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So what's the working theory for Luka's weight gain and how to address it? 

Too many calories? Wrong kind of calories? Too much cerveza? Does Cuban need to hire a nutritionist?

Needs more workout time? More weight room time?

Is this something addressable during the season with 3-4 games per week?

I can tell you from experience it is better to not take in the calories rather than have to work them off later.

(12-09-2021, 12:12 PM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]Too many calories?

Regardless of how he got the calories, it has to be the calories. 




My guess is that the "resting" that bulked him up in three weeks time was massive partying and celebrating the olympics, his new contract and maybe just because. 

The fact that he can play 3 months of basketball without losing the weight means that his calories are still too high. 

He's not the only dude to have to figure out that you can't necessarily eat like a teenager your whole life.

(12-09-2021, 12:12 PM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]So what's the working theory for Luka's weight gain and how to address it? 

Too many calories? Wrong kind of calories? Too much cerveza? Does Cuban need to hire a nutritionist?

Needs more workout time? More weight room time?

Is this something addressable during the season with 3-4 games per week?

I can tell you from experience it is better to not take in the calories rather than have to work them off later.

As long as he plays as he does, to me that's the only that matters. How he looks, I don't pay attention to. Last years MVP was also fat and also doesnt play with pace, but with skill. The extra strength has its advantages. This is the best Luka I have seen, and he can bully defenders much more now and needs constant double team in the post up situations. I hope people notice this. Luka anyway doesnt play with pace, and on purpose slows down plays. As does Jokic. The extra strength is better payed of than some extra increase in straight line pace. People call it fat, what I see is more strength.

If the team was converting open looks better, this would be easy his best season statistically, he would have 10+ average assists.

If hadn't being published here yet, few words fro9m LD's personal trainer before this season..

https://en.as.com/en/2021/10/12/nba/1634...58836.html

Please don't send this link to Skip&comp, I enjoy such bs's ...

(12-09-2021, 01:38 PM)LukTheShadow Wrote: [ -> ]If hadn't being published here yet, few words fro9m LD's personal trainer before this season..

https://en.as.com/en/2021/10/12/nba/1634...58836.html

Please don't send this link to Skip&comp, I enjoy such bs's ...

"At 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) and 230 pounds (104.3 kg), Doncic is a complete player who stands out neither for his speed nor for his explosiveness, but rather just the opposite"

(12-09-2021, 01:38 PM)LukTheShadow Wrote: [ -> ]If hadn't being published here yet, few words fro9m LD's personal trainer before this season..

https://en.as.com/en/2021/10/12/nba/1634...58836.html

Please don't send this link to Skip&comp, I enjoy such bs's ...

I like the article. But the only statement about Luka's weight by the trainer was more of a non-answer. 

When asked about the talk about Luka's weight, the trainer said:

Quote:It doesn't seem relevant to me. As long as he can play at the level that he does, no one can hold anything against him. The important thing is that he knows that things will be more difficult each season, each year that passes, that each time he will have to put more effort and attention in taking care of his body. That will be the way to have many successful seasons ahead.

I'm sure if you weren't asking the trainer for quotes about Luka that he'd have opnions about diet and how carrying extra weight impacts health and longevity.

(12-09-2021, 12:12 PM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]So what's the working theory for Luka's weight gain and how to address it? 

Too many calories? Wrong kind of calories? Too much cerveza? Does Cuban need to hire a nutritionist?

As Shannon Sharpe said, "You cannot exercise a bad diet."

I am confident to say that this is 100% diet. Probably two things: 1) Alcohol and 2) refined/processed grains/sugars (sweets and white breads as example). Alcohol and added sugars are universally the things that elite athletes cut out, especially during the season and the training leading up to it.

(12-09-2021, 11:20 AM)bodhisattva Wrote: [ -> ]Just a funny thing happened to me today, and I thought I would share it with you.
I was at my grandmas in the afternoon helping to chop some wood. Sports news comes up, they talk about Memphis game and my grandma goes:"Look at him, hes fat as a pig!" "Who?" Says I, "Dončič!", goes my grandma. Shes 88 years old mind you.
So its not only USA, even Slovenian grandmas think Luka is fat. True story.

