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Ayton doesn't know how to set a screen. He slips every single screen. Reminds me of Porzingis. I have to wonder how it can be that difficult for coaches to teach a guy to set a screen.
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(Yesterday, 08:11 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Have to admit Luka looked pretty great.  He got to the paint at will against Kuminga.  Almost looked like the Warriors said we will let you get your points as long as you don't get others involved.  He didn't have any help until Reaves got some points late.

Luka looked great.... but no better on defense.

And Ayton is nowhere near a substitute for even AD. Even with Lebron, I think the the Lakers front line looks pretty thin.
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(Yesterday, 08:20 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Ayton doesn't know how to set a screen.  He slips every single screen.  Reminds me of Porzingis.  I have to wonder how it can be that difficult for coaches to teach a guy to set a screen.

I watched about a quarter last night (quarter 2) and I noticed the same thing.   Getting good contact on that screen just gets everything flowing with Luka.   I saw like 3-4 screens where he slipped them.   That can be a tool, but the good, legal hard screen should be the standard.
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Don't want to judge too much.  GS is really hard to guard, but my first impression in that one quarter was not great with Smart.   My fear when he was signed is he would be much better guarding PF than the jittery guard types.  At times last night, he looked like the guy who lost a step and had to be ultra physical to stay up.  Only one game and he hasn't played much the last few years, but that is something to watch 20-25 games into the season.
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(Yesterday, 08:21 AM)Winter Wrote: Luka looked great.... but no better on defense.

And Ayton is nowhere near a substitute for even AD. Even with Lebron, I think the the Lakers front line looks pretty thin.

I agree. GS let Luka do his thing and pressured most of the others into ineffective games. LAL shot ~25% on 3pt shots while GS was around 50% on higher volume.

Actually felt like a typical DAL game when Luka was here. His usage was 34.7%, a little higher than SGA even. So there was a lot of LALs standing around waiting for Luka to do his thing. 

He made a few defensive plays in the paint, but also was a matador on the perimeter a few times. I think that's where he's going to miss DLive/PJ/Gaff the most since they cleaned up some of his messes. Ayton is only going to help so much defensively.
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(Yesterday, 08:21 AM)Winter Wrote: Luka looked great.... but no better on defense.

And Ayton is nowhere near a substitute for even AD. Even with Lebron, I think the the Lakers front line looks pretty thin.

I thought he looked good in the first half.  Got switched onto Curry a couple of times and held him to a contested jumper.

He was just gassed in the second half.  He was carrying them hard.  Even in shape, it's tough to sustain that kind of usage on offense and maintain energy for defense.
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Even at his peak physically, Luka couldn't guard Jimmy Butler
I'm co confused why that was the game plan the last few minutes. He wasn't being switched onto him. That was his man

I'd complain more about Luka defense if a non-scorer was blowing past him
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I didn't watch the game, but I checked the box score and what stood out to me was that in shape or not, it reads just like one of the old Luka-ball Mavs box scores. You can tell he had the ball in his hands the whole time, and that's probably why they lost. 2/10 from 3 (how many of those were step backs to end possessions where nobody else touched the ball, I wonder).

Don't sleep on the idea that there are a lot of Lakers players slowly realizing it's not going to be fun to play with him. I know ahead of time I'll get flamed for bringing that up, and I'm sure they'll say all the right things during interviews (just like the Mavs players used to) but common sense tells me it's a problem.

The point total looks great, and I bet the highlights do, too. I bet there were some sweet passes and moments of dominance - he's a great, great player. But, if he's not making his TEAM better in year 7, 8 or whatever this is...there's just something missing with him, imho.
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(Yesterday, 10:57 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I didn't watch the game, but I checked the box score and what stood out to me was that in shape or not, it reads just like one of the old Luka-ball Mavs box scores. You can tell he had the ball in his hands the whole time, and that's probably why they lost. 2/10 from 3 (how many of those were step backs to end possessions where nobody else touched the ball, I wonder).

