GAME 7: MIA (6-1) @ DAL (4-3) | 110-125 Loss

[dirkfansince1998]

So for perspective:

In Dirk's first 19 seasons he NEVER had a negative +/- and almost always led the team in +/-. When Dirk played, the Mavs outscored their opponents, almost without fail.


Luka was negative in his first season, positive the last two (but not by a whole lot), and now in his fourth season is a team worst -25.7. I am super concerned that Luka is not the true superstar that I was hoping he would be. True superstars impact winning, PERIOD. 

And before you blame the talent around Luka, don't. Worse talent around you actually makes being positive in +/- easier because the players who replace you suck.

This is genuinely the most alarming thing surrounding this team right now. The Mavs cannot outscore their opponents with Luka playing and are being outscored by 13.3 pts when he does. Seven games is a small sample size, sure, but these numbers are hugely alarming.

Luka is no Dirk. At least not yet. Dirk is one of the +/- GOATS. Only players with similar numbers in Dirk´s prime years are KG and LBJ. But we are talking about prime Dirk. Comparing them at a similar age Luka is way ahead. And Luka definitely played on a superstar level in the last two seasons (reflected by two NBA 1st teams and 4th and 6th rank in the MVP race). Just take a look at the end of the last season. Seven game sample size against the Clippers. +32.6 on/off. Over the entire series the Mavs were +7 with Luka on the floor. Actually winning against a way more talented team.
Or the following olympics. When Luka carried his team to the semi finals.

He isn´t playing great right now but that is nothing new in the early season. And we should be concerned about this trend. I don´t know if he is out of shape or overplayed  but he isn´t moving like his usual mid/late season self. Not as focused. Making more mistakes on both ends.

Concerning but no reason to hit the panic button. The numbers are comparable to last season.

Luka´s shooting splits in december 2020: 43.8% FG, 9.5% from 3, 80.6% FT. Averaging 24/6/6. Only player with worse +/- numbers at that point was Powell.

And a lack of talent can definitely impact a players +/- numbers. It comes down to the roster construction. Best example are the pre Luka Mavs. The starting five lacked talent. The bench (JJB, Devin, Powell) looked great. Even the best starters had negative +/- numbers. Even the worst bench players had positive +/- numbers.
We are seeing something similar right now. And we had endless discussions about it. The Mavs starting five lacks talent (30m in salary are either injured or looking like the worst player on the floor). Bench on othe other hand looks really good. Whoever gets inserted into the starting lineup tanks his +/-. That´s why Kleber and Brunson aren´t leading in that category.