Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[michaeltex]

I mentioned right after the trade happened that I would have looked at moving Kyrie before I would have Luka. However, I'm also being honest about what I see and have seen with Luka.

If you think it was just Kyrie that disappeared during the Finals you need to go back and watch the games. Yes Kyrie disappeared. But, Luka shot 58.6% (17-29) from the free throw line and 24.4% from 3. Boston turned him into a volume shooter. Kyrie shot 27.6% from 3 and was perfect from the free throw line (9-9).

Realistically, Boston just dominated the Mavs. It really wasn't close at any point. Looking back at the game stats there was zero way Dallas could have won those games. They needed more offensive output and more defense.

Kyrie is trying to be a good defender. He was even mentioned as playing D in the all star game. Luka was not playing D against Boston. I think mainly due to him being exhausted. At least that's how it looked. He would rest with his hands on his knees. That's just exhausted.

Kyrie did average 19.8 Points per game against Boston and Luka averaged 29.8. But, the Mavs desperately needed more output from the rest of the cast. They didn't get it.

I'm at the point now where I've moved past the trade and ready to see what the guys can do when they are healthy. I do hope that Luka changes and we get to see what he is capable of. But, I'll be 100% about this. If he doesn't start working on his diet and conditioning he won't last. He looks about 45 right now instead of 25. 

It's sad too because he is incredibly talented. You talk about being like Jokic and being bigger working for him in the playoffs. Jokic got on a regiment of diet and exercise right before they won the title. Also, Luka is a PG. Jokic is a 5. Massive difference. At 7 foot Jokic can shoot over the D. Luka needs to be able to move to create space.

What I remember was BOS blitzing Luka at mid-court, forcing the ball out of his hands, then running back to a balanced M2M defense. Luka, due to injury/fatigue/conditioning, didn't move a lot without the ball. Kyrie tried to work his magic, but the BOS length gave him fits (we've seen that other times as well). After that, the offense just seemed to grind with BOS helping off non-scorers as needed. Add in the 5-out "bombs away" attack by BOS and the writing was on the wall. I felt like the series was over after DAL could not respond in game 2.

Conversely, I like the sharing and movement with the "Munchkin Mavs". 4 of 5 is at least encouraging. I would really like to see this team operate this way with some size back in the mix. At some point, having to play small all the time is going to prove an Achilles' heel.

[audiosway]

What I remember was BOS blitzing Luka at mid-court, forcing the ball out of his hands, then running back to a balanced M2M defense. Luka, due to injury/fatigue/conditioning, didn't move a lot without the ball. Kyrie tried to work his magic, but the BOS length gave him fits (we've seen that other times as well). After that, the offense just seemed to grind with BOS helping off non-scorers as needed. Add in the 5-out "bombs away" attack by BOS and the writing was on the wall. I felt like the series was over after DAL could not respond in game 2.

Conversely, I like the sharing and movement with the "Munchkin Mavs". 4 of 5 is at least encouraging. I would really like to see this team operate this way with some size back in the mix. At some point, having to play small all the time is going to prove an Achilles' heel.

Totally agree. The blitz would hit to get the ball out. He just can't play off the ball. He also hasn't learned to move and cut off the ball with a serious issue. He is a high usage player. If you are going to be high utilization in this NBA you have to be able to dominate anyone in front of you on offense or defense. The only player to ever do that was Michael Jordan.

I'm with you, once they lost game 2 it was over.

The ball movement is the way to go. You can't win now without that. For example, when Denver won the finals Jokic's usage was 30%. It feels like Jokic always has the ball but it's not true. His usage that series was not far off from Kyrie in the finals or even Brown and Tatum for that matter. Luka was at just under 39%.

LeBron in the bubble title was at 29% usage. LeBron beating the Warriors in the finals he was at 33% USG and Ky was 30%.
Prime LeBron in 2013 with the Heat only had a USG of 29.7%.

If you plan to win in the current NBA you have to move the ball and defend. Defense has always been the case for winning but now you just have to move the ball. The only player I'm aware of having a USG in the Luka range was Jordan who would hit 55% at times. It was a different era and a different player.

It gives you a better chance of winning when you have a team that shares the ball.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Sweet tea is gross

[balkis11]

I actually like this trade but there needs to another fresh young talent at sf klay is not a fit here.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Luka spent the all star break in Cabo. Let’s see how he looks his first game back.

[balkis11]

Luka is the next Shawn Kemp.

