(03-22-2021, 08:35 AM)TXBamanut Wrote: For all the on time and on target passes that people seem to hear about Luka, the only guy he can't find on time and on target is KP.

(03-22-2021, 08:57 AM)Mavs2021 Wrote: You are all reading too much into the Luka side of things. If he wants Porzingis gone, he´s gone. Luka doesn´t need to play stupid little mind games. He basically owns this franchise. Porzingis might sense some hostility, because sub-consciously he now realizes, what hasn´t been so obvious 18 months ago. That Luka is a generational talent of LeBron/Michael proportions and that he is not even Pippen/Wade. Would be nice though, if Porzingis was Kukoc or Bosh.

(03-22-2021, 10:25 AM)omahen Wrote: Luka assisted KP exactly 118 times this season. KP converted on 60 attempts. There is only one player that received more passes from Luka - THJ.

(03-22-2021, 10:25 AM)omahen Wrote: Luka assisted KP exactly 118 times this season. KP converted on 60 attempts. There is only one player that received more passes from Luka - THJ.

(03-22-2021, 10:33 AM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: Just curious if that is adjust for games played/minutes or is that total?

Is a 50% conversion rate good on assists?  I am pretty sure 50% FG% is considered good for shooters...but should assisted attempts be at a higher conversion rate?  I assume assists around the basket should be higher maybe?

(03-22-2021, 10:38 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I really think people are just coming to grips with the idea that KP isn't who we all hoped he'd be, exactly, and that we're all doing it in a variety of ways. It's a tough thing to swallow. 

(03-22-2021, 10:38 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: That's good to know. 

I really think people are just coming to grips with the idea that KP isn't who we all hoped he'd be, exactly, and that we're all doing it in a variety of ways. It's a tough thing to swallow. 

For me, the make or break issue is defense. If he can play defense AT LEAST as well as he has over the past three weeks or so (hopefully even better as time goes by) I can handle the offensive disappointment. Just because he's nowhere near the same class as Dirk (who he's being compared with by the people here, whether consciously or not) doesn't mean he's not incredibly useful on that end. If he can just learn to punish teams for guarding him with forwards, somehow, then having him pull the opposing bigs out of the paint will be difference-making on offense whether he gets shots off or not. 

But, I'll say it again: you cannot have a good defense if your center isn't a good defender. I like what I've seen from him on that end more lately, but it's still not where I hoped it would be on the day they traded for him. He has bought a little hope from me that he's improving though. My mind is a little more open about it than it used to be.

(03-22-2021, 10:49 AM)omahen Wrote: That was a total number, not adjusted. Both THJ and KP have very similar conversion rate, a bit over 51 %. They are both shooters, not like KP is scoring a lot under the basket. I think the number has a lot to do with what defense allows. I think KP gets a lot of attention, much more than THJ. DFS and also JRich are often left wide open, which is why they receive a lot of passes.

So is a smart Luka play to pass to guarded KP or to an open DFS/Maxi/JRich?

(03-22-2021, 10:52 AM)omahen Wrote: More facts about KP offense. 71 % of his shots come after 0 dribbles and in 70 % of cases he holds ball for less than 2 seconds before he shoots. That is a definition of a catch and shoot guy. As you said - his range and ability to spread the floor is invaluable. If he learns how to punish small guys efficiently, he is what we need.

(03-22-2021, 12:19 PM)michaeltex Wrote: If he can develop enough to make opponents pay for "under guarding" him, then he'll really take a step toward actual Unicorn status.

(03-22-2021, 12:58 PM)michaeltex Wrote: I'm reminded of the stories of Dirk and Nash in their early times being gym rats and working together to improve. Each learning how to best defend the other and how to work together. 

All the COVID stuff and compressed schedules and injuries+recovery has eliminated those bonding opportunities for Luka and KP, if was even a possibility.

(03-22-2021, 10:49 AM)omahen Wrote: That was a total number, not adjusted. Both THJ and KP have very similar conversion rate, a bit over 51 %. They are both shooters, not like KP is scoring a lot under the basket. I think the number has a lot to do with what defense allows. I think KP gets a lot of attention, much more than THJ. DFS and also JRich are often left wide open, which is why they receive a lot of passes.

So is a smart Luka play to pass to guarded KP or to an open DFS/Maxi/JRich?

Quote:after their 40-45 shots they would put up a game, no one else on the team would ever shoot.

(03-22-2021, 01:09 PM)HanspardShowerVoice Wrote: To further the comparison, small defenders used to give Dirk fits the say way it gives KP fits.   Bruce Bowen routintely gave Dirk fits in the playoffs, and the ultimate was when Nellie put Stephen Jackson on Dirk in the 2007 playoffs against Golden State and completely got in his head.    Then Dirk went back to the lab with Holger in the offseason and they worked on Dirk's low post game.   KP just needs to stay healthy enough to go to a lab in the offseason instead of a trainer's room.

And KP and Luka together  have been pretty good.

https://twitter.com/bobbykaralla/status/1372575491668934659

(03-22-2021, 01:34 PM)TXBamanut Wrote: Btw, by far (like 2-3 times as much), the most shots he's taken are at the rim. 

(03-22-2021, 01:34 PM)TXBamanut Wrote: t is humorous that people want Brad Beal and Luka on the same team and don't see that after their 40-45 shots they would put up a game, no one else on the team would ever shoot.

(03-22-2021, 03:11 PM)omahen Wrote: Not really. He shot 37 % of shots in the 0-10 feet area and 39 % of his shots are three pointers. Luka on the other hand takes 39 % of his shots in that 0-10 feet area and a bit less than 38 % from three.


There are actually some 85-90 shots going around in a game. So it seems there would be room for a couple of more players. KP also doesn't have much to complain about. With a bit over 15 shots per game he is on 46th place in the league. So roughly right in the middle of number two guys.

(03-22-2021, 05:22 PM)TXBamanut Wrote: Actually, you are wrong.  I posted the link and it's pretty clear.  Just reclassifying what I said and regrouping shots doesn't make a "not really".  Let's don't play that kind of bull crap.  If it's going to be that way, I'll just write you off as a "win the debate" guy, not the "find the truth" guy.

(03-22-2021, 05:31 PM)omahen Wrote: I am stating facts from official data. Even your data confirms exactly what I am saying. He shoots more threes than shots ujnder the rim. Not even remotely close to your enigmatic claim that he takes like 2-3 times more shots at the rim.

92 shots in the restricted area, 156 threes. 

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/204001/shooting/

Or this way, 37 % from 0-10 feet, 39 % shots from three.

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/204001/shots-dash/