**Official Luka Doncic Thread**

[KhalDrogo]

No answer for Ayton. Man I would love to see him on the Mavs.

[KhalDrogo]

If this is what we get from Brunson and Dinwiddie, the Mavs are getting swept. Can’t have zero production from the guards other than Luka.

[Moneychrome20]

Even tho I don’t like him you hate to see him hurt hope he is okay seriously though..

[cash4cards]

The story of this game is the suns can’t miss even just dumb ass throw the ball towards the basket shots. Brunson has played terrible but he also can’t get a call. Dinwiddie has been a ghost. Luka has been getting beat up but has played a monster game and Kleber was out of his mind on fire in the first Q. I’m not sure where bullocks head is at sometimes. Officiating has been lopsided as well in the suns favor.

[Onepocketj]

Played well at the end at least. Something to build on

[Onepocketj]

45/12/8 damn

[KhalDrogo]

Score is very close considering how poorly the Mavs played and how well the Suns shot. Feels like a 20 point game.

[imbluestreak23]

Mavs need size. And not just one body. Like 3 bodies

[RogerGodahell]

Terrible start couldn't really ever close the gap. No answer for Ayton might have to see Boban.

[lethalray]

Ayton is such a damn tough matchup, going to take a lot to get 1 but guards definitely gotta show up. Build from the end and maybe steal the next one.

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[RedMike]

It was game one on the road against the best team in the west.
We battled.. lost, but if we take the next game... we would have got what we want .. which is a split on the road games and home court.

Think positive fellas, I trust this coaching staff to figure things out.

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Score is very close considering how poorly the Mavs played and how well the Suns shot. Feels like a 20 point game.

I watched the whole thing and thought Luka had maybe 33 points, not 45.

Weird game with Phoenix shooting lights out and Brunson/Dinwiddie playing like garbage. Will be a fun series if the law of averages takes over.

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[RedMike]

I don't know if Dwight is going to be able to continue to play
16 minutes, 4pts and 1 rebound also, -10 +/-.

If that is how he is going to be man handled.. might as well keep Bertans in there instead.. atleast he can shoot.

I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Mavs keep it really small and let Ayton get his points on Kleber/Bertans/DFS/RBullock... and play Frank and Josh green more minutes, their length and athleticsm really seem to help on defense and rotation .. especially supporting our dear Luka.

[Dnic]

Good first game atleast they didn't give up at the end, Luka wasn't that good imo bit still carried the team on his back. Powell is one of the goofiest almost uncoordinated player I have ever seen. Spencer and Brunson need to step up and Josh Green needs to take some shots when he is open almost looks scared to shoot out there. The Mavs have a chance this Suns team isn't unbeatable but the role players need to step up and hopefully the Suns don't have a game like this where it seemed they couldn'tmiss a shot.

[RogerGodahell]

Playing Boban is a double edged sword because he's slow but he might be effective. Would at least be harder for PHO to throw easy lob passes over the top in to Ayton and a big arm in his face. Might make him more of an mid range shooter. Could be worth a try and see if they have any luck with it. Too easy for them to toss it over Powell's head.

[KhalDrogo]

Brunson’s Achilles heel has always been bigger, physical guards. It’s why he stunk it up so bad against the Clippers last year. His ball handling and footwork has tremendously improved since then. But this isn’t the Jazz. He’s going to have to really work.

[RogerGodahell]

DFS says "don't overreact, we know how they're playing us now"

Luka says "i need to drive more in the paint"

Kidd says "Doncic could get whatever he wants someone needs to join the party"

Ayton say's "no one is big enough to guard me" ( i made this one up)

[RogerGodahell]

But it is the truth right now. How will they try and limit Ayton from destroying them? You can see that's Phoenix's game plan. They know they have the advantage mismatch there and they're working it. Now it will be up to Kidd with his limited personal to try and find a way to counter what they're doing. I don't know if they can or not it will be tough without the height.

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

But it is the truth right now. How will they try and limit Ayton from destroying them? You can see that's Phoenix's game plan. They know they have the advantage mismatch there and they're working it. Now it will be up to Kidd with his limited personal to try and find a way to counter what they're doing. I don't know if they can or not it will be tough without the height.

