Has Luka ever defensively shutdown an opposing star player in the playoffs?

[GrayGoat]

I don’t think so. His team might actually be better without him.

[FultzNationRISE]

Not that many stars have, if we’re being honest. Usually a defensive specialist like a Bowen or a Prince or an Artest gets put on the opponent’s best player. Sometimes an elite two way player like Pippen gets the assignment.

Only one guy can lead all of world history in scoring, while also having a career full of dominant defensive performances.

His name is LeThickemz Raymone Hung-James.

[Kawhi_Why_Not]

Hell no.

He still has a lot to prove. Never even won a playoff series and this year his team won more without him then with him.

[kumquat]

I love Luka, but Luka barely runs back on defense.

[90sgoat]

Luka will never be a shutdown defender, but he is a great rebounder and now also a very good help defender. Had multiple steals, blocks and 15 rebounds yesterday.

[Spurs m8]

22 year old Kawhi
Old man Iggy
KD
KD
Kyle Kuzma

https://media1.tenor.com/images/c10f1d1528d2d3aa05cf63ef7dc99748/tenor.gif

[FultzNationRISE]

22 year old Kawhi
Old man Iggy
KD
KD
Kyle Kuzma

https://media1.tenor.com/images/c10f1d1528d2d3aa05cf63ef7dc99748/tenor.gif


What the hell does Lebron have to do with this thread bro??

[LeCola]

What the hell does Lebron have to do with this thread bro??

Do you mean LeAllah (JJ)?

[Baller789]

Not that many stars have, if we’re being honest. Usually a defensive specialist like a Bowen or a Prince or an Artest gets put on the opponent’s best player. Sometimes an elite two way player like Pippen gets the assignment.

Only one guy can lead all of world history in scoring, while also having a career full of dominant defensive performances.

His name is LeThickemz Raymone Hung-James.

You mean what Battier used to do for Bran?

[ImKobe]

This is skewed because Luka did miss the first 3 games, but so far the Mavs have an 87 DRTG with Luka in the Playoffs, while they have a 120 DRTG with him off the court. He's played 66 minutes in the series and they've played 174 without him, so there's a decent amount of sample size here, obviously Game 5 was a big outlier, but he had a positive impact on the defensive end if you watched the game.

Luka's Playoff Net Rating is insane once again. Last year he had a +32.6 Net Rating in a 7-game series against the Clippers, so far in this series he's a +26.8.

Tatum isn't a shutdown 1 on 1 defender like a prime Kawhi, he's the 3rd best defensive player on his own team. He's still very good but to say that he should be put over Luka or that he's in the same tier off one sweep vs a small Nets' team (who were down their best defender/playmaker & their best catch & shoot wing) is not the right move either.