Luka Doncic Discussion: Lean Mean Slovenian Scoring Machine

Could have come closer to Jordan if he wasn’t suspended lol

 

So explain how Jokic won three MVP’s and Steph was the first unanimous MVP? Wilbon is a moron. Just like most of today’s NBA media.

 

The only way for Luka to even be truly considered in this discussion is if the Lakers beat OKC in both upcoming games and Luka clearly outplays SGA. Even then I doubt it, but there's no chance he wins it otherwise.

Which means he'll probably be extra motivated in both games (not that he needs the extra motivation), can't wait to see how he and the team looks against the supposed clear title favorite.

 

NBA expert analysts panel:

After scoring 42 points with 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers against a top Eastern Conference playoffs contender, Luka Doncic now moves up two spots and is 18th in the NBA MVP's list rankings!

 

How SGA/Wemby/Luka/Jokic place on the MVP ballet is probably just going to be a reflection of the Western Conference standings. Which is whatever, they've all had awesome seasons. If Luka is ever going to win MVP, this team will need to win 60 games minimum.

 

I'm still trying to figure out how Gabe got the contract that he did.

He was never a good player and had one good playoffs series against the C Bags.

He's undersized and somehow got the label that he's a good defender because he's quick on his feet.

He's only been in the league for a few years but he sorta developed a reputation of being a 'veteran' or something deserving minutes.

I'm just not sure what the Lakers saw in him. Maybe it's revisionist history but he's a vet minimum at best and probably unplayable when he's shooting 30% from 3.

 

Why does Luka have to win 60 games? Jokic won MVP when he was a 6th seed.They’re the 3rd seed in a stacked Western Conference that should be good enough. I’m not blaming you but this notion from the media makes no sense. They keep moving the goal post for Luka. Partly because he’s a Laker and partly because he’s Luka Doncic he’s always been criticized unfairly going back to his Dallas days.

 

Because there two guys having just as strong seasons as Luka on teams that won 60 games. The year you mentioned when Jokic won as a 6 seed, the 2nd place finisher was Embiid on a 51 win team and 3rd place was Giannis on a 51 win team. That is to say, team success wasn't really a differentiator that year because everyone's team was about the same. That's not the case this year. The unfortunate reality is that there are two guys, Wemby and Shai, who have been as statistically dominant as Luka but on better teams so one of them is going to win.

 

I think us Laker fans have contributed to this ourselves. Almost every Laker site was criticizing Luka's defense for his first few months here, at the very least. I think JJ had not come close to realizing how to utilize him on defense. He sees the passing lanes on defense just about as good as he sees them on offense.

 

Mea culpa

 

i tried to tell people amidst all the "he's fat and a liability" stuff. he's not a defensive liability; he's just not a defensive all-star. neither are most superstars, and almost none of them are nearly as good offensively (exception: jokic, another guy who's not a defensive superstar).

but imo, laker fan reaction was more driven by previous fan/media narratives about luka than about what they were seeing.

 

I don't think this is fair to Lakers fans - Luka was not playing good defense and he's clearly putting more effort now on the defensive end in the second half of the season.
Not sure how much credit JJ should get for this but the hybrid zone/man defense he's come up with seems to work with these guys particularly when Smart was healthy. Two really good switch defenders in Smart and Lebron, a C and then they hybrid zone seems to allow smart players to make plays rather then just being iso'd to death.

Defensive stats are lousy I know but look at his steal numbers - he's gotten 37 this month. That's a massive number! Almost twice what he got in any other month this season and three times what he got in any month last season. I think it's something only Dyson Daniels has done recently in the NBA (have to double check this)

Regardless of the coaching, he should get credit for this but player's rep seems to last a lot longer than the actual product on the court.

 

Top 4 MVP candidates are Shai, Wemby, Jokic, and Luka.

All of them are in the West and will likely be 2/3 of the teams Lakers will face against.

Honestly, let one of those three win. I think it will be Shai but nothing will motivate Luka more coming into the playoffs than knowing that the rest of the league seems to think he's not MVP-worthy.

He's going to take it personal just like he takes the trashtalking personal.

Good luck facing a motivated Luka coming into the playoffs right as he is streaking hot.

 

You’ll see it if he loses player of the month for March

 

the switch-everything scheme will make slower guys end up looking bad, particularly when the other team REALLY wants to wear them out on defense. would happen to anyone put in that position who's not an all-nba defender, imo.

luka's defense had been fine prior to getting here and his fine now. he was injured most of last year (really going back to the finals against boston).