(12-09-2021, 01:38 PM)LukTheShadow Wrote: [ -> ]few words fro9m LD's personal trainer before this season..

Couple things:

1) Unless I missed it, I did not see him talk one bit about working with Luka on his diet. That is concerning to me.

2) His quote about MIA's culture: "The three concepts that define the Miami Heat are discipline, culture and hard work. The players put in extraordinary effort, they spend a lot of time taking care of their physical condition, training in the gym. Every Monday they are all weighed and they measure their percentage of body fat. Each player has their own personalized objectives and from there, there are many more rules and regulations. Lots (laughs). So yeah, that Miami Heat CULTURE is very real." The Mavs need something like that!

(12-09-2021, 03:32 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Couple things:

1) Unless I missed it, I did not see him talk one bit about working with Luka on his diet. That is concerning to me.

2) His quote about MIA's culture: "The three concepts that define the Miami Heat are discipline, culture and hard work. The players put in extraordinary effort, they spend a lot of time taking care of their physical condition, training in the gym. Every Monday they are all weighed and they measure their percentage of body fat. Each player has their own personalized objectives and from there, there are many more rules and regulations. Lots (laughs). So yeah, that Miami Heat CULTURE is very real." The Mavs need something like that!

add1: no, you're right on point, your concerns where not addressed in this article. Mybe this quote still touches a bit on a diete: "As long as he can play at the level that he does, no one can hold anything against him. The important thing is that he knows that things will be more difficult each season, each year that passes, that each time he will have to put more effort and attention in taking care of his body. That will be the way to have many successful seasons ahead". Said that from a person who worked with him few years has to have some weight.

Boldd and underlined is important to me. Knowing that or executed that are two different stories. Last year trouhg season he managed to imrprove his fitness shape. Will see how he will prosper in this season after he'll rehabilitate injury from BB accident which would put out of the game many nba BB players and 99,99% normal people for months but he's relative ok and still playing through pain. But no mercy next season, which will probably define his dedication to put more and more energy into his body shaping every year.

Add2: Agree. Don't mavs have something like that?

The Miami culture is a real thing. That's why they so often get the players other teams (including Dallas, pretty frequently) want. 

The face of the organization is Pat Riley, a legend in professional basketball circles. They have a "Miami Heat way" to do or think about pretty much anything/everything having to do with basketball, and he's behind it all. Their owner's identity isn't a secret or anything, but I'd have to google it to remember who it is because it's just not something that comes to mind immediately when I think of that team. Their identity as a team/organization is what comes to mind. 

Comparing our Mavs to that organization, even during the best of times, will cause depression, imo.

(12-09-2021, 04:30 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]The Miami culture is a real thing. That's why they so often get the players other teams (including Dallas, pretty frequently) want. 

The face of the organization is Pat Riley, a legend in professional basketball circles. They have a "Miami Heat way" to do or think about pretty much anything/everything having to do with basketball, and he's behind it all. Their owner's identity isn't a secret or anything, but I'd have to google it to remember who it is because it's just not something that comes to mind immediately when I think of that team. Their identity as a team/organization is what comes to mind. 

Comparing our Mavs to that organization, even during the best of times, will cause depression, imo.

Mickey Arison.  One of the handful of owner names that I know.

(12-09-2021, 05:11 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Mickey Arison.  One of the handful of owner names that I know.

You're right, and now that you've written it, I remember, so I knew that at some point. But, I think the point I made is still accurate. He's an owner that does insert himself into every aspect of the team's identity. 

I don't think it's impossible to succeed the way Cuban runs things, but I do think the approach makes some things much, much more difficult.

(12-09-2021, 05:23 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]You're right, and now that you've written it, I remember, so I knew that at some point. But, I think the point I made is still accurate. He's an owner that does insert himself into every aspect of the team's identity. 

I don't think it's impossible to succeed the way Cuban runs things, but I do think the approach makes some things much, much more difficult.

I really think Cuban's doomed the franchise.  Almost everything that comes out about ownership, Delonte West aside, is really negative.  Worse yet is that I don't believe Cuban is self aware enough to realize what he's turned the franchise into.

