10-30-2020, 05:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-30-2020, 05:25 PM by KillerLeft.)
@"ItsGoTime" You make some good points. Here are some mild retorts:
What FANS most respond to is offensive creation. That's just part of the "it" factor, and really always has been. That's not to say that hardcore fans might not decide they like a great defensive presence and call that guy their favorite, but I don't think it's Giannis's defense that has won him two MVP's and put the Bucks on national TV so often, even though as you rightly point out, what he brings to the table on that end might be the most valuable thing about him.
I would probably agree with you that Giannis is the better player RIGHT NOW, but it's CLOSE. I'll confidently stand by my statement that Luka is "on the way" to becoming the bigger star. Can you honestly say that Giannis, if drafted two years ago at #3 by Atlanta at the Mavs' request, would've elevated the team THIS much, THIS soon? It's possible, but man, I don't see it. I think Luka is really, really special. Giannis would definitely bring some more eyeballs to the team (they'll end up peeing the Mavs anyway, eventually) but I think when those eyeballs start watching the team a couple of times per week like we do it will be impossible for them to deny the greatness that is Luka mf Doncic.
That's a good point about KP. I really enjoyed that youtube documentary series "sounds from the base line" that documented the Mavs' season, and there were signs that he is sort of the alpha on the team behind the scenes. It makes perfect sense because he's older, more experienced and more articulate (in English, at least). But, I never really would've thought to make those connections unless I had seen that. Good observation on your part. I don't think the locker room leader is necessarily a huge portion of this conversation, but it probably should be a factor.
What FANS most respond to is offensive creation. That's just part of the "it" factor, and really always has been. That's not to say that hardcore fans might not decide they like a great defensive presence and call that guy their favorite, but I don't think it's Giannis's defense that has won him two MVP's and put the Bucks on national TV so often, even though as you rightly point out, what he brings to the table on that end might be the most valuable thing about him.
I would probably agree with you that Giannis is the better player RIGHT NOW, but it's CLOSE. I'll confidently stand by my statement that Luka is "on the way" to becoming the bigger star. Can you honestly say that Giannis, if drafted two years ago at #3 by Atlanta at the Mavs' request, would've elevated the team THIS much, THIS soon? It's possible, but man, I don't see it. I think Luka is really, really special. Giannis would definitely bring some more eyeballs to the team (they'll end up peeing the Mavs anyway, eventually) but I think when those eyeballs start watching the team a couple of times per week like we do it will be impossible for them to deny the greatness that is Luka mf Doncic.
That's a good point about KP. I really enjoyed that youtube documentary series "sounds from the base line" that documented the Mavs' season, and there were signs that he is sort of the alpha on the team behind the scenes. It makes perfect sense because he's older, more experienced and more articulate (in English, at least). But, I never really would've thought to make those connections unless I had seen that. Good observation on your part. I don't think the locker room leader is necessarily a huge portion of this conversation, but it probably should be a factor.