Luka is really good, but god damn that dude gets way too much credit. He hasn't had to earn shit. Dame had to earn his respect. Luka is the anointed one.
Luka is in his third season averaging 27.7/8.6/8.0 shooting .479 from the field and .350 from '3'....at age 21. Dame in his third season averaged 21/6.2/4.6 shooting .434 from the field and .343 from '3'...........at age 24. Not sure what Luka hasn't earned. He is producing at a generational talent level, barely old enough to buy a beer.
It wasn't even Dame's team in his third year. It's apples and oranges. As soon as LMA left, his averages shot through the roof. I'll add, Luka is attempting 5 more shots per game than Dame did in his third season and his USG% is 36 while Dame's was only 26.9%.
It was Dame's team alright....it's why LMA left. Feel free to try to diminish what Luka is doing at such a young age. Will be interesting to see how that ages. Dame in his CAREER has yet to put up the numbers Luke did at age 21. It's not to belittle Dame at all....but Luka is crazy good very young.
I said he's a good player.... not sure how that's diminishing him. The guy is 6'8. Dame does what Luka does at basically 6'2.
Dame averaged more points on less shots, less USG%, and a better TS%. He's also doing it against defenses that are geared entirely to stop him, and at 6'2 that's a damn site harder to beat than a dude who's 6'8.
Dame is very good for his height....but I'll gladly take a taller player who impacts a game more. And pretty sure defense are geared to Doncic like they are to Dame. Dame has more talent around him than Luka does.
We're not talking about for our team though. We're talking about All-NBA. Dame scored more this year and he did it more efficiently than Doncic. Plain and simple.
The league LOVES anointing young stars early. I'm not saying Luka isn't deserving, because he is (Dame should be there over Kawhi( but if Luka were a 27-30 year old player, I don't believe he would have started over Lillard in the All-Star game or been named First Team All-Name the past two years over Dame. The bigger/better question is why was Steph so unanimous? Dame's numbers from the past two years are so similar across the board, yet it was Dame who found a way to the postseason both years while Steph lost twice in the play-in. I realize it's a team sport, but it's frustrating seeing Steph get a pass due to past successes and still get the First Team nod over Lillard.
Steph is still riding his fame. He's a really good player, but it really is funny how now that his team isn't epic, he can't seem to carry them to anything.
Dame was just on an Instagram live. Pretty interesting insights. Was asked if his heart was still in Portland and he said “ you know where my heart is that’s all I have to say about that”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQKv8hVqSIO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link From 22:00 and on. Very interesting and real interview with Dame. The frustration is real. Asked if he wanted to stay in Portland - Dame dodged the question. Asked about new coach - Talked up Terry Stotts, really like Terry and didn't talk about any other candidates. Says management has to do what it has to do. It sure sounded like he didn't want Terry gone though, thought it was management's call. Asked about 2nd team - "This is where my place in the league is." He knows he's going to be behind Dame and Luka in the media so it is what it is. Acknowledged being in Portland is part of it. Asked if he would feel fulfilled if he never wins a title - Says no, but he wants the team to put it's best foot forward. If he feels like the team is not trying it's hardest to win then he may think about doing what's best for himself. Direct quote "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in"
I don't understand why he's suddenly acting like it's the teams fault that we're a treadmill team. He needs to own some of the blame.
wow spin into the negative, lol. He said could walk away from the game peacefully and be cool not winning a championship as long as he feels like the front office is trying to win a championship but "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in". which seems perfectly reasonable to me.
How is it spinning the negative? It's exactly what's been said all along. Even speculated on by people here. If the team isn't trying to win a title he's going to ask to leave.
He was asked, would you feel UNfulfilled if you didn't get a ring, and he said, "Naw I wouldn't say I would feel unfulfilled, but... then he goes on to speak for 3-4 minutes on the question. You misquoted the beginning part then focused on one sentence on a much longer answer. That's why I suggested you put a negative spin on it.
I think that the way Olshey threw Stotts under the bus so blatantly during his presser had to make Dame feel really angry. Stotts was Dame's guy and I'm sure he understood it was time for Stotts to go but Olshey not taking any responsibility had to make Dame mad and concerned that Olshey is just going to do the same damn thing and just expect some new coach to make it work.
