(11-12-2019, 12:08 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]Did anyone else see the "touches per game" stat they put up at the beginning of the broadcast? Luka with 102.4 then LeBron (99.2), Giannis (90.4), Brogdon (88.9), Lowry (88.4). Is this concerning to anyone but me? My concern is two-fold, first, doing too much is why we got run down Luka in the second half of last season.
Second, it just feels like doing that much on a team that has players that do their best with the ball in their hands is possibly counter-productive. I wonder if this is part of the reason Brunson looks less than the player he did last year? I wonder if this is the reason Wright would rather come off the bench.
I saw multiple times where Luka and KP got the switch of the defenders with KP posting up and Luka played hero-ball. KP can't figure out his slump if he doesn't get those touches to try.
Does Luka ever take plays off when he is on the court? It doesn't seem so. Why not?
No, I mentioned it before. Luka actually needs to start off the ball to get the other ball handlers going. At last how this roster is constructed. It also rests him a bit, so he can play stronger at the end of games.
But I'm not sure it is possible to convince Luka to do so currently.
Celtics fan on Reddit.
"They have the #1 offensive rating in the league and it still looks like their offense isn't working, lmao. Doncic is forreal."
"Yep he was dissecting our defense. His teammates were shit though"
Luka takes NINE threes per game. Makes 32%. At the same time he shoots Powell/DFS-esque numbers from 2pt range. There are five players that shoot higher than 60% from 2pt range on 10 attempts her game: Harrell, Capela, Ayton, Giannis and Luka. So four centers and Luka. I get that Luka cannot take it to the rim 24/7, because of the physical toll that will take. He already plays too many high usage minutes and that probably contributes to him settling for 3s at times.
Meanwhile Porzingis is 8th worst in the whole league in 2pt FG% by guys that take more than 10 attempts per game. The others are all guards in Winslow, Barrett, McCollum, Tatum, Lou Williams, Lavert and Sexton. Porzingis also shoots 38% from three. I don´t know if this is a physical thing to protect Porzingis by keeping him away from lobs and the rim.
All I know is that all this screams: legit 3rd scoring option. We need a legit #3. The most available among the better scorers (+15 PPG) are probably LaVine, Gallinari, Morris, CP3 and Randle.
(11-12-2019, 05:04 AM)Mavs2019 Wrote: [ -> ]All I know is that all this screams: legit 3rd scoring option. We need a legit #3. The most available among the better scorers (+15 PPG) are probably LaVine, Gallinari, Morris, CP3 and Randle.
Totally agree on the "we need legit 3rd scoring option" take. I guess there are tow extreme options:
1. Be patient. Let's see what we have. We have great locker room chemistry. We will get our pick next summer so let's see where this gets us.
2. Let's go aggresive win now, as we only need one more piece to make us a legit contender.
I guess from your list, LaVine will not be reachable, as his stats will get someone star desperate enough to offer a nice package. Even if he becomes available, which I doubt in the first place. I think Randle would fall in a similar basket as LaVine.
I believe someone will pay a first rounder and some interesting contract(s) for Gallinari. He is an excellent player. Top notch shooter. If he would be available for what we have, I would go for him despite the fact he only has a one year contract. Not sure how much we could offer him next season (do we get his bird rights?).
Morris might be available for a couple of second rounders. Not really sure I want him.
If we believe we are very close to contending, I am more and more inclined to CP3. It would certainly not cost more than THJ and Lee, perhaps we could even get some minor assets back. This means we keep our excellent bench and add a legit starter. We still get our first rounder next summer, still get the midlevel exception (I think). This means we can still trade for another top notch starter if needed. Even with his yearly declining performance we could build a very strong team around Luka, CP3 and KP. If it doesn't work - well, we can pass him forward as Houston and OKC did.
![[Image: Screenshot-2019-11-12-at-9.30.49-AM.png]](http://stlukeskck.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screenshot-2019-11-12-at-9.30.49-AM.png)
Turnovers and three point shot selection.....get those in check and WOW.
(11-12-2019, 12:08 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]Did anyone else see the "touches per game" stat they put up at the beginning of the broadcast? Luka with 102.4 then LeBron (99.2), Giannis (90.4), Brogdon (88.9), Lowry (88.4). Is this concerning to anyone but me? My concern is two-fold, first, doing too much is why we got run down Luka in the second half of last season.
