With the #3 pick (!) in the 2018 draft, the Mavs get Luka Doncic

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by mac222b

2nd?! Can we sign whoever came in 1st?

@texasbball No sweat mate. Cheers.

@mac222b Hehehe, wouldn't be much help in basketball. Primož Roglič came first. World's best road cyclist of 2019. #1 in UCI (World cycling ogrganisation) rankings. Pretty badass guy. Considering he is 30 years old and moved from ski jumping to cycling only 6 years ago.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

Luka's mom Miriam just commented on his ankle injury on Slovenia's national TV, she sad Luka went trough some x ray examination today and the injury is a bit worse that they hoped for but he is expected to return to the games soon after new years.

Luka just right now came second on Slovenia's sports person of the year award ceremony and his mom collected the award.

I mean, after new years is still two weeks, so I'm not going to sweat it.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

Luka's mom Miriam just commented on his ankle injury on Slovenia's national TV, she sad Luka went trough some x ray examination today and the injury is a bit worse that they hoped for but he is expected to return to the games soon after new years.

Luka just right now came second on Slovenia's sports person of the year award ceremony and his mom collected the award.

Pics of Luka's mom or it didn't fappen.

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Pics of Luka's mom or it didn't fappen.

No sweat mate.

[texasbball]

Dolencd - thanks! Oh boy, here we go...

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Bran Townsend said that report isn't true btw, but he can take as much time as he needs. Best not to rush back.

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Bran Townsend said that report isn't true btw, but he can take as much time as he needs. Best not to rush back.

Well to be honest, Dallas press release said no news till Wednesday, so it is a bit weird that Luka's mom went about telling it today. But if someone does know by now it's probably her. I just hope Luka has no further complications with his ankle, and may it last as long as it has to.

[EricaLubarsky]

Two weeks doesn't seem reasonable. He's going to need at least a fortnight.

[Underdog]

Thanks for the pic, Dolencd!

Also, Luka needs to be square by Jan 11th because I've got good tickets to that Sixers game and I have yet to see him play in person (the only game I went to last season was Dirk's final game in SA, which Luka didn't play in either).

[BPo001]

After suffering a moderate ankle sprain Saturday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic already has shed his crutches and walking boot, coach Rick Carlisle said. “He is responding well to treatment,” Carlisle said before the Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. “He is progressing well.” –

[endtroducing MASKED]

Originally Posted by BPo001

After suffering a moderate ankle sprain Saturday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic already has shed his crutches and walking boot, coach Rick Carlisle said. “He is responding well to treatment,” Carlisle said before the Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. “He is progressing well.” –

Dirk esque early injury return incoming

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by endtroducing MASKED

Dirk esque early injury return incoming

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/statu...789374981?s=21

No boot. Walking well. Not saying it won’t be two weeks, but it won’t be two weeks

[Dolencd]

Well f**k me, Slovenia is going mental over Luka.
https://youtu.be/0v9EIaN4Nzo - This just in from Slakonja, he did a bunch of videos like this about famous people. Check out also his Heat's Dragic, Russia's Putin and USA's Trump videos.
To be honest. I prefer HaleLuka song.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

Well f**k me, Slovenia is going mental over Luka.
https://youtu.be/0v9EIaN4Nzo - This just in from Slakonja, he did a bunch of videos like this about famous people. Check out also his Heat's Dragic, Russia's Putin and USA's Trump videos.
To be honest. I prefer HaleLuka song.

Lol can't hate the effort...

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by saclare

Lol can't hate the effort...

Hell no. It's a proper effort and result. But just the song? Haleluka is way more catchy. Watch his putin video. It's really good!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

Well f**k me, Slovenia is going mental over Luka.
https://youtu.be/0v9EIaN4Nzo - This just in from Slakonja, he did a bunch of videos like this about famous people. Check out also his Heat's Dragic, Russia's Putin and USA's Trump videos.
To be honest. I prefer HaleLuka song.

That’s... something.

Glad to see our boy getting love though.

[texasbball]

Luka shot last night. Probably after Christmas, but not as late as New Years.

[sefant77]

I think they are hoping for the 26th. No game between 22 and 26...

Worst case i hope Lakers at 29.12. They should be able to beat the Warriors the night before without Luka

[EricaLubarsky]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/...554713600?s=21

Seems close

[EricaLubarsky]

Doncic with a full contact practice today according to Carlisle

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Doncic with a full contact practice today according to Carlisle

Looks like my tickets to the Bulls game is safe. I thought about selling them when Luka was injured. They basically tripled in price since.

[Dolencd]

Hopefully he comes back, when his ankle is ready. Heard from a doctor that the same kind of sprain before his ankle is totally fine would be catastrophic for him.

