Grades: Spurs vs. Mavericks - Dec. 31, 2022

[Mr. Body]

Agreed, with the caveat that i still think Zions career will be cut short. You can’t play above the rim at that mass without placing enormous stress on your joints a ligaments. I’ll be surprised if he goes much beyond 10 years.

I'm amazed he's lasted this long this year. Those bow-legs and the weight he has, his knees or ankles are going to snap at any moment.

[heyheymymy]

great thoughts in here all around

- I don't know what you want to call it, but Luka D is out of shape. His style of play and sheer talent make it not an issue currently but I agree that it could catch up with him. Last season was even more out of shape, he's looking less haggard this year for sure. But it looks like Luka is at the least eating cheeseburgers, but I'm guessing alcohol and cigarettes too. I'm not saying obese but Luka is very thick. He also get red in the face like a tomato when he's playing. There is def some conditioning issues where he could be better but yeah dropping 51, what more could you ask for tbh and I also agree that losing any weight would net negative where he wouldn't gain much speed/agility at the expense of his bully frame which currently outsizes many of his opponents on the court to Luka's advantage.

- Sochan with the steal and the missed lay in makes a second game this season where he single handily put the team in a position to win where it was not going to have that opportunity before. Incredible stuff. Efficient offensive production last night for someone who can't shoot lol.

- Are we talking about Tre Jones yet? Dude has totally gelled and might be the most underrated contributor right now.

[TD 21]

I don't like the style of play Mavs have, but their roster is jut trash. I'll reserve my final judgement on Luka for when his supporting cast is actually decent. I personally rate Jokic way higher.

People always take shots at the Mavericks, but they actually fit well and have a lot of what you need to contend for championships, they just need a second star obviously.

He's so arrogant and young though, that I'm skeptical he'd even be willing to take a half step back offensively even if they could acquire one.

Jokic has been the best player in the league for going on 3 years, but has Duncan syndrome, as he's the virtual an hesis of the general type of that stature, so he's rarely at the forefront of NBA discourse.

You are miserable

For pointing out the screwups of an arrogant, insecure, not nearly as knowledgeable as he thinks man child?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

For every team that passed-up on Luka .

I don’t know the closest the Spurs could’ve gotten Luka if we traded Kawhi to a “California” team Sacramento for the right to pick him, or any team for that matter. I don’t know if the Spurs made the same mistake to passed up on the opportunity. I hate this kids tantrum, but boy I think ST would be sucking his s had he been a Spur.

It’s not like he went way at the end of the draft. Ayton was a coin-flip in my mind at the time, and so I can’t blame the Suns for going that route. I had Luka 1 or 2, so ahead of Bagley. Foreign born PG at 3 isn’t really all that much of a miss.

[The Truth #6]

How is he large? He's 6'7, 230.
Zion is large at 6'6, 285.

Sochan is supposed to be 230. Watching him guard Luka, there is no way Luka is the same weight. Remember, I said Luka is awesome. I’m not just hating on him. But he, like Jovic, play an old man game at a young age. Maybe that helps avoid injuries? But I think it’s ok to speculate and debate this objectively. Calling him “obese” was hyperbole most likely. But it’s a medical term as well. If we say he’s 6’7” and 255 that puts his BMI at 28.7. 30 is considered obese. Just saying.

[Mr. Body]

Luka Doncic is a chunky Boi. No real debate about it. Just some lardasses on ST feeling called out about their own corpulence.

[John B]

Why are you continuing to spout bull rumors?

I said “IF.” Kawhi wanted a California team as destination and knowing what Luka is not, Spurs could’ve pushed for a trade for Sacramento pick. I didn’t say there was a deal going on.

[exstatic]

I said “IF.” Kawhi wanted a California team as destination and knowing what Luka is not, Spurs could’ve pushed for a trade for Sacramento pick. I didn’t say there was a deal going on.

He didn’t want a California team, he wanted a Los Angeles team, and at the time of the draft, it wasn’t a certainty that the relationship was dead. That didn’t happen until Pop went to SD for his meeting with Kawhi in July.

I also think there was zero chance that Sacto trades #2 for a rental. He walked out on a championship team. There’s no way he stays in Sacto.

[TDMVPDPOY]

clearly this team doesnt have that no.1 option for the last play...

tre how many mistakes is he going to continue to make?

sochan needs to finish those plays after a steal...cant go up with weakass layups monkey shots...

[Spursfanfromafar]

A dude drops 51 points after going up to 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in one game. And folks here are talking about his weight. Lol.

[Fireball]

A dude drops 51 points after going up to 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in one game. And folks here are talking about his weight. Lol.

well, how great could he be if he would put more work into his body? dedication in all areas is what makes you great ... right now he is Shaq, but not Kobe

I just want him to shut up ... his constant talking to the referees is horible. Loved how Jeremy poked him here and there. It did not stop Luka but it bothered him and in a playoff scenario where he has to work a bit more for everything that can make a difference.

[XDT76]

A dude drops 51 points after going up to 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in one game. And folks here are talking about his weight. Lol.