Second, it just feels like doing that much on a team that has players that do their best with the ball in their hands is possibly counter-productive. I wonder if this is part of the reason Brunson looks less than the player he did last year? I wonder if this is the reason Wright would rather come off the bench.
I saw multiple times where Luka and KP got the switch of the defenders with KP posting up and Luka played hero-ball. KP can't figure out his slump if he doesn't get those touches to try.
Does Luka ever take plays off when he is on the court? It doesn't seem so. Why not?
I mentioned it previously
here.
Luka is simply doing too much just like the end of last season. He's #1 in touches since last year's trade deadline. Again, idk if this is all be design via Carlisle or the head coach has no say over his star player but something probably needs to change.
Unless you're fans of Westbrook/Harden ball.
(11-12-2019, 12:08 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]Did anyone else see the "touches per game" stat they put up at the beginning of the broadcast? Luka with 102.4 then LeBron (99.2), Giannis (90.4), Brogdon (88.9), Lowry (88.4). Is this concerning to anyone but me? My concern is two-fold, first, doing too much is why we got run down Luka in the second half of last season.
Second, it just feels like doing that much on a team that has players that do their best with the ball in their hands is possibly counter-productive. I wonder if this is part of the reason Brunson looks less than the player he did last year? I wonder if this is the reason Wright would rather come off the bench.
I saw multiple times where Luka and KP got the switch of the defenders with KP posting up and Luka played hero-ball. KP can't figure out his slump if he doesn't get those touches to try.
Does Luka ever take plays off when he is on the court? It doesn't seem so. Why not?
Good point raised. I think the explanation is two fold. Luka is simply that good and can consistently make something out of the touches. He distributes the ball so well so he does involve the team mates indeed. Boston game he provided so many open looks that were not made.
Second explanation is that there is nobody else that consistently can make something out of more touches at considerable good level. Wright had a slow start and recently is showing signs of conistent production with touches, and makes a case for being able to take away some of the work load from Luka. Brunson on other hand has been inconsistent with the games, he has shown good play but also had games where he was lost. And there you cant warrant to take away touches from Luka that plays at an MVP level.
I think Wright has shown several good consistent games in a row and should take away some of the touches. Without that the quality goes too much down in that department. This will make a more fresh Luka and ultimately better result in the end.
Given all the play by our players so far, I think this is the best outcome to give it to Luka. This team does not a have another play that is consistently a very good starter with conistent touches. Again, Wright is making a case against this and I think if he keeps it up we will see more of him. I would love to see him as starter and take some of Lukas touches, and this way Luka can be employed in different ways and he will be better long term.
KP has seen more touches than his play warrants so I dont blame it in the example you mention. I think without Lukas touches we would be sitting 2-8 right now to be honest.
I agree that increasing Wrights touches on expense of Lukas could contribute to better results long term. They could be both starters and some could go more through Wright.
(11-12-2019, 10:56 AM)ClutchDirk Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/Sportinfosi/status/1...8729776129
This was maybe his best assist game so far as a Maverick (potential assists, not the actual 9 assists he had), where he involved his team mates the best, and had 1 turnover only. We had a horrible shooting game on so many open looks, it was just not going in. This was the main explanation of not winning this game in my opinion, our shooting was just that bad even on that many good looks. In part was Porzingis but Seth and many others. Second explanation is the soft defense, need to improve shooting and defense.
Luka had 109 touches last night, the next highest on the team was Dwight freakin' Powell at 46 touches followed by Kleber at 45.
DFS had 40 touches; KP had 39 touches. The Mavs' next best ball handlers in Wright/Brunson had 36 and 34 touches respectively. Something tells me this is not ideal.
Highest in usage percentage was Luka, KP, and ... THJ lol.
(11-12-2019, 12:54 PM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]Second explanation is that there is nobody else that consistently can make something out of more touches at considerable good level.
This was somewhat the chicken or egg discussion I wanted to have. I feel like, as Wright has alluded to and what seems like it might be a problem for Brunson, the gravity of Luka on the floor makes it intimidating for the rest to play their game (except Kleber, THJ and maybe KP). The "gravity" as I see it is Luka taking and playing way too much hero-ball, on top of me seeing so much of the team looking for and giving the ball to Luka whenever they get to touch it.
This is also the reason to have gotten higher-end, confident in their own game and NBA player self types in the off season.
Luka leads the league in potential assists not converted into actual assists because of the scrubs around him.
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