[balkis11]

Tbh I don't think you need all that scoring from a pg it's taking away from klays game. I would easily trade kyrie for some defensive aces or some draft picks then you could keep klay. Darius garland would come cheap too.

[audiosway]

Sweet tea is gross

It really is.

[DallasMaverick]

Sweet tea is gross

Disagree

Especially if you’re a dentist.

[SleepingHero]

Sweet tea is gross

Oh my days. Your taste buds need an awakening. Sweet tea on a hot summer day with some delicious barbecue is probably the closest to heaven you can get on this earth.

[Jmaciscool]

Oh my days. Your taste buds need an awakening. Sweet tea on a hot summer day with some delicious barbecue is probably the closest to heaven you can get on this earth.

Amen!

[michaeltex]

Oh my days. Your taste buds need an awakening. Sweet tea on a hot summer day with some delicious barbecue is probably the closest to heaven you can get on this earth.

Yep. Or fried chicken.

Actually, brewed sweet tea is OK, but sweetening iced tea afterward is a fruitless effort. And skip the lemon/mint additions.

But, as a kid growing up in the deep south, in a time where even getting enough change to buy a Coke was a challenge, you learn to like it.

[michaeltex]

Los Angeles Lakers Reveal Luka Doncic To Miss More Time Due To Injury


Apparently they are putting him on a minutes limit, targeting <25/gm, and maybe sitting one of any B2Bs. 

Coming up on 2 months since the calf injury. Is this a typical recovery timeline?

[mvossman]

I mentioned right after the trade happened that I would have looked at moving Kyrie before I would have Luka. However, I'm also being honest about what I see and have seen with Luka.

If you think it was just Kyrie that disappeared during the Finals you need to go back and watch the games. Yes Kyrie disappeared. But, Luka shot 58.6% (17-29) from the free throw line and 24.4% from 3. Boston turned him into a volume shooter. Kyrie shot 27.6% from 3 and was perfect from the free throw line (9-9).

Realistically, Boston just dominated the Mavs. It really wasn't close at any point. Looking back at the game stats there was zero way Dallas could have won those games. They needed more offensive output and more defense.

Kyrie is trying to be a good defender. He was even mentioned as playing D in the all star game. Luka was not playing D against Boston. I think mainly due to him being exhausted. At least that's how it looked. He would rest with his hands on his knees. That's just exhausted.

Kyrie did average 19.8 Points per game against Boston and Luka averaged 29.8. But, the Mavs desperately needed more output from the rest of the cast. They didn't get it.

If you look at that finals series, the Mavs actually won the minutes Luka was on the court, but they got crushed when he was off the court.

The biggest issue with the starting lineup was our two wings shooting 34 (DJJ) and 32 (PJ) from 3 (season stats).  The lack of spacing allowed Boston to be more aggressive.  This season DJJ has improved his 3 to 36% (continuing a multi season trend) and PJ is shooting 38% (rebounding to earlier in his career).  How much better is that starting lineup offensively with those two guys shooting in the upper 30s from three versus the lower 30s?

The issues from the bench were consistent scoring (THJ, Hardy) and playmaking (Exum, Hardy).  Grimes was the perfect replacement for Timmy.  Instead of being a chucker, he is a willing shooter while being more efficient.  He is also a better rebounder, passer and defender.  I don't know what happened to Exum in the playoffs last year, but the version we are seeing now would be the perfect third playmaker.  If he has similar issues (or is not healthy) we have Dinwiddie as a much better backup option than Hardy.

Boston was an incredible team last season.  They had one of the best net ratings in NBA history.  The Mavs simply ran into a buzzsaw after a much harder fought playoff run.  If they were matched against the Heat of the prior finals, they probably win.  But I don't think Boston is the team to focus on long term.  Their owner sold the team due to the tax burden being so insane and that team seems to be regressing already.  Jrue is 34 and is now clearly past his prime.  Horford is 38 and KP is fragile as ever.  There is a good chance that team does not even make the finals and it potentially gets broken up after this season.

If we needed to focus on a team long term it has to be OKC, and we beat that team in the playoffs.  Keeping this team intact with small improvements (THJ for Grimes) and organic growth seemed like the most sensible route.  I think that is where we were headed before Linsey went to Detroit.  Now its build a super team with Nico's guys and then bail when everything goes down in flames.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Los Angeles Lakers Reveal Luka Doncic To Miss More Time Due To Injury


Apparently they are putting him on a minutes limit, targeting <25/gm, and maybe sitting one of any B2Bs. 

Coming up on 2 months since the calf injury. Is this a typical recovery timeline?

