Luka losing this year is good for the league

[90sgoat]

Luka is not going to like this.

He's going to put in a lot of work.

It's always interesting to see what he adds to his game.

[AirBonner]

Honestly just being in shape would do wonders.

[Neal Romer]

He needs to train with LeBodyIsATemple

[SATAN]

Maybe he can start with worrying more about defense than triple doubles.

[Real Men Wear Green]

It's certainly good for the Celtics so I'm all for it.

[FKAri]

He needs to train with LeBodyIsATemple

Yes. I think LeBalco would be able to get him in shape over night. First multi sport star in NBA and IFBB.

[bdonovan]

There's no doubt that Doncic's taken a major step forward as a player this year. He has evolved his game beyond the purely ISO James Harden style of "I either score it myself or here have it" and lazily hands it to the next player.

Doncic's evolution was on display against the Wolves where he dismantled the Wolves through team-first mentality. Doncic was probably responsible for 60-70 points per game in that series; since everything began with him breaking the defense and finding his teammates.

He wouldn't play like that earlier. This was new. He has a team mentality when he goes out there, and finally a sense of how to make his teammates better. To do that, you need to understand your teammate's strengths and trust in them where they are capable. IE: Luckey and Gafford can score around the rim. Find Jones cutting etc. That's how you get to the next level and he's done it.

It takes maturity. The wrong way of thinking is: my teammates are garbage, or worse than I am, I can't rely on them. That's a surefire way to lose. The best players elevate average players into stars - that's how they win. Doncic has started to do that.

I was one of Doncic's biggest critics on this board because of his selfish ISO style, but he's clearly graduated from that. He was to work on conditioning and defense, but he is on his way to the top if he continues to improve.

[gengiskhan]

He needs to train with LeBalco Juice

corrected

[GimmeThat]

just as good as Cuban refusing to pay Nash

[90sgoat]

He wouldn't play like that earlier. This was new. He has a team mentality when he goes out there, and finally a sense of how to make his teammates better. To do that, you need to understand your teammate's strengths and trust in them where they are capable. IE: Luckey and Gafford can score around the rim. Find Jones cutting etc. That's how you get to the next level and he's done it.

It takes maturity. The wrong way of thinking is: my teammates are garbage, or worse than I am, I can't rely on them. That's a surefire way to lose. The best players elevate average players into stars - that's how they win. Doncic has started to do that.

He might whine and moan, but he's not actually throwing anyone under the bus, instead improving himself.

You're right that the Timberwolves series was his high point this playoffs.

Everyone says it's about conditioning and it is, but it's also about playing in ways to preserve energy while trusting teammates more.

I'd like to see Luka, Kidd and Mavs look at tape of what they did with fastbreaks. Get Luka to look up and find DJJ running.

I'd also like Luka to really work on catch and shoot 3s. Maybe set him up a bit further out than usual, so he doesn't have to run around screens etc. Or they could do some kind of low post fake, where he fakes a post up, but then gets a Lively screen and runs to the corner.

Mavs might also want to look at getting someone like Conley, an experienced point guard to bring the ball up.

[gengiskhan]

A Tub of Lard, out of shape, questionable stamina, slow mo superstar loosing ANY year is good for the NBA.

If Luka wins FMVP and Mavs win, Pelicans can never tell Zion to loose weight to win title.

overweight Zion is more talented, explosive, quicker, better foot work version of Luka