2022-23 NBA Thread

[JWags85]

60-21-10 for Luka tonight.

Absolutely insane. Equally nuts is he was 52-17-10 in regulation.  OT just made a preposterous game historic

[MuggsyB]

60-21-10 for Luka tonight.

Wow.  Those are Wilt numbers. 

[MU82]

Luka also foiled Tom Thibodeau's foul-up-3 strategy at the end of regulation.

Luka made the first FT, intentionally missed the second, got the rebound himself and hit a contested, falling-down 12-footer at the buzzer to tie it.

A lot of NBA coaches do not foul up 3. I have seen a few quoted as saying that NBA refs are more liberal with in-act-of-shooting calls than college refs are, and NBA players are better at making the 3 while fouled than college players are.

Still, what Doncic did in that situation is quite rare. In and of itself, it is not proof that foul-up-3 is a poor strategy. I mean, the guy had a historic game ... so why not score in that situation, too? Incredible night for a one-of-a-kind player.

[Lennys Tap]

Wow.  Those are Wilt numbers.

Last guy with 60/20 was Shaq - he didn’t have 10 assists, though. Amazing performance by young guy (23 or 24?) who looks like he’s still carrying some baby fat.

[Lennys Tap]

Luka also foiled Tom Thibodeau's foul-up-3 strategy at the end of regulation.

Luka made the first FT, intentionally missed the second, got the rebound himself and hit a contested, falling-down 12-footer at the buzzer to tie it.

A lot of NBA coaches do not foul up 3. I have seen a few quoted as saying that NBA refs are more liberal with in-act-of-shooting calls than college refs are, and NBA players are better at making the 3 while fouled than college players are.

If you can clearly foul before it’s an act of shooting situation it’s still the right play imo. Every pro team has multiple players who are at least very good 3 point shooters.

The reason everyone is talking about Luka’s play at the end of regulation is because it’s extremely difficult to pull off.

[Jockey]

Last guy with 60/20 was Shaq - he didn’t have 10 assists, though. Amazing performance by young guy (23 or 24?) who looks like he’s still carrying some baby fat.

Despite the baby fat, he gets anywhere he wants on the court. Guys like Giannis and Morant get there with power or quickness. Luka gets there because he wants to.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Despite the baby fat, he gets anywhere he wants on the court. Guys like Giannis and Morant get there with power or quickness. Luka gets there because he wants to.

What does this even mean? He teleports?

[StillAWarrior]

If you can clearly foul before it’s an act of shooting situation it’s still the right play imo. Every pro team has multiple players who are at least very good 3 point shooters.

The reason everyone is talking about Luka’s play at the end of regulation is because it’s extremely difficult to pull off.

And Luka's rebound and shot at the buzzer were completely insane. He had no business getting that rebound...it went through three Knicks' hands before it fell to Luka and then his shot was ridiculous. In general, "it's extremely difficult to pull off." In this case, Luka turned the difficulty level up to 11. Amazing.

[Jockey]

And Luka's rebound and shot at the buzzer were completely insane. He had no business getting that rebound...it went through three Knicks' hands before it fell to Luka and then his shot was ridiculous. In general, "it's extremely difficult to pull off." In this case, Luka turned the difficulty level up to 11. Amazing.

He teleported himself to where he needed to be to get the rebound. He sees the floor differently, whether he has the ball or is positioning himself, than other players.  Similar to Larry Bird, but even more so plus he is more athletic.

[JWags85]

Despite the baby fat, he gets anywhere he wants on the court. Guys like Giannis and Morant get there with power or quickness. Luka gets there because he wants to.

I find it amusing that Luka got pretty cut and defined this summer during FIBA events, but he’s back to his shapeless self in season

What does this even mean? He teleports?

The last line was phrased awkwardly, but I get it.  I saw a tweet yesterday about how Luka uses other players on the court so well to get to his spots, beyond standard pick plays and calling for screens.  He’s unbelievably crafty at going around players on both teams to rub off defenders or create momentary delays.  He won’t beat you to a spot cause his unreal first step or brute force, but he’ll get to his spot for a look or pass in some way.  I saw a play the other night where he split 2 of his own teammates, neither of which were actively setting a screen or moving for him, in order to leave his defender behind as they naturally moved to close the gap he dribbled through.

[MU82]

If you can clearly foul before it’s an act of shooting situation it’s still the right play imo. Every pro team has multiple players who are at least very good 3 point shooters.

The reason everyone is talking about Luka’s play at the end of regulation is because it’s extremely difficult to pull off.

I agree with all of that.

But it still doesn't change the fact that NBA coaches are less likely to foul up 3 than college coaches are. And there still are quite a few college coaches who don't always foul up 3.