It's what separate the great players vs talented. Westbrook has triple double for 2 seasons. DR has a quadruple double game and AI has multiple scoring champ but were unable to win the championship. Jordan rebuild his body after being mauled by the bad boy pistons and Timmy does physical training every off seasons and change his play, diet and weight at the later part of his career even after winning 4 championships. The at ude of ever improving put them at the top of the game.

[ambchang]

well, how great could he be if he would put more work into his body? dedication in all areas is what makes you great ... right now he is Shaq, but not Kobe

I just want him to shut up ... his constant talking to the referees is horible. Loved how Jeremy poked him here and there. It did not stop Luka but it bothered him and in a playoff scenario where he has to work a bit more for everything that can make a difference.

Shaq > kobe. So what’s the problem?

[ambchang]

It's what separate the great players vs talented. Westbrook has triple double for 2 seasons. DR has a quadruple double game and AI has multiple scoring champ but were unable to win the championship. Jordan rebuild his body after being mauled by the bad boy pistons and Timmy does physical training every off seasons and change his play, diet and weight at the later part of his career even after winning 4 championships. The at ude of ever improving put them at the top of the game.

Jordan whined to the league for rule changes and Pippen and grant grew S players. Timmy had robinson, manu and Parker (then nephew). They didn’t continuously win les because they worked out, they did because they had great teams. Duncan got a long career because he worked out. Jordan didn’t even have that long a career.

[lefty]

Luka Doncic is a chunky Boi. No real debate about it. Just some lardasses on ST feeling called out about their own corpulence.

[lefty]

Jordan rebuild his body after being mauled by the bad boy pistons

Yup those rule changes and new Stern special treatment worked wonders in the gym lol

[lefty]

well, how great could he be if he would put more work into his body? dedication in all areas is what makes you great ... right now he is Shaq, but not Kobe

I just want him to shut up ... his constant talking to the referees is horible. Loved how Jeremy poked him here and there. It did not stop Luka but it bothered him and in a playoff scenario where he has to work a bit more for everything that can make a difference.

Luka has been pretty tough in the playoffs so far

And Kobe was the king of verbal flopping, "wooheeeyhahooo!"

[JPB]

A dude drops 51 points after going up to 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in one game. And folks here are talking about his weight. Lol.

Don't make yourself more stupid than you are, nobody is arguing about his current greatness but about long or even middle term issues his weight will probably cause him.

You just can't get away with that at this level. He's still a young guy and I don't know if his red hot face (that he didn't have earlier in his career and that is not normal for him or any elite athlet) comes from blood pressure but that definitely means he's putting his body in uncomfortable situations and his motor in dangerous zones. That might still not show in exams and be OK when you're still 23 and can recover quickly, but 4-5 years at that weight and intensity and dude will explose...

, maybe just 2 years would do it.

[lefty]

D
You just can't get away with that at this level. He's still a young guy and I don't know if his red hot face (that he didn't have earlier in his career and that is not normal for him or any elite athlet) comes from blood pressure but that definitely means he's putting his body in uncomfortable situations and his motor in dangerous zones.

Noticed that too

[Texas_Ranger]

Doncic had problems at the beginning of last season when he got to the nba out of shape and pretty fat. By mid December he already started to look like now and had an amazing season. That 1.5 month of playing subpar for his standars also probably cost him the MVP. But yea, he will have to stay in shape if he want's to have a long career. Right now the weight helps him a lot during post ups and in rebounding situations, where he's just much bigger and stronger than the opponent. There is no way the 2018 Luka could play post up like he is now. That's why he looked like a version of Harden, when he came into the league, while right now he's nothing like Harden and has a much better all around game. So, he'll probably never get into a shape like LeBron or Giannis, but he should at least stay like he is now, or even lose 10-15 pounds for his own good. I'm pretty sure he won't keep this run that he's having all season. People that watched him for longer time know that he gets tired after some time. So i wont be surprised if Dallas gives him a 15 day ''injury'' rest, even tho they can't really do that, cause they'd lose all the games without him. So lets see.... Oh and Zion is for sure gonna be done by the time he's 30. He's a smaller version of Amare and once the athleticism goes, he'll be ed. Same could happen to Giannis, who is probably a worse shooter than 50% people on this forum, and even tho he's working on his shot every year more and more, there really aint that big of an improvement, so good luck to him as long as he can run and dunk and get free throws.

[scott]

Luka is an alien. The only thing I truly dislike about him is that he is a Maverick.

[KingKev]

Luka is an alien. The only thing I truly dislike about him is that he is a Maverick.

I think one day if Keldon and Vassell work REALLY, REALLY hard and trust in the PATFO system they can combine for 60/20/10.

[ismael-robert]

Jokic shouldn't be in weight convo anymore. He did what he needed to do and is now a slender player. I don't think Luka would stay a Spur with his at ude

[exstatic]

Luka is an alien. The only thing I truly dislike about him is that he is a Maverick.

The only thing I truly dislike is that he has the emotional control of a two year old.

[Mr. Body]

Luka is an alien. The only thing I truly dislike about him is that he is a Maverick.

And that he's a whiny little .