(06-04-2022, 07:56 PM)audiosway Wrote: [ -> ]Really? You do realize that Luka AVERAGED 32 Points, 9.2 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1.6 Steals, and 1 Block PER GAME right?
Dallas just couldn't get enough scoring from the rest of the cast. That combined with not enough stopping power lost them the series.
No one got destroyed in that series. Actually the steals and blocks were right on par for both teams. The real killer was getting out-rebounded by an average of 11 per game and getting outscored by an average of 9 per game for Dallas. That will lose you the series every time.
If anyone got destroyed it was Wiggins shooting 8-28 from 3 for 29%.
The only game where they let Wiggins man guard one-on-one Luka, was game 2 I believe if i remember well. Luka went for 25 points in FIRST quarter, with majority being guarded by Wiggins and him getting in foul trouble. In third, they switched to zone as Wiggins was getting destroyed and Warriors would have lost the game. The rest of the series Warriors knew they would lose if they would playing man, and switched to heavy zone with rare man defense, with heavy presence in paint and doubling Luka whenever entering the paint. We couldn't take advantage of this zone as a team however and this is why Dallas lost.
Understanding numbers and reasons for outcome is a lot dictated by schemes and what happens on the court. Warriors switched to zone simply because Wiggins was literally destroyed and Warriors knew they would have lost the series if continued this way. Even Kidd commented that as a praise and compliment to Luka and Mavericks that they were the only team that forced Warriors into zone. That alone speaks everything in this case.
(06-04-2022, 07:56 PM)audiosway Wrote: [ -> ]Really? You do realize that Luka AVERAGED 32 Points, 9.2 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1.6 Steals, and 1 Block PER GAME right?
Dallas just couldn't get enough scoring from the rest of the cast. That combined with not enough stopping power lost them the series.
No one got destroyed in that series. Actually the steals and blocks were right on par for both teams. The real killer was getting out-rebounded by an average of 11 per game and getting outscored by an average of 9 per game for Dallas. That will lose you the series every time.
If anyone got destroyed it was Wiggins shooting 8-28 from 3 for 29%.
100%, and the guy who led the charge and is overllooked is Kevon Looney, who outplayed both Mavs centers. He won a couple of games just on his offensive and defensive rebounding, and even had a career high 22 pts one game.
Much has been made about Luka's immaturity, particularly when concerned with his ability or willingness to work during the offseason towards gaining a competitive edge in a profession that demands the highest level of physical fitness and focus.
I definitely agree that he's not "there" yet, and honestly, it's kind of obvious he's not. But, he's 23. Regardless of experience or occupation, young men who are 17-25, roughly, are mostly pretty similar, in my experience, and working with that age group (albeit not basketball players) is something I know a lot about.
There's a reason "kids" don't win in pro sports, particularly in basketball, where individual players carry so much of the difference-making weight on their shoulders. He'll get there.
And, fwiw, here's footage of another phenom of a similar age who's not only doing the same stuff Luka is doing (probably) but even more "immaturely." At least Luka is mature enough not to film himself partying.
Not that there's anything wrong with young people being young people. I don't even want to think about how much dumb stuff I would've done if someone would've handed me $200 Million in my early 20's. These guys are doing much better with it than we give them credit for, tbqh. I'm not posting this to tear Ja down, or to prop Luka up, either. It's just a reminder that THESE ARE KIDS.
We, as Mavs fans, have the winning lottery ticket in our hands. It's just going to take a few years to collect. Luka, like every other NBA superstar before him, will have to mature into a grown man before he can win a championship. I'm amazed he's already gotten as far as he has.
https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1533202238444908551?s=20&t=3p2AJ5YLFRuYsxrYLxeEIA
Luka may not be as tired if he didn't have the ball 20 seconds out of 24 every time he is on the court. And in those 20 seconds he is over there doing his Curly Neal impression before he fires up a step back three.
I know it's heresy to criticize him but Dallas and him would be better served to have him be a finisher every now and then, and not the creator. But I don't think he will work on his game like that, and he doesn't want to relinquish control.
He had a Usage Rate of over 40%. No one has been that ball dominant in the playoffs... let alone won a championship that way.
He will always wear down if he doesn't learn to pace himself.
Looking at the 4 teams in conference finals, Luka had clearly and by far the worst team assembled around him. Celtics? Warriors? Miami? All pure depth from start to finish. For Dallas, I can only name Brunson and (to some level also SD) as players able to make plays in addition to Luka. The rest are relying a lot on open shooting. In order to win the championship, we simply need to have at least little playmaking from the other positions, in order to keep defenses honest. Warriors could exploit our defense by having many weapons. This is a great strategy.
Even looking outside of the final 4, its a near miracle from Luka and Brunson we made it there. I can name several teams with more overall talent and depth than Dallas.
I get the point how great role players some of out players are, but we are not a team full of championship blood like Luka and Brunson are. Place Luka and/or Brunson on this Celtics and Warriors team, and they win the championship immediately.
We need to look for more talent and more playmaking, passing, vision, bbIQ etc. etc. Cant become static "lets shoot open 3s and play D" team. We may reach WCF with Luka and Brunson, but not all the way like this. We need more players like Luka and Brunson and really elevate our game to new levels. Overmatch the opponents defenses with too many weapons. Destroy them with bbIQ and movements and passing, overmatch their attempt to neutrilize Luka and Brunson with schemes and zones like we have seen Warriors do when they couldt stop Luka playing man to man defense.
Quinn Snyder stepping down as the Jazz coach. It will be interesting to see what direction the front office decides to go in. Retool or rebuild? Or will it be forced upon them.