Don't sleep on the idea that there are a lot of Lakers players slowly realizing it's not going to be fun to play with him. I know ahead of time I'll get flamed for bringing that up, and I'm sure they'll say all the right things during interviews (just like the Mavs players used to) but common sense tells me it's a problem.

The point total looks great, and I bet the highlights do, too. I bet there were some sweet passes and moments of dominance - he's a great, great player. But, if he's not making his TEAM better in year 7, 8 or whatever this is...there's just something missing with him, imho.

This seems harsh.  I'm sure some players struggled to play next to Luka due to his style, but others thrived.  Kyrie did not seem to have any issues playing with him.  Three and D guys and rim runners played better next to Luka.  I have a hard time with the statement that he didn't make the team better when he dragged a limited talent team to the WCS and a collection of role players (plus Kyrie) to the finals.
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(Yesterday, 11:21 AM)mvossman Wrote: This seems harsh.  I'm sure some players struggled to play next to Luka due to his style, but others thrived.  Kyrie did not seem to have any issues playing with him.  Three and D guys and rim runners played better next to Luka.  I have a hard time with the statement that he didn't make the team better when he dragged a limited talent team to the WCS and a collection of role players (plus Kyrie) to the finals.

I don't know what to tell you, my guy. Just my opinion, but I don't think he gets it, and I'm starting to wonder if anyone is big time enough to get through to him.

I am glad my team isn't in the Luka business anymore. As each day goes by, I get farther away from the shock of the trade, and with each new level of acceptance comes a new level of relief.
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(Yesterday, 11:28 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don't know what to tell you, my guy. Just my opinion, but I don't think he gets it, and I'm starting to wonder if anyone is big time enough to get through to him.

I am glad my team isn't in the Luka business anymore. As each day goes by, I get farther away from the shock of the trade, and with each new level of acceptance comes a new level of relief.

LBJ is out with sciatica issues, whatever that means. (I know it relates to back, hip and leg pain since I deal with it myself).

Apparently he has recently stated that he will be "watching how things develop", or similar words to that effect. I'm wondering if he's waiting to see how successful the LALs will be without him in an effort to demonstrate they can't do it without him so then he'll return to "save the team" and have leverage over Luka to assume the lead role going forward.

Or if it appears they can do it without him, then he can push for a trade to another contender.

Either way gets the attention back on LBJ, like he likes it.
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(Yesterday, 10:57 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I didn't watch the game, but I checked the box score and what stood out to me was that in shape or not, it reads just like one of the old Luka-ball Mavs box scores. You can tell he had the ball in his hands the whole time, and that's probably why they lost.

You really starting to get on my nerves with your baseless Luka hate BS. We were in the NBA finals with Luka. We were in the WC finals with Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock and DFS starting. We actually beat the team in the play-offs last year that won 68 games and the championship this year. You might not like Luka, but he has been a winner on the basketball court everywhere he went with his style.
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(Yesterday, 12:13 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: You really starting to get on my nerves with your baseless Luka hate BS. We were in the NBA finals with Luka. We were in the WC finals with Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock and DFS starting. We actually beat the team in the play-offs last year that won 68 games and the championship this year. You might not like Luka, but he has been a winner on the basketball court everywhere he went with his style.

Sorry to annoy you - not my intention. 

I don’t care for what his game has become after a very promising first few years. The greatness is apparent, but the style of basketball is just hideous to me.
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(Yesterday, 12:41 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Sorry to annoy you - not my intention. 

I don’t care for what his game has become after a very promising first few years. The greatness is apparent, but the style of basketball is just hideous to me.

