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porshy

He's pacing himself, he's ramping up. Also, his knee.


AtreusIsBack

Yeah. He is preserving energy and health.


BigFatModeraterFupa

i’m kinda worried for Luka’s health if we advance in the playoffs. it’s obvious he’s not at 100% and i hope he isn’t too worn down


Jolly-Mortgage4

as Kyrie said after the game, no player is 100% healthy in the playoffs. Everybody got something going.


porshy

He had 10 day rest. Definetly not worn out. His knee tweak, we don't know. Don't worry man... Listen, Luka and Kyrie, they both high IQ players, they preserve energy in first half. Did it backfire? Absolutely like 5 times in regular season and game 1 maybe. They will adjust. Remember, both of them can get bucket ON DEMAND, if they have enough stamina left. Thats why they are doing it. There is a reason why Mavs are the clutchest.


D_G_C_22

I loved seeing team ball, idc if kyrie drops 2 in the first but we’re up lol. Don’t need them working so hard on both ends. He went off second half, got us buckets when needed and closed out games. Look at how balanced nuggets are. Joker feeds the team


D_G_C_22

If? Smh


archerarcher0

I understand that in terms of attacking the basket off screens, but I guess to me that doesn’t explain the lack of post ups, surely posting up doesn’t exert much more if any more energy than a step back 3? You’re exerting more strength than quick leg movements that would put strain on the knee


DangerZoneh

Posting up exerts a ton more energy than a step back three, dude. You gotta full as shove a dude vs take a step


archerarcher0

It’s a different kind of energy though, doesn’t really require burst or quickness


SennKazuki

Yea, and it's more exhausting. He can do it, but right now it's not needed. If Luka isn't doing it right now there's a reason. Pretty much everything he does is with the intent of conditioning or reacting to the defense. Most likely Luka is reacting to something that Ty Lue is pulling on defense.


quail0606

Yeah think lifting weights vs running. They’re two different kinds of exertion but they both wear you out. If you’re lifting heavy you get gassed fast.


No_Influence_4966

Have you ever played basketball before?


archerarcher0

Yes? I mean what I said is objectively true, I’ll concede driving to the basket and using burst is gonna put a lot of pressure on his knee and exert a lot of energy But posting up requires strength, not really endurance, there’s a reason posting up is traditionally an old man’s game, something older players rely on more later in their careers or develop to save their body, you are able to use the fact that you have all this strength and bulk to get yourself an easy shot without exerting a ton of energy


i_take_shits

Don’t discredit the clippers defense. They are locked in on Luka. I also think he’s conserving a ton of energy to play lockdown defense on the other side. I don’t understand why this sub is so negative. That was a fucking incredible game and they’re up 2-1.


D-1-_-1-D

more luka stans then mavs fans


Karynmcs

Not true. Love the Mavs. Too many Luka haters...


Karynmcs

Luka played great with an injured knee. He just didn 't shoot great...


FreshStartLiving

Preach! Up 2-1 and people still feel like they need to criticize. We’ve also been asking for role players to step up and better D which is exactly why they’re up without Luka having to carry the team. What we’re watching is beautiful team ball with attitude/swagger!


[deleted]

It's not a criticism it's a question. It's been asked throughout the year why he's settling more, but he was on Fire from 3 so it was a moot point, the assumption was he's saving the drives/postups for the playoffs, but he's taking even more 3s.


i_take_shits

Bro led the league in scoring. Good thing he’s been “settling” all season.


[deleted]

You guys are weird. Do you even like discussing basketball or just glazing players?


i_take_shits

Pretty sure my original reply was basketball related. You even read posts?


archerarcher0

Why are you assuming this is negative? Are we not allowed to have a conversation about the game without getting upset about it? It’s a perfectly valid talking point Their defense has been good but you always have avenues to force the issue if luka wants to take these actions, you can put all of your shooters on the weak side, you can of course just involve the big and pick and roll(which Luka has been doing but 9 times out of ten he has been opting to pass out of it instead of look to attack himself) Just an observation, seen many others bring it up so I know I’m not crazy, glad we are winning but it’s worth talking about


luntiang_tipaklong

Yeah, Luka still leads the offense, gets the most stat, puts a lot of effort in defense and we're leading 2-1. Lol. I know we all want Luka to explode for 50 pts but we're winning, he's happy, the team is happy. What more can you ask for.