[Dolencd]

It's voting time guys! Let's make Luka All Star captain this year.

[Lestat_1795]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

It's voting time guys! Let's make Luka All Star captain this year.

Yes. Voted!

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

It's voting time guys! Let's make Luka All Star captain this year.

Lllluuuukkkkaaaa Magic!

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Luka has been upgraded to questionable for the SA game per TMAC.

[BPo001]

Suck it, Lebron. Are they still doing that team captain thing where players pick the teams?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Suck it, Lebron. Are they still doing that team captain thing where players pick the teams?

They are, and it currently says Team Giannis and Team LeBron, despite LeBron having less votes than Luka... David Stern may be gone, but the NBA is still rigged.

[particleman]

Originally Posted by Underdog

They are, and it currently says Team Giannis and Team LeBron, despite LeBron having less votes than Luka... David Stern may be gone, but the NBA is still rigged.

Where does it say that?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by particleman

Where does it say that?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

.

[SMC0007]

That's probably just carry over from last year since it hasnt been decided yet.

[endtroducing MASKED]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

That's probably just carry over from last year since it hasnt been decided yet.

Yeah, being upset when the captains haven’t even been named is....weird.

[dirt_dobber]

NBA icon Jerry West says Mavs star Luka Doncic will be better than Dirk Nowitzki
West: “I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of special players. ... A superstar is different, and that’s what he is.”
By Kevin Sherrington 5:49 PM on Jan 3, 2020
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/ma...dirk-nowitzki/

Jerry West is 81 and still working in the league that chose him for its label. Like a dog chasing a ball, he says. Some dog. Named one of the 50 best players ever. Won seven NBA titles as a player or general manager. Built not one but two Lakers dynasties. Traded for Kobe Bryant’s draft rights, signed Shaquille O’Neal, hired Phil Jackson. Yeah, if you’d lived the Logo’s life, maybe you’d be jaded, too.

He watches games as a consultant for the Clippers, and he sees stuff he doesn’t like. The analytics don’t always add up. It’s not necessarily all the 3’s. It’s when the wrong people are shooting them.

“It’s a beautiful game when it’s played right,” he says, “and it’s ugly when it’s not.”

Does Luka Doncic play it right?

“My goodness, yes,” West says, laughing. “Everyone wishes they had a 20-year-old who plays like him, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface.

“It’s fun to watch genius.”

Genius?

“I’ve been around a long time,” he says, “and I’ve seen a lot of special players. How many superstars are there in the league at any given time? Maybe five or six. There’s a difference between All-Stars and superstars.

“A superstar is different, and that’s what he is.”

West was a superstar, and he played against a few. One of them was his biggest rival: Oscar Robertson. Doncic has been compared with several players past and present, but the Big O seems like the closest fit. Mostly because of the triple doubles. Doncic has put up nine triples this season. In 1962-63, Robertson averaged a triple double.

Oscar was a big guard for his time at 6-5, 205. Doncic is 6-7, 230. Like Oscar, Luka uses his strength and size to make space between himself and a defender, thus allowing him to create shots. Defenders don’t bother them much. That’s the difference between great players and average players, West says. The greats don’t flinch.

Given the similarities, then, is Luka like Oscar?

“I would say no,” says West, who knows as well as anyone. “I bet Oscar never took a shot over 17, 19 feet. In that era, 17 feet was a long shot.”

Luka’s shooting percentage this season is nearly 48%, up from 43% his rookie year. His 3-point percentage is nearly identical, but West says it’ll improve. He’ll get better at everything.

“When I say better,” he says, “it looks easy for him now, but it’ll get easier.”

West is confident in Luka’s future because the game suits his skill set so well. The floor spacing allows him to see the play in front of him. His instincts, West says, are like LeBron James’. He thinks a play ahead, and he’s confident in his shot.

Luka plays like a 10-year veteran, West says, and yet he’s still just 20. Asked if he’s ever seen a player as advanced at such a young age, he cites Kobe and Earvin Johnson. That’s what he calls him. Earvin. Not Magic. Magic was a visionary who could play any position on the floor and sometimes did in the same game. Just this year, West called him the greatest Laker ever. Kobe was a cold-blooded scorer, maybe the most clutch player of his generation. He also made 12 All-Defensive teams, the most of any guard in league history.

Magic and Kobe were in the conversation for the greatest players of their eras.

Can Luka rate the same?

“I think that’s a reach now,” West says. “He could certainly be in the top five.

“Ask me that question in two years and we’ll see.”

Luka’s not as athletic as today’s greatest players. Neither was Larry Bird. Like Bird, Luka makes do.

