I’M SOMEBODY!
Jason Kidd referred to my article below at the pregame conference yesterday, you guys
“I was reading somebody’s article and it was pretty right on. When you look at European players and players that go to Europe …”
🎥:
@noahweber00
What if Luka Dončić was surrounded by dynamic, high-IQ players, who had the ability to move off-ball and weren’t afraid of the moment?
I wrote about what I like to call The Dante Exum Theory in my latest for
@mavsmoneyball
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All time elite player that was always held back by criticism on the defensive end, has an absolute defensive masterclass that helped secure the win tonight... and no one even brought it up
#mffl
#mavs
Every single year the media tries to build up new stars as legitimate MVP candidates. And, just like the past 5 years, these are the only guys that have a chance at winning
Maxi misses all year for a reason. So that he won’t get attention from the defense on clutch playoff possessions. Friends, it’s all part of the strategy
Rewatched the first quarter this morning, and he hit both a tough floater and a perfect three, grinning with relief after. Then this happens and his shot and movements are clearly affected afterward. Not sure it was dirty, but it def aggravated the issue
One of the funnest Nikola Jokić clips I’ve seen - courtesy of Nuggets 360.
“Unforgiving. The lightning is coming.”
I may use this clip before literally every Nuggets game from this point forward
Luka just said about his changed demeanor: “Sometimes I forget that this is the thing I love, this is the thing I do and my mental focus should be just go out there with a smile on my face and just go”
Going into the timeout, Doncic goes to Williams to discuss the non-call at 6:42. Here is a great example of professional communication between players and referees.
#RefWatchParty
When’s the last time Luka had a shot like this? He almost seems shocked to have someone create for him like this
If Exum stays healthy, he is a difference-maker for this team
I’m starting to think that Luka will never have a chance at this award no matter what he does. They just keep moving the goalposts and painting pictures of a world that doesn’t exits
The truth is, just like Luka Dončić did at 16, Kyrie Irving has captured a piece of my heart.
He did it by simply being Kyrie Irving - the smiling, respectful, insightful and generous person as we’ve come to know him as a Maverick.
My latest column👇
Commentators are pretending like Luka and the Mavs don’t usually run? Exposing themselves tbh, this announcing is not very insightful, maybe we can even call it outsightful
Holmes being able to read the game well enough to block AD from approaching with a gortat screen is worth a kiss from Luka
I get it, this is not a rookie move
Kyrie and Luka keep returning to each other to hug it out
This is not random. When you’re in a position where you have a teammate who you can look to and say: this is it, we need to take over, the exhilaration of succeeding is a connection on another level
At the end of every 1-on-1 interview, I ask the person if they have anything else they'd like to say or add.
Over the weekend, I sat down with Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II.
I gave him the floor.
He looked into the camera.
And the 19-year old delivered this...
#MFFL
@wfaa
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in January.
If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written, you know I’m with Jason Kidd here
Im glad he’s bringing this up, bc frankly too many people and media personalities miss the human aspect and see these players as robots, who shouldn’t be affected by feelings
The way Luka Doncic is able to instantly set new guys up for success just adds another dimension to his MVP bid
We’ve talked about the numbers and records. Now we take it to the next level and look at what he does that others can’t or don’t. Column:
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I’ve noticed something over a longer period of time that deserves attention, especially after Luka mentioned Morris as a positive on the bench
Morris has long been doing small things to help vibes and support players. I’ve saved video over some time. Watch the bench ⬇️
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I was just about to say that even people who have been hating have to admit that the Mavs defense has looked completely different the last games w Maxi fully healthy
He’s anchoring it and he’s the Mavs’ best (only?) transition defender as well
This type of talk about Exum annoys me. Yes, Luka elevated him, he elevates everybody, but we see time and time again how Exum is able to lead this team when Luka is out and create for himself even with Luka on the floor.
Exum is a great player with or without Luka
He says all the right things, has a good attitude, doesn’t complain, despite weird treatment and comments from the coach. Stepped up in defense in Maxi’s absence.
I’m starting to like this guy for real, and not just as a player
Christian Wood on finding out about the severity of Maxi Kleber's injury: "I thought he was fine yesterday because Maxi and DP are, like, our iron men, you know? But I found out today. Maxi is a defensive anchor for us, and so is DP. ... We need them back soon."
Luka can’t share the ball? If you’ve seen him play more than casually, you know that Luka doesn’t have a problem playing off ball
He wanted it that way in Dallas bc of the lack of options imo. Here’s Luka w Dragic at EuroBasket 17
Video:
@pandahank41
For a long time, critics have been quick to point out what Luka Dončić lacked in order to be taken seriously. This year, he has changed all that
How Luka’s decision this summer to take himself seriously has forced everyone to do the same. New column:
I wrote about how the experience playing for
@PartizanBC
has prepared Dante Exum to be key in a playoff run.
Playing for maybe the best coach in the world in maybe the loudest arena?
If you thrive here, you can thrive anywhere imo. Column:
Kristaps Porzingis about Luka:
“We never played up to that level. And a lot of it’s on me.”
Referencing the Mavs ‘clicking at a high level’ during the 2019-20 season but after getting injured in the postseason, he and Doncic struggled to reach that ‘high level’ together again
Jaden Hardy:
Been working on his reads and playing off the catch “so when I’m out there with guys like Luka and Kyrie, I’m able to make quick decisions and read the defense better”
“I’m going to come in and be in better shape than I was last year, and be stronger and faster”
Luka invited his physical trainer with him on vacation this summer: “This is a sign of a different thinking”
Anže Maček, Luka’s physical trainer: “This is a well-prepared and better Luka Dončić”
I wrote about how Luka wants to take the next step:
He keeps running in transition, pushing the tempo, he’s hitting 3’s from the locker room, blowing by smaller defenders and rebounding his own misses.
Is there anything Luka can’t do right now?
Kyrie taking charge of a game like this without Luka and getting his teammates in order, is why he’s more valuable to the Mavericks than most people understand
I’m speaking for everyone when I’m asking Dallas to please bring Luka’s physical trainer Anze to Dallas next season.
If you’d like to know why, Dallas Mavericks, please watch the Slovenia-Montenegro game
Luka also said in the press conference earlier today that he doesn't follow photos of his body online, but he says he does feel better this year and it shows that Anže (his personal trainer) pushed him hard.
This summer, I wrote about how Luka’s trainer Anze worked with Luka all summer to help get him to the next level
The TNT announcers just confirmed that he was hired by the Mavs to keep working with Luka during the season. We saw him in Madrid, but the rest is new to me
You know what this is? Just another dimension of his recent development
Everybody has been screaming for him to play off-ball. Here you go. What else, defense? Better emotional discipline? Conditioning? ✅✅✅