Sounds like I’m trying to be controversial, but I’m really not. Nor a Luka hater (I’m a fan). I’m just thinking out loud here …
It’s just that watching the first two games of the finals, I can’t shake the feeling that the Celtics make him look small. Not physically, but in terms of the power he has over the game, even though he’s probably the best or top 2 of the players on the court.
It just feels like being 1 way and ball heavy is too often just too much of a weakness, especially while watching Brown, Jrue and Porzingis (and even Tatum managing his slump) be impactful all over the court in ways that connect together as a team.
Meanwhile Luka is too often getting frustrated with his shot not going down or not getting the call he wanted and clearly wanting to wait for the next offensive possession to have another go at his favourite moves (though being frustrated with his team makes sense, but TBF he’s had some frustrating turn overs too).
Like, it feels like this finals could be the beginning of a story about Luka being this mercurial and prodigious offensive player that never wanted to (or could) take care of his weaknesses enough to get a ring.
I’m not calling it or anything … it’s just what I’m coming away from the first two games with … in part because while the Celtics (especially with Porzingis in) are the better team I don’t think they’ve played well and have still made it look clearly one-sided while it doesn’t feel like Luka is a miraculous hero who just needs some help.
If anything, this series is confirmation of Luka as a player with zero help, Jason Kidd as the coach we all remember, and also the end of discussing Kyrie Irving (mid 30s now) as a guy who can lead you to a championship.
I agree that Luka needs more help and he has been the best player for the Mavs. Kyrie can’t lead any team to a championship and he never could but he has been playing incredible basketball during the regular season. I think Boston, the fans, the environment really just got to him.
Even when everyone in the Mavs play well, they will have have a hard time winning a 7 game series against Boston. Mavs defense is not great. Luka and Kyrie don’t play good defense, while everyone in the Boston line up, Tatum, Jrue, and Brown can play solid on both ends of the court. Luka is great offensively but not enough to make up for his sub defense. As for Kyrie, Brown is playing better than him all around.
As for Kidd, he isn’t a better coach than Mazzulla but he also doesn’t have the players to beat out the depth of the Boston team. This Boston team is so deep. Brad Stevens has been doing an incredible job assembling this team.
Not so sure about that after game 3. His entitled petulance defensive liability were too much I think. If anything, that he’s not quite ready (yet) was confirmed.
What’s weird though is that he’s had a prodigious career, so it was plausible that he didn’t need to go through this at his age. But here we are.