12-14-2021, 09:18 AM
(12-14-2021, 08:54 AM)hakeemfaan Wrote: As I wrote before, Luka’s conditioning issue has taken a life of its own and got more attention than some other things regarding his game
Now the thing is we don’t know how much conditioning is a factor on his lack of effort on defense but I have brought up conditioning only because it is a minimum expectation from professional athletes that I have. I will continue to stand by that. If he played a more rigorous schedule in the off season then he should be in shape.
However I have bigger issues with his game that I have whined about for the last few years. Mainly he wants to play on the ball. If he passes it and two passes go by without him getting it back, you can see him demanding it. Stop over dribbling and taking shots that leave teammates frozen, improving his FT %, getting back on defense consistently than whining to the refs, and at least making a honest attempt on defense are all things that are much bigger issues I have with his game.
Now you wrote previously that if he is that bad let us just trade him. He is a 6’8” guy who has superior handles, superior vision and passing skills, and can genuinely play inside or outside. He is a legit franchise changer. I would be thrilled if he plays his whole career here. My point is he can be a Jokic or a Westbrook. It is his choice. Jokic, due to Denver injuries, is currently playing with a surrounding cast that might be worse than Luka’s. He scores too and the ball passes through him a lot, but you watch those games and never feel like he is dominating the ball. He reads defenses and almost every time makes the right play, be it giving the ball up and just being a decoy or scoring if he sees defenses slacking off him due to his passing. I rarely see him hoisting a bad shot. Same with LeBron over the years. Who dominates the ball more than him? Forget Kyrie or Wade. Even when he had an average cast in his early Cleveland years, you never felt the ball was sticking in his hands. Even though he had some great scoring runs and games too. So even the excuse that no one else on this team can handle the ball and hence Luka has to hog the ball seems hollow.
That is where I want Luka to be offensively. Like a Jokic or a Bron. I don’t expect a 22 year old Luka to be what a 27 year old Luka might be. However on some of these flaws I want to see improvement. This is year 4 and many of the things I have mentioned seem to be the same. At least he can start with taking fewer one possession long shots and getting back on defense.
Ive said it quite a few times around here...save Luka-ball for the Playoffs. You cant argue that Luka isnt super efficient. On the other hand...I think teammates get bored/disengaged with his ball dominance night in and night out. Not to mention it isnt as enjoyable of a product just watching one guy every night(Luka is amazing dont get me wrong).
I suggest Luka/Kidd/Mavs lay off the Luka usage a little and get others involved. We still need to win games to make it to post season...but get others involved. It can only help the team. Chemistry becomes tighter and guys get in a rhythm and more comfortable with the ball in their hands which can only help in the playoffs.