I want him to be who he is. He's a bonafide Super Star in the making, and what he's doing, this is what I want, and more importantly, this is what the Mavs want. Now over the next two or three years, he will perfect a jump shot, his floater, better post up moves, he'll get stronger/quicker and look out.
Bron didn't do squat last year devoid of talent, Luka the same way. Once we surround this guy with talent, and he gets a couple more years of conditioning weight training, shooting/etc, then this WILL be a Championship caliber team.
(01-15-2020, 01:55 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:47 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:Quote:Selfish, inefficient players have never won anything as a lead dog in their lives.
Kobe says hi.
So you are agreeing Luka is selfish and inefficient? Just that it might not stop him from a title? Let’s get the next Shaq, Pau, drug free Odom too while we are going there
Just yanking your chain a little, hakeem. Not really intended as a serious comment about Luka. (If you don't like my remark, you're supposed to make some riposte that cuts me off at the knees with rapier-like wit. Something that leaves everyone smiling.) 
Mavsluvr my bad.
IMO, what we are seeing is a team's growing pains. They have to learn to trust each other to maximize their overall potential. This group has been together as a team for half a season now.
Some were here last year, but injuries (THJ, KP) and playing for Lottery position made it a season to be endured rather than valued. Early season success encourage this group to start believing, but a string of key injuries (Luka, THJ, KP) has impacted playing rotations and bench effectiveness. Some erratic shooting performances leaves Luka trying to do too much in late game situations, which is the part most of us remember. As everybody gets healthy and back into the comfort zone rotations, this team will start re-establishing themselves as a top tier team in the West. I still think they are a 50-55 win team, which is a hell of a lot better than the last few years and I'm enjoying the ride.
All that said, I think the NBA marketing team wants MIL (if GA wins MVP) or BOS vs either LA team for the Finals series.
First this, 45 minutes ago:
(01-15-2020, 02:05 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:57 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ]Mavsluvr. ?. My bad
No worries. I probably shouldn't inject weak attempts at humor into serious threads. You raise some good points.
Then this, 4 minutes ago:
(01-15-2020, 02:47 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:55 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:47 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:Quote:Selfish, inefficient players have never won anything as a lead dog in their lives.
Kobe says hi.
So you are agreeing Luka is selfish and inefficient? Just that it might not stop him from a title? Let’s get the next Shaq, Pau, drug free Odom too while we are going there
Just yanking your chain a little, hakeem. Not really intended as a serious comment about Luka. (If you don't like my remark, you're supposed to make some riposte that cuts me off at the knees with rapier-like wit. Something that leaves everyone smiling.)
Mavsluvr my bad.
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/5aLrlDiJPMPFS/giphy.gif)
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/rULGb0wtaeAEM/giphy.gif)
(01-15-2020, 03:05 PM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]First this, 45 minutes ago:
(01-15-2020, 02:05 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:57 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ]Mavsluvr. ?. My bad
No worries. I probably shouldn't inject weak attempts at humor into serious threads. You raise some good points.
Then this, 4 minutes ago:
(01-15-2020, 02:47 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:55 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ] (01-15-2020, 01:47 PM)hakeemfan Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:Kobe says hi.
So you are agreeing Luka is selfish and inefficient? Just that it might not stop him from a title? Let’s get the next Shaq, Pau, drug free Odom too while we are going there
Just yanking your chain a little, hakeem. Not really intended as a serious comment about Luka. (If you don't like my remark, you're supposed to make some riposte that cuts me off at the knees with rapier-like wit. Something that leaves everyone smiling.)
Mavsluvr my bad.
With the way b2b replies get collated, I had removed my original reply to mavsluvr. Then I replied later But didn’t realize that mavsluvr had already replied to my first post before I deleted it. Yes. A ride on the Delorean.
I'll take the absolute worst-case scenario of Luka (outside of leaving the Mavs, a young career-ruining injury, or an off-court tragedy) over any other player in the league and be damned happy.
(01-16-2020, 12:39 AM)philjuan1 Wrote: [ -> ]He was an absolute stud tonight.