I am not sure if he is the top of my wish list, but I would have an interest in Bojan Bogdanovich. Not sure what type of offer though. I have always liked him.
(06-05-2022, 05:19 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]Quinn Snyder stepping down as the Jazz coach. It will be interesting to see what direction the front office decides to go in. Retool or rebuild? Or will it be forced upon them.
I would guess it's rebuild time and that's why he's jumping ship. We'll find out soon.
(06-05-2022, 05:22 PM)loki Wrote: [ -> ]I would guess it's rebuild time and that's why he's jumping ship. We'll find out soon.
Danny Ainge was brought in to run the show, so you can expect anything.
(06-05-2022, 04:26 PM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]I get the point how great role players some of out players are, but we are not a team full of championship blood like Luka and Brunson are. Place Luka and/or Brunson on this Celtics and Warriors team, and they win the championship immediately.
Not sure about that, think it os downgrade for both sides if we replace their 2 best players for Luka and Brunson.
Both teams play an anti-Luka offense imo, Celtics learned to move the ball this season and Kerr always knew how to make his team play like.. well like a team.
(06-05-2022, 04:26 PM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]Looking at the 4 teams in conference finals, Luka had clearly and by far the worst team assembled around him. Celtics? Warriors? Miami? All pure depth from start to finish. For Dallas, I can only name Brunson and (to some level also SD) as players able to make plays in addition to Luka. The rest are relying a lot on open shooting. In order to win the championship, we simply need to have at least little playmaking from the other positions, in order to keep defenses honest. Warriors could exploit our defense by having many weapons. This is a great strategy.
Even looking outside of the final 4, its a near miracle from Luka and Brunson we made it there. I can name several teams with more overall talent and depth than Dallas.
I get the point how great role players some of out players are, but we are not a team full of championship blood like Luka and Brunson are. Place Luka and/or Brunson on this Celtics and Warriors team, and they win the championship immediately.
We need to look for more talent and more playmaking, passing, vision, bbIQ etc. etc. Cant become static "lets shoot open 3s and play D" team. We may reach WCF with Luka and Brunson, but not all the way like this. We need more players like Luka and Brunson and really elevate our game to new levels. Overmatch the opponents defenses with too many weapons. Destroy them with bbIQ and movements and passing, overmatch their attempt to neutrilize Luka and Brunson with schemes and zones like we have seen Warriors do when they couldt stop Luka playing man to man defense.
If you look at DFS, Maxi, and Bullock, any one of those guys would be fantastic as bench depth or the 5th glue guy on a great team. The problem is we have to rely on all 3 of them at once, with zero depth behind them (or ahead of them, in Maxi's case). Adding someone like Turner without giving up our core would take us about halfway there.
(06-05-2022, 08:04 PM)khaled1987 Wrote: [ -> ]Not sure about that, think it os downgrade for both sides if we replace their 2 best players for Luka and Brunson.
Both teams play an anti-Luka offense imo, Celtics learned to move the ball this season and Kerr always knew how to make his team play like.. well like a team.
Place their depth around Luka and Brunson. Replace Maxi, DFS, Bullock, with Wiggins, Poole, Looney etc. etc. etc. Its not even close, with those players Luka and Brunson are winning this championship. Luka and Brunson are as good and likely better than Curry/Thompson.
The issue is our lack of other players making plays. All are stationary 3&D guys. As we have seen our offense takes a huge leap with having another smart player around Luka that can do something with the ball. Warriors have 5 of those.
Only problem is, Luka and Brunson haven't won jack yet. Overall talent wise, Luka is probably the best out of the four. But I'm not ready to proclaim JB and Luka better than Curry and Thompson, who in my mind are much better shooters, inspite of Klay's recent struggles. Can't do it. You put both on the Warriors they would be tough, but there is no guarantees they win it all.
(06-06-2022, 06:02 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]Place their depth around Luka and Brunson. Replace Maxi, DFS, Bullock, with Wiggins, Poole, Looney etc. etc. etc. Its not even close, with those players Luka and Brunson are winning this championship. Luka and Brunson are as good and likely better than Curry/Thompson.
The issue is our lack of other players making plays. All are stationary 3&D guys. As we have seen our offense takes a huge leap with having another smart player around Luka that can do something with the ball. Warriors have 5 of those.
Yeah, No.
And I think there is a lot of ways to define better tbh. Luka might look like better individual player but I honestly think Curry is simply the easier player to build a winning team around. At least in comparison to current Luka. Same with Klay and JB as 2nd option.
Sort like Dirk vs KD back in the old days, when many folks would argue how KG defense and rebounding makes him better, but Dirk was always capable of getting the wins and elevating the whole team.
It is crazy to me how fans have a tendency to elevate the role players on other teams and denigrate our own.
The major difference between DAL, BOS, MIA, and GSW is not the role players. GSW doesn't have some magic ability to identify incredible talent in role players that DAL doesn't have. Role players are elevated by coaching, culture, and the stars of the team. Give GSW the Mavs role players and they would likely not miss a beat.
(06-06-2022, 09:33 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]It is crazy to me how fans have a tendency to elevate the role players on other teams and denigrate our own.
The major difference between DAL, BOS, MIA, and GSW is not the role players. GSW doesn't have some magic ability to identify incredible talent in role players that DAL doesn't have. Role players are elevated by coaching, culture, and the stars of the team. Give GSW the Mavs role players and they would likely not miss a beat.
Not that Luka and JB are ready to win championships yet, but I couldn’t disagree with this statement more.
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