“You wouldn’t say he’s the quickest guy,” West says, “but no one can stop him because he’s so clever. He can play fast; he can play slow. Let him get a little room and he’ll get there. And when he delivers a ball, it’s always in position for a guy to catch it and get his shot.

“He kinda makes it fun. Any night you see him play, you’re gonna see something special.”

West likes the fact that it looks like Luka has such a good time while he’s playing. Oscar played with a sneer, he says. Russell Westbrook, too. Triple-doubles are hard work. Still, it doesn’t seem to put a dent in Luka’s joy. And when he makes a mistake, he’s the first to admit it. Pats his chest. My bad.

I tell him that Luka may look happy most of the time, but when the Mavs lose, he takes it hard. Doesn’t matter what numbers he puts up. He sits at his locker, chin on chest. West gets it. As a player, great as he was, he lost in the NBA Finals eight times. Won once. Chick Hearn, the long-time Lakers announcer, never saw anyone take losses harder. West would sit and stare. His first wife would try to console him, but he wouldn’t say a word. He’d pull up at the house, let her out, drive around by himself.

“When you’re really great,” West says, “it should hurt to lose. I can see that. He will learn to be smarter. He’ll learn the players he’s playing against and what it takes on any given night. Those players, they won’t bother him.

“He’ll learn what it takes. He’ll do it. He’s so damn good.”

He’s so good, he should have been the first pick of the draft, West says. A lot of people shook their heads over that. They knew Luka was good.

But this good? No one saw this coming.

West sees it now, and that’s not all he sees.

“Look at Dallas,” he says. “One player has transformed them into a playoff team. He will be the best player Dallas has ever had.

“I have great respect for Nowitzki, but Dirk is not him.”

Good enough for Jerry West. Good enough for me.

[turin]

He watches games as a consultant for the Clippers, and he sees stuff he doesn’t like. The analytics don’t always add up. It’s not necessarily all the 3’s. It’s when the wrong people are shooting them.

It's so nice to finally read something like this about analytics. Yeah, analytics can give some insight, but there's a whole lot that isn't said in the numbers.

[Underdog]

Jerry West ain't wrong... Luka obviously has a long way to go to prove him right, but the potential to be better than Dirk is real.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Jerry West ain't wrong... Luka obviously has a long way to go to prove him right, but the potential to be better than Dirk is real.

Incredibly real.

[EricaLubarsky]

Mavs' Rick Carlisle takes issue with how opponents defend Luka Doncic
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...nd-luka-doncic

"They're beating the s--- out of him," Carlisle said before Saturday night's 123-120 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets. "He's handling it well, but teams are taking liberties on him.

"We saw it with Dirk [Nowitzki] for 20 years here -- my 11 years -- all the time. Taking physical liberties on him, trying to knock him down, beat him up, stuff like that. It's not good. It's not good. He's handling it very well, but it's happening every game."

Doncic has emerged as an early MVP candidate as a 20-year-old, averaging 29.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game in his second NBA season. He ranks fourth in the league with 9.1 free throw attempts per game, but Carlisle believes that number should be significantly higher.

Doncic agreed with Carlisle's take but didn't want to complain about officiating.

"It's true -- I'm not going to lie," Doncic said after a 39-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance in the loss to the Hornets. "But you know, it's just basketball. It's a physical game. If the refs see it, they're going to call it. If they don't see it, they're not going to call it. But I've just got to keep going. Just keep going."

The Mavs have reason to be concerned about the toll the physical defense is taking on the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Doncic's body. He was briefly in concussion protocol and suffered a sprained left wrist and back contusion due to a frightening fall after a hard foul by Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard in a Dec. 29 loss. Doncic suffered a thigh contusion in a loss Tuesday to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I don't like it, and I'm constantly communicating it to the people that are involved," said Carlisle, who declined to say if those discussions include the league office. "Look, he's a great player, so people are going to go after him. It doesn't mean that a lot of the stuff is right or in the spirit of what the game should look like.


"We've just got to make the officials aware of it constantly. What happens is teams will come in and they'll set a level of aggressiveness. There's a level where it's so physical that they only call a certain number of fouls. We've got to be able to play like that. We've got an aggressive team, but taking liberties is not good. He's got scratches on his arms all the time and stuff like that. It's not good."

[Underdog]

@espn_macmahon: Highest-scoring triple-doubles this season:

44 -- James Harden
42 -- Luka Doncic
41 -- Luka Doncic
39 -- Luka Doncic
39 -- LeBron James
38 -- Luka Doncic
38 -- Luka Doncic
35 -- Luka Doncic
33 -- Luka Doncic

[BPo001]

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2020/1...est-trae-young
Luka in the 3 point contest?