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[SleepingHero]

Help me out here of something I have been thinking about recently.  Luka is obviously one of the best players in the league.  But I just feel like his plus/minus doesn't always reflect this.  I got the same impression during the last Jalen season is the team made a lot of their runs when Luka rested.  That may not be fair and maybe not even accurate.    It just feels like one of the top 5 players in the league should feel his impact by us stretching leads when he is in the game.    Does anyone else feel this while watching the games?  Is it even accurate?

You're absolutely correct.

I think since the beginning of his 3rd season Luka has fallen into some terrible habits. Everything we've been repeating ad nauseum. It's also reflected in his On/Off. He takes plays off and he really couldn't give less of a crap about the regular season. His regular season On/Off for his career is sitting at a +0.9. That's hilariously bad for a top 5 player.

But what is interesting when it comes to the playoffs, Luka's On/Off jumps to +11.8. That's nearly an 11 point swing and the difference between winning a close game and blowing out another team.

I think the primary reason is that Luka just really couldn't give less of a crap about the regular season. You see it in his responses and general attitude to games. The only time he cares about a regular season matchup is if it's against an opponent that has guys he wants to prove a point to OR if the fate of the playoffs are on the line. 

I see the argument for both sides. On the one hand, Luka is pacing himself and is gearing up for what really matters in the end. On the other, his coasting is stagnating the team overall and is potentially putting the team in peril of missing the playoffs, making his pacing all for naught. I don't care if Luka takes off regular season games. I just would rather he do it by doing all the good stuff he does in the playoffs and just sit the last 2 quarters in a blowout vs. getting mad, playing 8v5 against the refs the whole game, and not getting back. 

I love Luka. He's is in the upper echelon of players I've ever seen. He is unfortunately his own biggest kryptonite.