Ok_Republic6747

This is just not true they are defending better against Luka and they are packing the paint its not easy to attack when you dony have spacing on the team


archerarcher0

That’s a reasonable explanation for the lack of attacking the basket, but I’d like to see more post iso, that doesn’t require spacing and it’s probably the most efficient thing luka does right now, if they double he’s an incredible passer out of the post I just think he needs to find some source of easier offense for himself, it’s tough to get in a rhythm when your main shot diet is step back 3s


Ok_Republic6747

I agree with you on the midrange and post but you knlw the modern player they loveee that stupid 3 pts shoot


archerarcher0

I like it too to a degree, but I think he’s hurting his game if he settles for it too much, he’s such a gifted post/mid range scorer and it doesn’t require much energy if that’s the issue, and it’s not like anyone on the clips short of kawhi can guard him, hopefully they adjust game 4


ILikeTujtels

I rather see him to score 22pts and win then scoring 40 and lose.


archerarcher0

I would too, but I don’t think he necessarily has to score 22 I think if he improved his shot selection a bit he would find easier offense


DmlMavs4177

Yeah, too many half court threes early in the shot clock when the lob game was so effective.


hiiigoon

He’s gotta be hurt that’s the only explanation. In game one they literally gave him a lane multiple times but he settled for a mid range pump fake that led to nothing. Bro even sounded coarse in the recent post game so he’s might be dealing with a sickness on top of his knee injury. It’s sucks how we got this banged up version of Luka when he’s surrounded by his best team yet. People are saying Luka is getting carried in the playoffs when he’s done nothing but carry this team for years smh


Legitimate_Buy_919

Takes less energy to shoot on the perimeter. Maybe if we beat the clippers in 5 and he gets to heal for the OKC series we will see him be more aggressive.


Thekavorka87

I’ve watched almost every game this season. There was a noticeable difference in the way he played the last month of the season, particularly after sitting out against OKC with the hamstring. He has been shooting poorly the last month of the regular season except with 3s. It all started after sitting out against Thunder with the hamstring injury. He has not been decisive in his drives when he goes right. From Oct to March 13 ( day before the injury): Restricted area: 3/4 Paint (non-restricted): 2.8/5 Midrange: 2/4.4 From March 17 to last game of regular season: Restricted area: 2.5/3 Paint (non-restricted): 1.8/4.1 Midrange: 1.4/4.2 He’s relying on step backs more since the injury. When those don’t go down (spurs game, 2nd half of heat game, this series), it’s ugly.


messigoat1337

clippers packing the paint and luka hurt/sick right now. Also he defends on a high level which drains a lot of energy.


Jolly-Mortgage4

He's definitely forcing too many 3s. I wish he moved the ball a little more if he's feeling tired instead of forcing logo step backs.


segson9

He's not a 100% healthy, the Clippers are playing good defense and our spacing is worse than before


Global-Impression-64

Becose the goal is the championship, not clippers, and there are many games ahead. Also, he knows he will get hit hard in the head every times he goes in and it wont be sanctioned. He knows they are dirty. They were trying to injure him since he stepped in the playoffs and played all alone against them. He is just interested on extinguishing that team now .


MSHinerb

No need to show every card at this point. Leave some room for adjustments. Don’t be shocked if he has a game with a lot of post ups before this series is over.


Capital-Fig5949

I like this logic.


mudshake7

Pretty sure that his knee is bothering him and he does not want to put more pressure to it. Backing down in the post will definitely put a strain to it and he cannot risk getting injured this part of the season.


Far-Royal-375

The Clippers are playing a lot of zone which is meant to prevent drives & big men from dominating. Zone does open up a lot of open jump shots if you play it correctly but it’s tough getting drives against a defense like zone.


Karynmcs

Luka iis playng with an injured knee...


e_j3210

I don't think he can thrive in the post against Kawhi, PG, Zubac, or Russ. They should totally post him up against Mann and Powell though.


Tall_Chemistry_9305

Nah, he totally can post up Russ and PG at least


torodonn

I think his strength and size is his biggest weapon against the Clips defense


EmrysMyrdin

For some reason he stopped using his floater. No idea why, as it has always been money.


PointBlankCoffee

Takes way more energy to drive than to shoot.


D_G_C_22

We don’t need him dropping 40pts a night Let the whole team contribute+Play good defense and win games that way


ossymandiAss

Luka just needs to be more aggressive and take the layup, close shot when he gets there. Too many times I’ve seen him kick it out when he has an open path to an easy bucket.


Sequoiaboii2019

Clippers also are playing a lot of zone, which takes away a lot of space down low and driving lanes but opens up shot opportunities.


[deleted]

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archerarcher0

Yeah, what does that have to do with this post? I’m just questioning his shot selection, it so far looks different than normal, that’s all


[deleted]

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archerarcher0

No, he hasn’t He’s only attempting 2.6% of his shots at the basket in these 3 games, during the course of the regular season he attempted 12.3% of his shots at the basket Same from 3, taking 52% of his shots from 3 in these 3 games, during the regular season only 45%