There are very few destination franchises in the NBA.  Props to Riley for what he's done with the Heat and putting them into the big three along with the Lakers and Knicks though I do think the Knicks have eroding appeal.

This team issues are way bigger than Luka peak fitness, but I was really hoping Kidd would have some effect in some areas I wanted to see improvement in.   I haven't seen it yet.  I hope Luka hasn't reached the stage where he will not adjust his game.    He appears to understand where his game may need some improvement, so lets hope it can change.

I would love to see a game where Luka shoots 4-7 from the field but has 16 assists and 12 rebounds and after the game you say that Luka totally dominated the game. I believe he has that in him.   Maybe this is not the right team for him to do this, but I would love to see a game where he doesn't look for his own shot but still dominates the game.  Do I want Luka shooting 7 shots a game often?  Not at all.  But I would love to see a game from him like this.

To the above, I would also like to see Luka mature as a point guard.  Luka is a great passer, but Kidd, Chris Paul, Steve Nash would start games and look to get other guys going.   Luka doesn't really do this.   He runs his offense and makes the right play (most of the time).  In the game against the Pacers, KP scored 8 points in the first few minutes.   After that (my timeframe may be off), Luka took a contested three, had a turnover, and than took another three.   I would like to see him have the mindset that we are going to go to KP and try to get him 15 points in the quarter.   Same thing for a guy like Bullock, who is struggling.   I would like to see him have the mindset that I am going to get him some easy looks.   It is a small thing but just something the veteran point guards do.

Lastly, I was really hopeful we would play at a faster pace.  My favorite thing about Kidd was he was always putting pressure on the defense.   Luka likes to survey the floor and do his thing.   This bothers me.  I want a faster pace.   Because we don't push the ball much, teams can attack the offensive boards imo.   I would like to see him attack and look for easy buckets.  If those are not there, then try to get a secondary three off penetration.   I really think if we got 3-4 more easy buckets a game that it would really help.   I feel like the pace is better when Luka is not in the game.

Agree with all of the above. Luka draws so much attention that his mere presence makes everyone better, but I don't see him running the team like a guy like Chris Paul does. CP3 can manipulate a game like he has everyone on a string. 

It's obviously too much of a leap to pin all the offensive struggles on Luka, but I do think a lot of the team's inconsistency is on him. Three starters combining for 7 shots in 80 minutes isn't going to get it done.

(12-12-2021, 10:02 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]Lastly, I was really hopeful we would play at a faster pace. Luka likes to survey the floor and do his thing.

Slovenia with the same Luka just a couple of months ago played a very fast pace offense. I don't think Luka is a problem. It doesn't have to be him that is pushing the ball. He had no problem in Slovenian team with others pushing the ball and he is ten times the star there than he is in Dallas.

Shut him down for a few weeks. Let's see if this team is still barely staying afloat a month from now and if not, wave the white flag and tank. It's looking like a lost season either way.

Luka's been rehabbing his ankle/knee for over a week now. 

Has anyone even seen him? IDK if any board members make it over to the team facility (ML's rumored ID not withstanding) but I was wondering if they were getting him some pool time or bike time to burn off a few pounds and keep his conditioning up. Anyone making sure he's not having beers and Kolaches for breakfast everyday? Are they keeping him out of the reporters hot dog room at the arena?

I was thinking about athletes and diet the other day. Someone like Luka, or any other high performance athlete has to have the calories to burn to stay effective. One reference I found claims that a player logging over 30 minutes in a game will burn 1200-1500 calories. So you'd think they could eat what they want, but a Quarter Pounder w/Cheese, Large Fry, Large Coke checks in at 1300 calories. So if their eating habits are marginal (I have a weakness for pizza myself) but the season activity balances their eating behavior (doesn't apply to me though) then the offseason can potentially be a problem if one doesn't adjust to the different activity level.

Luka spend time and energy helping Slovenia to a fabulous Olympics run. I was cheering for him all the way. But I wonder if hanging out with his mates maybe exacerbated an already marginal dietary style that resulted in checking in a little pudgy this year.

I mean if the Slovenia grandmas are calling him fat, then who am I to argue.