Do we realise we are facing an NBA playoffs with no LeBron James and no Stephen Curry in sight?
There’s not even one team that is trying to win their second title of the era. Not one. The last title by the remaining teams came in 1983 with Moses Malone and the 76ers.
Fun fact, they lost in the first round the next year – just like LeBron and the Lakers.
The player mobility era has ushered in new rules in how a team wins a championship year after year. This is now the new pamphlet for winning NBA titles:
Rule 1: There are now going to be two or three teams with two or three superstars. I’m talking about ‘MVP candidate’ superstars and I’m afraid this is irreversible.
Rule 2: These superstar-led teams are going to also attract very valuable role players. Of course it always helps if the city is nice.
Rule 3: For teams that are maybe not ‘free agency targets’ or just been run like an out of control 12 year old has been behind the wheel for one too many seasons, their only bet is to try and draft a generational talent.
Rule 4: If a team somehow happens to find their franchise guy, pay him whatever he wants! If by a miracle they stay, then do your best to build a team that maximises their strengths and hides his weaknesses. That sounds obvious I know… but sometimes I think team owners skip that part when reading.
Rule 5: Repeat
‘But what does this have to do with Luka Doncic who just lost in the first round?’ you may ask.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Well it’s clear what team the Mavericks are in that rule book and what team the Clippers are. But while the Mavericks tried to build a team that suits Luka’s needs, no one would predict that Kristaps Porzingis would turn into an injury prone Shawn Bradley.
Even when he was on the court, standing at 7’3 with the Clippers’ centre Serge Ibaka being injured, he refused to set up in the paint.
He shot 23 shots from the top of the three point line going 26 per cent while taking 18 shots under the basket for 78 per cent. Does this make sense to anyone else?
Tim Hardaway Jr, clearly the best acquisition in the 2019 Knicks trade, was the Mavericks’ second best player. Nothing against him, but he was their second best player! Who would even win third? Dorian Finney Smith? Boban Marjonovich?
For the Clippers they had Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson. You can almost feel the difference when saying their names.
Luka had nothing else he could do in what is a team game. He forced a game 7, where Clippers’ Terrance Mann and Luke Kennard got hot. But he still put up 46 points and 14 assists in a record setting 77 points generated for a game series finale. But you don’t have to win a championship to be the best player in the world.
Ask Michael Jordan in 1990 who lost to the championship Pistons in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Clippers soldier on and make the finals, this is the same defeat.
Also like Luka, Jordan’s teammates were garbage. A young Scottie Pippen had only two points after suffering a migraine. Horace Grant would be MJ’s only teammate to score double digits with a whopping 10 points.
The point is, you might need to win a championship to be crowned the best player but you don’t need the ring to know who is the best player, especially when they carry it over into the postseason like Luka has consistently done.
So like from the brutal George Mikan to the elegant Bill Russell, from the monotoned Lew Alcindor to the must watch Larry Bird/ Magic Johnson, from the maniacal Michael Jordan to the practical Tim Duncan and then finally to the unstoppable LeBron James.
A new era is starting and Luka Doncic now holds the torch.
