Will Luka finally start taking care of his body and playing defense now?

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

Luka at 25 (peak, athletic prime) needs rest on a back-to-back and LeBron (40-freaking years old) drops 40 in a win on the road.

"Luka Magic" must reference the pixie dust spell he has on his fans.

Could you imagine where LeBron and Jordan were on a team together at the end of MJ's run and a 25-year-old LeBron needed to *rest* on a back-to-back, while Jordan goes out there and drops 40? Who would be defending LeBron in that scenario, because that's where we're at here.

Wasn't a few pages ago where people were suggesting that LeBron now needs to defer to Luka.

Lotta Luka bag holders.

[NBAicons]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Lotta Luka bag holders.

Yup. Any you can tell who some of them are just by reading this thread. Nervous Nellies.

[BoSoxFan1999]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Lotta Luka bag holders.

Meanwhile, Bronny's dad just keeps going! 21+ years of elite, top 5/10 play. Ridiculous.

[NBAicons]

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

Meanwhile, Bronny's dad just keeps going! 21+ years of elite, top 5/10 play. Ridiculous.

True. And largely under-appreciated the entire time.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

Luka at 25 (peak, athletic prime) needs rest on a back-to-back and LeBron (40-freaking years old) drops 40 in a win on the road.

"Luka Magic" must reference the pixie dust spell he has on his fans.

Could you imagine where LeBron and Jordan were on a team together at the end of MJ's run and a 25-year-old LeBron needed to *rest* on a back-to-back, while Jordan goes out there and drops 40? Who would be defending LeBron in that scenario, because that's where we're at here.

Wasn't a few pages ago where people were suggesting that LeBron now needs to defer to Luka.

I don't even want to make the comparison between these two right now because it's not a good one.

Let's talk Luka vs Giannis or Jokic, or even better, Luka vs SGA, because that's an apples to apples same draft class discussion.

[BoSoxFan1999]

Originally Posted by NBAicons

True. And largely under-appreciated the entire time.

His career is sorta like Vince Carter's elbow dunk. At the time, you knew it was pretty impressive, but you don't realize just how impressive it was until you sit back and think about it for a bit. "......wait a second, he put his entire forearm through the HOOP!"

LeBron's been great for so long that lots of people have become desensitized to his greatness.
"Oh, LeBron putting up 25/9/8 again? Boring!!"

I don't think people will fully appreciate his greatness till after he retires.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

His career is sorta like Vince Carter's elbow dunk. At the time, you knew it was pretty impressive, but you don't realize just how impressive it was until you sit back and think about it for a bit. "......wait a second, he put his entire forearm through the HOOP!"

LeBron's been great for so long that lots of people have become desensitized to his greatness.
"Oh, LeBron putting up 25/9/8 again? Boring!!"

I don't think people will fully appreciate his greatness till after he retires.

They paved paradise to put up a parking lot.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

Oh yeah because context doesn't matter at all right?

The East in the 00s was atrocious. I'm not sure why you're choosing to ignore that just to try and be "right".

Anyone with half a brain would understand that feasting on the East during that time was a massive advantage.

Luka has played for tougher competition and overachieved all the way through.

Has Luka lost a series to a worse team than the Magic?

Man I wish the Spurs played in the East in the 00s. They would have been in the Finals every year.

It's only the regular season, but I wanted to see what the numbers say:



Cleveland Cavaliers -- 2003-04 to 2009-10 regular season:

2003-04:
--Eastern: 29-25
--Western: 6-22
--Lakers: 0-2
--Spurs: 1-1

2004-05:
--Eastern: 26-26
--Western: 16-14
--Lakers: 1-1
--Spurs: 0-2

2005-06:
--Eastern: 34-18
--Western: 16-14
--Lakers: 1-1
--Spurs: 1-1

2006-07:
--Eastern: 31-21
--Western: 19-11
--Lakers: 2-0
--Spurs: 2-0

2007-08:
--Eastern: 28-24
--Western: 17-13
--Lakers: 2-0
--Spurs: 1-1

2008-09:
--Eastern: 40-12
--Western: 26-4
--Lakers: 0-2
--Spurs: 2-0

2009-10:
--Eastern: 38-14
--Western: 23-7
--Lakers: 2-0
--Spurs: 1-1

Totals (2003-04 to 2009-10):
--Eastern: 226-140 (.617)
--Western: 123-85 (.591)
--Lakers: 8-6 (.571)
--Spurs: 8-6 (.571)

[SandStoneSports]

Originally Posted by NBAicons

Yup. Any you can tell who some of them are just by reading this thread. Nervous Nellies.

Nervous because he's had a few bad games after a prolonged injury? I dont think so.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by SandStoneSports

Nervous because he's had a few bad games after a prolonged injury? I dont think so.

Exactly. Resting on a b2b after an injury is just smart. If you can't rest a star vs the G League Blazers than when can you rest?

Some pretty lolsy takes in here.

It seems like the worst takes are from those that actually don't like him. Or are really trying too hard to pump LeBron and his empty stats right now.

I'll get my house on Luka making these guys look foolish

[drobfan8]

FYI Luka's prices are up.

Why would anyone be nervous?? Ha ha

[Sticks33]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

Exactly. Resting on a b2b after an injury is just smart. If you can't rest a star vs the G League Blazers than when can you rest?