Haven't seen this brought up anywhere else.  LMAO if true.  Load managing at 25yrs old.

[Winter]

I can't figure out his injury. I just watched an early season Minnesota-Dallas game where Doncic hurt that calf in the 2nd quarter. It was not a contusion. He didn't hit anybody. He hobbled of the court with help.

Then to my surpise he came right back out the 2nd half and played well.

Very strange.

[burekemde]

I mentioned right after the trade happened that I would have looked at moving Kyrie before I would have Luka. However, I'm also being honest about what I see and have seen with Luka.

If you think it was just Kyrie that disappeared during the Finals you need to go back and watch the games. Yes Kyrie disappeared. But, Luka shot 58.6% (17-29) from the free throw line and 24.4% from 3. Boston turned him into a volume shooter. Kyrie shot 27.6% from 3 and was perfect from the free throw line (9-9).

Realistically, Boston just dominated the Mavs. It really wasn't close at any point. Looking back at the game stats there was zero way Dallas could have won those games. They needed more offensive output and more defense.

Kyrie is trying to be a good defender. He was even mentioned as playing D in the all star game. Luka was not playing D against Boston. I think mainly due to him being exhausted. At least that's how it looked. He would rest with his hands on his knees. That's just exhausted.

Kyrie did average 19.8 Points per game against Boston and Luka averaged 29.8. But, the Mavs desperately needed more output from the rest of the cast. They didn't get it.

I'm at the point now where I've moved past the trade and ready to see what the guys can do when they are healthy. I do hope that Luka changes and we get to see what he is capable of. But, I'll be 100% about this. If he doesn't start working on his diet and conditioning he won't last. He looks about 45 right now instead of 25. 

It's sad too because he is incredibly talented. You talk about being like Jokic and being bigger working for him in the playoffs. Jokic got on a regiment of diet and exercise right before they won the title. Also, Luka is a PG. Jokic is a 5. Massive difference. At 7 foot Jokic can shoot over the D. Luka needs to be able to move to create space.

"He doesnt look right": In 2024 western conference finals averages

32.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 8.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 3p% 43.4, FT% 84.6% ,TS% 62.7%, MPG 40.1.

Most durable, and most effective player in the league. The best player in the NBA.

Historic great performance and number 1 reason Dallas went to finals. On both sides of the ball, hes rebounding and steals were also winning many games. Good luck replacing that.

He looks completely fine to me. Doncic and Jokic are skill players from Balkans, this will never change. In offseason they practice skills and not muscles, this will not change as long as what they do is working, which it does.

Doncic is also the main reason Kyrie had the space working against second best defenders and often no defenders at all. I truly believe will see the change with time what that means in Kyries game. Its tough to go with that ball all game long with best defenders. After many games, its a huge load.

I think Doncic is way misunderstood. You can say what you want how he looks, but the effect is undeniable. His arrival in Dallas completely changed the mentality of the franchise, he was the winning culture. After so many years of losing culture, immedialtely a playoff team, then shortly after a contender. Two wester conference finals. And not only that, it is the first time Dallas was able to attract big free agents. It also speaks volumes how players that had trouble on other teams got new energy playing for Mavs. Its not a coincidence at all. Doncic was the driving force.

[SleepingHero]

Haven't seen this brought up anywhere else.  LMAO if true.  Load managing at 25yrs old.

I mean it depends on this mysterious calf strain. I’m starting to doubt that it’s just a calf strain at this point.

[SleepingHero]

@showtimeluka
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts admitted that he "probably underestimated the reaction" from Mavericks fans

[F Gump]

I can't figure out his injury. I just watched an early season Minnesota-Dallas game where Doncic hurt that calf in the 2nd quarter. It was not a contusion. He didn't hit anybody. He hobbled of the court with help.

Then to my surpise he came right back out the 2nd half and played well.

Very strange.

I'm a fan of Stein's reporting, and usually see it as gold. But I'm very leery of his possible bias in putting out the news of a careful minutes management in a way that makes it sound like Luka has an ongoing impairment. 

Sure, Luka COULD be ailing and still slowed. Or even a bit out of "basketball shape" at this point. 

Certainly LA is going to be careful. Duh. He's valuable. 

But it feels like this is mostly just a common sense approach by LA, but Stein making it into "news" to perhaps serve as some much-needed justification for Mavs FO rash decision to get rid of him. 

So until LA FO or coach tells us that they are holding Luka back in an unusual way, I'm gonna figure it's regular basketball stuff going on.