. Tatum doesn't need "right fits." He can simply be included amongst a group of good players no matter their individual strengths. That's so much the case that he can start at the SG position or even PF if forced to do so because of the other players having strengths that make him the best option at those positions.

[DroseReturnChi]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

With Luka, I feel as though he's got another level he can reach if he's willing to commit himself. Will he become selfish and commit himself in the offseason and say no to his national team? Just based on some of his decisions in the offseason, the answer is he won't. He might just stay at this level for the rest of his career. This isn't a bad thing, but he could be so much more.

not only that his playstyle is awfully similar to paul pierce whereas luka is this eras lebron james. his only weakness is defense and critics are trying to lower his level to james harden when they play nothing alike. when did luka ever make teammate worse brunson, dfs they all got paid max dollars hes too unselfish he will be left with overpaid role players. tatum has to reach generational offense and defense to even debate this.

generational defenders like smart, thybulle are basically paid MLE moneys i dont want a 40% usage guy thats the whole offense running to defend. in basketball you can let one guy to not play defense and not suffer gs has been abusing this for decades and still win multiple titles. does it suck luka isnt the anchor like lebron? yes but prime lebron never had the jumpshot over 30ft and was afraid to get hacked fts luka makes up for offense.

[BK_2020]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

People have been saying this since he was 19.

[Bob8]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

People have been saying this since he was 19.

People saying how young players have peaked already is stupid. Young players, if they want to put work in it, are improving all the time. It's better to look at which areas players can improve significantly. I'm sure that Tatum has a lot of room for improvement, but I don't know him enough to say where specifically. I know Luka well enough to say something. FT%, there's no reason that he can't shoot around 85%. A little better shot selection and his FG% should go up too. And the most important for him, better conditioning. This will unlock his potential in offensive end and D. Everything is easier, if you're in good physical condition. In some ways it's fascinating how overweighted player can do that much damage to his opponents, but he will need to address that problem sooner or later.

[SelfishPlayer]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

People have been saying this since he was 19.

People saying how young players have peaked already is stupid. Young players, if they want to put work in it, are improving all the time. It's better to look at which areas players can improve significantly. I'm sure that Tatum has a lot of room for improvement, but I don't know him enough to say where specifically. I know Luka well enough to say something. FT%, there's no reason that he can't shoot around 85%. A little better shot selection and his FG% should go up too. And the most important for him, better conditioning. This will unlock his potential in offensive end and D. Everything is easier, if you're in good physical condition. In some ways it's fascinating how overweighted player can do that much damage to his opponents, but he will need to address that problem sooner or later.

Luka's game actually utilizes his weight to his advantage. People keep imagining Luka becoming svelte but he utilizes bully ball to create space. A svelte Luka may not be much more athletic while diminishing his bully ball effectiveness. Luka's soft body and unimpressive free throw/three point shooting percentages go hand and hand.

[Bob8]

People have been saying this since he was 19.

People saying how young players have peaked already is stupid. Young players, if they want to put work in it, are improving all the time. It's better to look at which areas players can improve significantly. I'm sure that Tatum has a lot of room for improvement, but I don't know him enough to say where specifically. I know Luka well enough to say something. FT%, there's no reason that he can't shoot around 85%. A little better shot selection and his FG% should go up too. And the most important for him, better conditioning. This will unlock his potential in offensive end and D. Everything is easier, if you're in good physical condition. In some ways it's fascinating how overweighted player can do that much damage to his opponents, but he will need to address that problem sooner or later.

Luka's game actually utilizes his weight to his advantage. People keep imagining Luka becoming svelte but he utilizes bully ball to create space. A svelte Luka may not be much more athletic while diminishing his bully ball effectiveness. Luka's soft body and unimpressive free throw/three point shooting percentages go hand and hand.

I got the massage. Luka is overrated, ball hog, inefficient chucker, has peaked already and cannot be in better condition no matter what. Mavs were in WCF not because of him, but in spite of him.

Can you now please stop replying to my posts?

[BK_2020]

Even though Tatum is 24, it feels to me as if he's peaked. And If he hasn't, he's close to it. It's hard for me to envision him getting any better than he is right now and he's pretty damn good right now.

People have been saying this since he was 19.

People saying how young players have peaked already is stupid. Young players, if they want to put work in it, are improving all the time. It's better to look at which areas players can improve significantly. I'm sure that Tatum has a lot of room for improvement, but I don't know him enough to say where specifically. I know Luka well enough to say something. FT%, there's no reason that he can't shoot around 85%. A little better shot selection and his FG% should go up too. And the most important for him, better conditioning. This will unlock his potential in offensive end and D. Everything is easier, if you're in good physical condition. In some ways it's fascinating how overweighted player can do that much damage to his opponents, but he will need to address that problem sooner or later.

Magic went from a decent FT shooter (76-80%) to a great one (90%) in the course of about 5 years. Given Luka's touch, I would expect something similar for Luka.