He was bad and I see no improvement in his game:
- 0-5 for three
- one missed free throw
- 6 turnovers
- one hero ball in clutch
- complained to refs twice
Bad habits are just going on and on. RC really needs to do something.
After going 0-5 for the three pointers, Luka found him self in the 4th quarter completely open for a 3 point shot. Anyone remember this one? It is so very rare that Luka finds him self open for shots anywhere on the court. Curry, THJ, DFS, Kleber etc. are shoting most of their shots open after getting great passes on other hand, but Luka is usually dealing with defenders. Most of the time he has at least one if not two defenders right in his face.
What did Luka do here.. He didnt take the open shot, instead he drives inside and kicks it out to Curry.
That's who Luka is, he adapts and he wants to win games, and thats the ultimate competitor. He is not going to continue if something doesnt work and even with not a single 3 pointer made, he still made a historic game out of it, and in a very silent manner. He found a way to incorporate every teammate.
As soon as the team and RC in particular figures out how to punish defenses for doubling Luka, this team will be unstoppable. At the moment this is the only thing that opponents can do. It is incredible how long it takes RC to figure this one out.
(01-16-2020, 05:38 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]As soon as the team and RC in particular figures out how to punish defenses for doubling Luka
Things take time. If removing all weakness from a team was as easy as you suggest then we'd have a lot more great teams. Changing the way individual players and teams operate is more of a process than an instantaneous decision. I'm sure RC, and most other coaches, know how to deal with double teams. The trick is building the skills and teamwork through practice and repetition.
(01-16-2020, 05:38 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]this team will be unstoppable. At the moment this is the only thing that opponents can do. It is incredible how long it takes RC to figure this one out.
It's never that easy
(01-16-2020, 09:45 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ] (01-16-2020, 05:38 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]As soon as the team and RC in particular figures out how to punish defenses for doubling Luka
Things take time. If removing all weakness from a team was as easy as you suggest then we'd have a lot more great teams. Changing the way individual players and teams operate is more of a process than an instantaneous decision. I'm sure RC, and most other coaches, know how to deal with double teams. The trick is building the skills and teamwork through practice and repetition.
(01-16-2020, 05:38 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]this team will be unstoppable. At the moment this is the only thing that opponents can do. It is incredible how long it takes RC to figure this one out.
It's never that easy
I will agree with that it is not easy.
But also on other hand, the ability to get double teams, is exactly the dream situation for any coach in even any team sport, because this opens up the other positions to punish teams. It will take time but will get done. Remember that most teams do not have that superstar that is doubled consistently and for those teams it is even harder to open up defenses. Getting that consistent double team is exactly what you want, and the advantage that the superstar makes.
We have already seen RC adjusting well in last game. One thing is instead of Luka dribbling up the court all alone or with one player, we have seen two players in last game coming closer to him as he dribbles up. I was suggesting this exact thing as an adjustment for the high pressure. This seems to work, because there is a quick and safe outlet against double teams that pressure high up. If Luka is all alone, some of the teammates stand so much further down the court, and Luka would need to make hail mary passes to find them which is too risky.
I think RC is adjusting, and having that double team is a dream come true, it opens up the entire and also a unique possibility for a completely new playbook.
We can just enjoy the fact that we have a superstar that requires constant double teams. And unique in that occur even in our own half court. That is the ultimate sign of respect. The team will find out how to punish that much better than it is done now.
We watched the process of Dirk and his teammates learning how to handle double teams. These guys will get there I think.
(01-16-2020, 04:58 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ] (01-16-2020, 12:39 AM)philjuan1 Wrote: [ -> ]He was an absolute stud tonight.
He was bad and I see no improvement in his game:
- 0-5 for three
- one missed free throw
- 6 turnovers
- one hero ball in clutch
- complained to refs twice
Bad habits are just going on and on. RC really needs to do something.
This had to have been really subtle irony. The sad truth is that there are people who would actually say things like this post with a straight face.
(01-16-2020, 12:58 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: [ -> ]This had to have been really subtle irony. The sad truth is that there are people who would actually say things like this post with a straight face.
That was subtle?
