01-14-2020, 05:34 PM
(01-14-2020, 04:45 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote:(01-14-2020, 11:08 AM)michaeltex Wrote: Do you say that LeBron, Giannis or Harden never lag on defense while arguing a non-call?
Giannis doesn´t. LeBron and Harden do but they aren´t getting distracted. Luka takes himself out of the game for more than a single possession and loses his focus. LeBron and Harden don´t play any worse when they start to argue. Luka does.
Bad mindset Luka makes bad decisions on the basketball court and in the last two games he needed the halftime break to snap out of it.
(01-14-2020, 11:08 AM)michaeltex Wrote: If he's in the MVP conversation, he should get the same respect as the other guys. Sometimes I feel like the refs want to make the young guys "pay their dues" before getting the calls they deserve.
I agree but only to a certain degree. In the last few weeks officiating changed in the entire league and the refs are allowing more contact in the paint. Harden and Giannis for example averaged less freethrows in december and january compared to october and november. LeBron is only 22nd in FTA.
I think Luka is right were he belongs at 4th in the league in FTA. He probably should get more calls in the paint but the same can be said for any of them except for Harden. A player of his size and weight that initiates a lot of contact won´t get the call all the time. Has been the same story for LeBron and Giannis.
I love to watch Luka but I do think that we are allowed to mention his flaws and point out his mistakes. People certainly love to do the same with any other player (Powell, THJ or Brunson). TRUE
In my opinion RC should take action now because I don´t want Luka to develop bad habbits. I don´t want to watch a flopping and whining Harden 2.0. I don´t want to watch a franchise player that loses the ball, blames his teammates and doesn´t play defense. That´s what I saw in the 1st half of the last two games. THIS+100.
I understand his frustration with the refs or his teammates but there are better ways to handle those situations but maybe I am spoiled because we had the perfect non drama franchise player for the last 20 years. And This+100!
Maybe Dirk spoiled me too but I love seeing players get to their spot regardless of defense and go to town;passing out of traps as needed. High speed ball games with lots of FTAs dont do it for me. Its one thing to draw fouls looking to score or get to your spot but players just looking for/selling and trying to create contact ALL game long is boring to watch. And thats both when the refs call all the tick tack calls or when they "let em play". Basketball should be about the more skilled players/team scoring not pretending to try to score so you can shoot FTs. Part of what makes good vets in my eyes is they balance using all their different skills to score and know when to risk a play selling a call. But gotta love fundamentals, posting up/footwork,shot/ball/head fakes etc, along with defense and rebounding which is done best with more sizable players on the court.