[DegenerateDish]

I see Grayson Allen doing Grayson Allen things again.

[MuggsyB]

I see the Bucks have blown an 11 pt lead with under 2:20 to go in the game vs the Bulls. 

[WhiteTrash]

I see Grayson Allen doing Grayson Allen things again.

Just doing his job. That's his skill set.

[withoutbias]

Went to check it out not having seen it thinking there’d be something dirty to see. Lol, that’s as big of a nothing burger as I’ve ever seen. Oh no, a tiny forearm shiver in the middle of someone’s back?! Thank God Demar will survive!

That’s literally every single screen Bam Adebayo has ever set in his NBA career.

[StillAWarrior]

Donovan Mitchell scored 71 tonight in the Cavs’ win over Chicago. Arguably, his best basket of the night came after Chicago fouled him while up three with 4.1 left in regulation. Mitchell rebounded his intentional miss and made a great shot. It broke the Bulls’ spirit. Reminiscent of Luka last week.

[lawdog77]

Donovan Mitchell scored 71 tonight in the Cavs’ win over Chicago. Arguably, his best basket of the night came after Chicago fouled him while up three with 4.1 left in regulation. Mitchell rebounded his intentional miss and made a great shot. It broke the Bulls’ spirit. Reminiscent of Luka last week.

2 rebounds away from a triple double. Slacker

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Donovan Mitchell scored 71 tonight in the Cavs’ win over Chicago. Arguably, his best basket of the night came after Chicago fouled him while up three with 4.1 left in regulation. Mitchell rebounded his intentional miss and made a great shot. It broke the Bulls’ spirit. Reminiscent of Luka last week.

He committed a lane violation on the scramble to the shot but they were never gonna call that

[JWags85]

He committed a lane violation on the scramble to the shot but they were never gonna call that

Pretty sure the NBA only calls it if the first rebounder is literally standing under the hoop when the shot is taken.

I watched part of the Mavs game last night and Christian Wood, I believe, stepped into the lane, sort of stuttered back into place realizing what he did, and still stepped firmly into the lane while the shooter was still going up and the FT was missed, nothing called.

[WhiteTrash]

Donovan Mitchell scored 71 tonight in the Cavs’ win over Chicago. Arguably, his best basket of the night came after Chicago fouled him while up three with 4.1 left in regulation. Mitchell rebounded his intentional miss and made a great shot. It broke the Bulls’ spirit. Reminiscent of Luka last week.

The Bulls have spirit?

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Pretty sure the NBA only calls it if the first rebounder is literally standing under the hoop when the shot is taken.

I watched part of the Mavs game last night and Christian Wood, I believe, stepped into the lane, sort of stuttered back into place realizing what he did, and still stepped firmly into the lane while the shooter was still going up and the FT was missed, nothing called.

sure but they called two on Caruso that same game

[MU82]

The Greatest Team In NBA History lost by 1,000 points to an Oklahoma City team playing without SGA.

At least Sam got a lot of garbage-time minutes.

[GB Warrior]

The Greatest Team In NBA History lost by 1,000 points to an Oklahoma City team playing without SGA.

At least Sam got a lot of garbage-time minutes.

I wish my Bucks had the chemsitry of a team that just got its teeth kicked in by a G League team

[JWags85]

Luka Doncic sat out a Dec 17th game against the Cavs and then played lower (comparatively) minutes the next game in a loss against the TWolves).  In the 6 games since then...

48.7PPG
12.8 RPG
11.5 APG

41% from 3, 62% eFG and only 1 game with more than 4 TOs including 0 in the 51/6/9 line in the win over the Spurs on NYE.  Its truly one of the most unbelievable runs I can remember in my lifetime.

He's averaging 34/9/9 in his 5th season. 

For fun comps, Lebron's 5th season was also his best to that point, and he averaged 30/8/7.   He won his first MVP the next year in Year 6.  MJ won MVP in a transcendent Year 4 where he led the league in scoring and won DPOY.  Year 5 he averaged  33/8/8.  But its worth noting, both Lebron and Luka are/were 23 in Year 5, MJ was 26.

Either way, Luka is absolutely out of his mind and on his way to becoming a first ballot HOF before he even reaches his prime.  Between him and what Giannis, Jokic, Tatum, SGA and Mitchell are doing on a nightly basis, its a surreal time to be an NBA fan even if your primary team stinks.

[MU82]

Either way, Luka is absolutely out of his mind and on his way to becoming a first ballot HOF before he even reaches his prime.  Between him and what Giannis, Jokic, Tatum, SGA and Mitchell are doing on a nightly basis, its a surreal time to be an NBA fan even if your primary team stinks.

Present!