Might not work in Phoenix but you gotta try to get him in foul trouble. They weren't calling much when Luka was going 1v1 against him yesterday but maybe that'll change.

A hefty dose of Brunson and Luka attacking him throughout the first quarter should result in a few fouls.

[ccssports713]

I think they will have a good plan Game 2.

1st Dwight Powell is useless this series. They are sagging on the pick and roll (no lobs) and not helping much off shooters. Kleber was able to get his first 3s off the pick and pop action.

2nd Defensively they have to find a way to take something away. Last night Phoenix got everything they wanted. Inside, outside, mid range. I think they have to say okay Ayton can get his but lock down CP3 and Booker or help off the lesser shooters (I know they have good shooters everywhere). Also, someone give them a heads up that Cam Johnson is the best catch and shoot guy on the team, a few times they left him on their rotations!

3rd I am a big Luka fan and it really highlights what he has done with the talent around him. Just looking at Phoenix's roster it is laughable to think Dallas has a shot. It's not even close talent wise. Dallas will have to play lights out to compete.

That said Mavs in 6!!!

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by ccssports713

I think they will have a good plan Game 2.

1st Dwight Powell is useless this series. They are sagging on the pick and roll (no lobs) and not helping much off shooters. Kleber was able to get his first 3s off the pick and pop action.

2nd Defensively they have to find a way to take something away. Last night Phoenix got everything they wanted. Inside, outside, mid range. I think they have to say okay Ayton can get his but lock down CP3 and Booker or help off the lesser shooters (I know they have good shooters everywhere). Also, someone give them a heads up that Cam Johnson is the best catch and shoot guy on the team, a few times they left him on their rotations!

3rd I am a big Luka fan and it really highlights what he has done with the talent around him. Just looking at Phoenix's roster it is laughable to think Dallas has a shot. It's not even close talent wise. Dallas will have to play lights out to compete.

That said Mavs in 6!!!

I agree with a lot of this but i think it should be negate Ayton if possible and make the rest of the Suns beat them. Turn it into a shooting contest. The others on that team get more of the praise but Ayton is their foundation. They fed him 20 FGA's yesterday. He only averages 12 for the season but they know they have a lopsided mismatch so they kept feeding him. Attack the foundation and see if that works.

I also like the idea of driving more to see if they can get the Suns in early foul trouble. Luka may be the only one that can do it because Brunson struggles with taller more athletic guards on him. Doncic is also more capable of kicking it out when there's nothing there. So Doncic understands what he needs to do we'll have to see how well they can execute the plan in game 2.

[RogerGodahell]

Dinwiddie could drive as well he's got a little more height than Brunson.

[KhalDrogo]

Best plan is to get Ayton on the switch every time Luka, Brunson, or Dinwiddie have the ball at the top. Make him work hard on defense, and hope he gets tired on offense. They don’t have anybody who can body him on offense.

Mavs always lose to teams that are big and physical. Even #@#@#@#@ teams like the Knicks. Had really hoped they would get the 3 seed and the Memphis matchup.

[rms13]

Mavs probably will lose this series but Luka has made it clear to me that he’s the best player in the NBA. I’ve been watching the NBA for 35+ years and he’s the only guy I’ve seen aside from MJ and Lebron that I think can win a series without a legitimate #2 guy. Eventually another star is going to want to play with Luka for a chance to win and he’ll get a few rings.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by rms13

Mavs probably will lose this series but Luka has made it clear to me that he’s the best player in the NBA. I’ve been watching the NBA for 35+ years and he’s the only guy I’ve seen aside from MJ and Lebron that I think can win a series without a legitimate #2 guy. Eventually another star is going to want to play with Luka for a chance to win and he’ll get a few rings.

He's gonna own the League soon.

He still wastes far too many possessions dribbling the air out of the ball. Could be 10 or 20 per game He does it.

Once he gets a little more disciplined he'll hit that Giannis unstoppable force level.

The League isn't that scary even though there's a lot of talent. He does need that one piece that could see them be a top 2 seed year in and out.