Some pretty lolsy takes in here.

It seems like the worst takes are from those that actually don't like him. Or are really trying too hard to pump LeBron and his empty stats right now.

I'll get my house on Luka making these guys look foolish

So weird.

What makes LeBron’s stats empty but Luka’s stats…not empty? Honest question.

I admire Luka’s game a ton. But why do you need to keep insisting that he’s had a better start to his career than LeBron? You’re kind of fixated. And why haven’t you addressed the post above that shows both player’s stats side by side for the current year? It seems clear that LeBron in year 20 is having a better year than Luka. And that’s fine. Luka’s still a great player.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

Exactly. Resting on a b2b after an injury is just smart. If you can't rest a star vs the G League Blazers than when can you rest?

Some pretty lolsy takes in here.

It seems like the worst takes are from those that actually don't like him. Or are really trying too hard to pump LeBron and his empty stats right now.

I'll get my house on Luka making these guys look foolish

LeBron is also injured - he has a left ankle injury.

Additionally, this type of mentality is why the USA/Canada 4 Nations game garnered the TV ratings it did. The NBA has an existential problem (soft, coddled players) that other leagues will capitalize on soon.

The whole, "how to fix the All-Star game" is another self-explanatory question. How to fix it? Umm, how about having the players actually compete?! It's the same for the regular season - it's unwatchable and has ~10% of the intensity of the playoffs.

Rant over, but Luka, et. al. are part of the problem. Get your ass out there and play and try to give some effort on the defensive side of the court.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

LeBron is also injured - he has a left ankle injury.

Additionally, this type of mentality is why the USA/Canada 4 Nations game garnered the TV ratings it did. The NBA has an existential problem (soft, coddled players) that other leagues will capitalize on soon.

The whole, "how to fix the All-Star game" is another self-explanatory question. How to fix it? Umm, how about having the players actually compete?! It's the same for the regular season - it's unwatchable and has ~10% of the intensity of the playoffs.

Rant over, but Luka, et. al. are part of the problem. Get your ass out there and play and try to give some effort on the defensive side of the court.

I guess if they lost the game to the Blazers I'd get it, but they didn't.

Lebron rested during the All Star break. He seems fine? Although 40 vs the Blazers aint in the same league as getting 40 vs say the Celtics or Cavs or Thunder.

We'll need to see these guys in the Playoffs and what happens in the offseason to be able to decide on if Luka is as good as some of us think.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

LeBron is also injured - he has a left ankle injury.

Additionally, this type of mentality is why the USA/Canada 4 Nations game garnered the TV ratings it did. The NBA has an existential problem (soft, coddled players) that other leagues will capitalize on soon.

The whole, "how to fix the All-Star game" is another self-explanatory question. How to fix it? Umm, how about having the players actually compete?! It's the same for the regular season - it's unwatchable and has ~10% of the intensity of the playoffs.

Rant over, but Luka, et. al. are part of the problem. Get your ass out there and play and try to give some effort on the defensive side of the court.

LeBron was kicking the ball around pregame

Some ankle injury

[NBAicons]

Originally Posted by Sticks33

So weird.

What makes LeBron’s stats empty but Luka’s stats…not empty? Honest question.

He can’t follow his own logic 😂

[BlueXtreme]

Originally Posted by Sticks33

So weird.

What makes LeBron’s stats empty but Luka’s stats…not empty? Honest question.

LeBron is 7-1 this season when the co-star does not play. I don't get it either.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

LeBron was kicking the ball around pregame

Some ankle injury

He's not disabled, he's just dealing with a tendon that wasn't designed for 21 years as an NBA player.

[Romocide]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Make no mistake -- this is absolutely embarrassing for Luka. Teams don't just trade away generational talents and franchise cornerstones in their age-25 season, unless they are demanding a trade. Even if he was going to walk away after his current deal was up, it made sense to try for a title with him considering the Mavs had made the finals just last season.

This is a very poor reflection on him as a player, in my opinion.

Dirk will stay as the Mavs GOAT.

It’s a poor reflection on Nico Harrison and no one else.

[NBAicons]

Well I guess we got our answer.

[blackvodka]

Originally Posted by NBAicons

Well I guess we got our answer.

If they aren't able to come back against Minny in this series we'll know more on how they play next season. The Lakers have a rc coach, a non- existent bench and no real even semi respectable big man.

If the Lakers whiff in the off-season and Luka makes zero changes in the off-season, that will be really telling about the Lakers future.

Sent from my motorola razr 2024 using Tapatalk

[Ismael80]

Zach Lowe absolutely destroyed Luka in his latest podcast about his turnstile defense making its annual playoff appearance. About how clueless he is defensively and how he only "tries" when his teams are already down big in a series.

[Jwax13]

Originally Posted by Ismael80

Zach Lowe absolutely destroyed Luka in his latest podcast about his turnstile defense making its annual playoff appearance. About how clueless he is defensively and how he only "tries" when his teams are already down big in a series.

What does the best basketball writer in the world know?! I was told Luka is miles better than SGA by the braintrust here.

[Jwax13]

Spoiler alert: He will not.

[JRX]

Is Luka basically the Euro Carmelo? He does pass more, but they both could score whenever they wanted, don't play defense, and get called out for not being in shape.