(08-16-2024, 08:27 AM)F Gump Wrote: " I think most of us agree that the Mavs have to do something to get him through the season healthier. " ... I don't. Not in that "we will ensure it happens" way, at least.
Until Luka himself makes his personal conditioning the priority (and I don't see evidence that he has), it's a fools errand for anyone to think there's an answer available to the Mavs. You can't fix someone - you can only help someone who had seen the need and is personally committed to do what it takes.
Luka will DEMAND to play. A lot. In a screw you sort of mindset. Not wanting to be benched. It's up to him to make and keep a commitment to have his body in optimal physical shape for the rigors of the competition.
The argument I’m making is that minutes and usage are two different things. The Mavs have to find more ways to get the ball out of Luka’s hands while still being effective. To this point, they’ve never had the personnel to be competitive without Luka initiating nearly every half court possession with high PnR or ISO. I don’t think anyone in the history of the NBA could play 37+ mpg with a usage rate of 37% year after year.
Even Harden, who Luka is compared to often, has a career usage rate of 29%. It’d be one thing of it were for a season, but I think there’s no way he can keep it up and stay healthy for an entire season, let alone a career.
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