I don´t care whether you like his style of play. You said he was the likely reason the Lakers lost the game, which is obviously utter BS. You are implying that you can´t win Luka´s approach to basketball all the time. Yet he had already won the Euro League, the European Champions, The Club World Cup, three Spanish leagues and a Spanish Cup before he was old enough to drink in America. There are no guarantees in the NBA, but the odds of the Mavs winning a championship in the next decade with the roster they had last year are a lot higher than they are now.
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(Yesterday, 01:14 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: I don´t care whether you like his style of play. You said he was the likely reason the Lakers lost the game, which is obviously utter BS. You are implying that you can´t win Luka´s approach to basketball all the time. Yet he had already won the Euro League, the European Champions, The Club World Cup, three Spanish leagues and a Spanish Cup before he was old enough to drink in America. There are no guarantees in the NBA, but the odds of the Mavs winning a championship in the next decade with the roster they had last year are a lot higher than they are now.

I just disagree. I’m not saying the team they have right now, this second, is as cohesively put together as the finals team was built around Luka, but I do think they are better positioned right now to build a championship team.

Meanwhile, I do not think he will ever win a championship, at least not playing the way he has the past few years.

There is an aesthetic component to my dislike of that style, no question, but I also don’t think it’s a very good way to try to win a championship.
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(Yesterday, 01:14 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: I don´t care whether you like his style of play. You said he was the likely reason the Lakers lost the game, which is obviously utter BS. You are implying that you can´t win Luka´s approach to basketball all the time. Yet he had already won the Euro League, the European Champions, The Club World Cup, three Spanish leagues and a Spanish Cup before he was old enough to drink in America. There are no guarantees in the NBA, but the odds of the Mavs winning a championship in the next decade with the roster they had last year are a lot higher than they are now.

In any Luka-centric team, the GM and coach have to figure out a way to surround Luka with the appropriate players. I don't think it's that easy. And I doubt the current Lakers are that team.
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I'm usually critical of Luka but I thought he was great last night.

Lebron is out and Reaves was in foul trouble and struggling the first 3 quarters of the game. There isn't anyone else on that team that deserves to touch the ball. Luka single handedly kept them in the game. Watching the game, it felt like a blowout but the Lakers were within 10-15 and cut it to 6 at one point.

Either way, I dont think the Lakers have the two way players to complement Luka and be a real threat. Reaves and Rui are good offensively but can't defend. I don't know if they have enough assets to get those pieces around Luka. Might need a free agent superstar to chose to play there.
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(Yesterday, 02:21 PM)Winter Wrote: In any Luka-centric team, the GM and coach have to figure out a way to surround Luka with the appropriate players. I don't think it's that easy. And I doubt the current Lakers are that team.

I don't think its that hard but letting Dorian walk and signing Ayton was not a good start.
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(Yesterday, 02:21 PM)Winter Wrote: In any Luka-centric team, the GM and coach have to figure out a way to surround Luka with the appropriate players. I don't think it's that easy. And I doubt the current Lakers are that team.
I think that's the rub. Surrounding Luka with "appropriate" players means having some 3pt shooters who will stay at the arc and a big in the dunker spot. Then everyone watches Luka and waits for him to decide where he wants to go with the ball.

I know it's more nuanced than that, but that's what it feels like. I was enjoying the ball movement while he was out last season, before the injuries ruined any chance of seeing what this team could do.
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(Yesterday, 03:03 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I'm usually critical of Luka but I thought he was great last night.

Lebron is out and Reaves was in foul trouble and struggling the first 3 quarters of the game.  There isn't anyone else on that team that deserves to touch the ball.  Luka single handedly kept them in the game.  Watching the game, it felt like a blowout but the Lakers were within 10-15 and cut it to 6 at one point.

Either way, I dont think the Lakers have the two way players to complement Luka and be a real threat.  Reaves and Rui are good offensively but can't defend.  I don't know if they have enough assets to get those pieces around Luka.  Might need a free agent superstar to chose to play there.

Things Luka needs:

Secondary creator who can shoot threes, but doesn’t demand the ball.
Long, athletic center who can roll to the rim for lobs, and cover a lot of ground defensively.
Defensive-minded wings who can do a little creation offensively, and hit open threes.

Didn’t he have those things here, in Kyrie, Lively, PJ, Klay, Naji?

Perhaps Nico believed they had just simply hit their ceiling.
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