shack009 said:
PatAg said:
if you think Luka is the problem, you just dont know ball. Its ok
The biggest issue with this team in close games is Luka's shot selection. It's also on him to get the offense going and we scored 3 points in the final 3.5 minutes tonight (Grimes step back). That's just a fact. Luka has to be better throughout the game, and especially late in the game.
You know why Steph is able to get to his step back 3 so easily? Because he also will try to get to the rim. You know why Luka's step back is never available late in the game? Because he hasn't been putting pressure on the rim consistently, and especially not in late game/half situations.
What makes it so frustrating is we know he is capable of better.
Actually it's the opposite. If you don't see major holes in Luka's game, especially in last possessions of quarters and the last 3-4 minutes of close games, then you don't know ball. I'm not sure how it's even debatable at this point.
You have to be good in clutch time in the NBA. If he's good/great the rest of the game but then goes into his typical self the last 3/4 minutes and takes step back after step back without moving the ball around, we aren't going to be very good. And we are literally giving away multiple possession a game with him at the end of quarters. If we have 5-8 seconds left, most teams push it and get to the rim or get a clean look. But he just brings it up the court and shoots a 30+ foot step back literally every time. Doesn't even try to push it to get a better shot. We have a good team but it's very hard to give away possessions like this and beat other good teams.
I'd love to see his field goal percentage or efficiency rating on possessions where we are within 3 points and there is less than a minute left or less than 2 minutes left over the last few years. Not sure if that's something you can look up. Most non-Mavs fans probably thinks he's great at clutch shots but that's just bc they only see the highlights on sports center when he makes a shot to win the game. And don't see the 80+% that he misses. He literally takes the shot every time so of course he's going to have some game winners.
I would also assume we have to be near last in the league on last possessions of quarters. Whether we have 3 seconds or 20 seconds, it's ending in a Luka contested step back.
He's got to be better in these situations. I'm fine if he doesn't score and misses some shots. As long as they aren't dumbass step back 3s with no ball movement whatsoever. That's unacceptable.
And I get why everyone is saying that it's early and things will work themselves out. I'm hoping that's true (and think we will still have a good season). But at the end of the year, I guarantee you that if we were 2-3 games better then that would be huge. The difference between going on the road or home court, being the 2 seed or 1 seed, being in the play in or not, etc. So these games do matter and we should easily have won a 2-3 more.