Troy Hanning
Roar Guru
Firstly thanks for replying man 1. Theres a difference between saying someone is one of the best players and should deserve 1st team all honours. I think every fan in the world thinks that. But where the difference lies is that I take it one more step further and say that he is the number one best player in basketball. Most people wouldnt because he hasnt even been to a conference finals. See the best player in the league does not move around like the MVP. It usually stays consistent for eras unless injuries/ absences (JORDAN IN 94-96) or there are just two near equally great players (Duncan + KOBE). Its less contingent on who had the best regular season and more who is just the best player. Because how you play in Playoffs matters heaps. Sometimes the best player in basketball doesnt win the championship - Luka because of his supporting cast compared to contenders falls under this exception 2. Ignore skip Bayless... DONE. Hasnt been relevant since Bron and now from what Ive heard his tryna evolve his career by hating Luka............ 3. With Morris vs Smith. I'll agree Smith is on the better contract. And he is really good. In fact TBH, this debate made me double think my opinion on him. But im still taking Morris because his ceiling is and has been better. His last game he had 24 5/6 from 3. In game 7 he had 23, 7/9. I don't think Finney could do that in games like this. I also do believe that scoring matters alot for clippers who are always unsure where the points will come from. However most of Morris games his just less than average, cus he is a perfect example of fate or feast. I still thinking having a on n off player like that is more valuable and better than what Finney provides. Also I agree with your point about his Knicks tale and empty stats etc. But I think same could be said for Finney with the lack of supporting players in Dallas. And you cant use his efficiency as a your numb 1 point cus even Kelly Olynic is ballin in Housten efficiently. The truth is Dallas don't have a great role players so Finney even looks better than he is. His 3pt shooting numbers spiked when Luka became a star and dragged defenders to him. Thats opportunity for Smith. 4. I think you mis interpreted my Jordan Point. Of course you can win a chip with one all star, look at all of MJS sixx rings. Also Im glad you mentioned Jordan Rules cus the book got delivered yesterday. But I do understand the concept. No doubt Pistons won cus of their D. But what I was saying was: Jordan didn't have an All Star for the last game of the series and he lost. In fact he had worse than a all star, more of a YMCA scrub. (1-10, 2 points, 2 TO, 4 R, 2 Ass). Every year you give the GOAT a all star, provided he has enough time to play in the season, it was a wrap! Also the Bulls went 55-27 (3rd seed) while Pistons went 59-23 (1st). Not that big of a gap. But Jordan was clearly the best player in the league even though he lost in game 7 to a team that won the chip without entering finals. So we should think Luka is the best player because he single handedly took a championship contending team to the Finals.
astro
Roar Rookie
Hey Troy, thanks for the reply. In the same way as you might have rushed your article, I rushed my reply and was probably a bit harsh! So, I'm getting confused by your 'best' player idea...Are you saying Luka isnt being recognised as being the best because he wont win the championship? If so, he's about to be voted into First Team All NBA, so I'm not sure that's the case. I agree championships count when we evaluate a player's greatness across their entire career, but not in an individual season. When Dallas won in 2011, no one declared Dirk as the best player in the league. Anyway, Luka is awesome, but at this stage, he has to be behind KD, Steph, Lebron and Kawhi. Also, please ignore Skip Bayless. I shouldn't have assumed you don't watch any basketball, so apologies for that. But Marcus Morris isn't a significantly 'better' player than Finney-Smith, when you think about each one in context. Its very possible he could be the 2nd best player on a terrible Knicks team...For an example, look at Jerami Grant. He's an 'average' role player who goes to the Pistons and gets free reign over his shot choice. Sure enough, his scoring average jumps by 10PPG. Is he a much better player this year than last, or is it just that Grant has more opportunity? I'd argue Morris isnt that much 'better' than Finney-Smith, he's just had more opportunity as a role player. Look at Per 36 for this year...Finney-Smith is 11PPG on 9 shots per game, 6RPG and 2APG vs Morris who is 18PPG on 14 shots, 5.5RPG and 1APG. Statistically, they're pretty similar...yet one is on $4mil and the other cripples your cap with $15mil plus over the coming years. Can Morris do more (in terms of scoring etc) than Finney-Smith? Sure...But, do you want him doing more? No. Its all about context and what works for the team. Finally, the Bulls didn't just lose to the Pistons because of Jordan's teammates. Its really over-simplifying things to say this, and overlooking how good the Pistons were. Google the 'Joran Rules'. This was an entirely different era (I'm old enough to know!), and defense dominated...Thomas, Dumars, Rodman etc were really good and very very tough. They won the Eastern conference and went 63-19 vs the Bulls who finished 6th. If anything, the Bulls did amazing well to just reach the Eastern Finals. And don't forget, teams have won NBA championships with just one All-Star...Lebron did it in 2016.
Troy Hanning
Roar Guru
Alright soo many things to unpack here so please reply to this: Firstly im not gonna lie, I wrote this in 45 Minutes because I just felt like it, so I didn't use as much sophisticated evidence as I could of. NOT A COP OUT - I still think LUKA is the BEST player in the league - just why I even admit my evidence was lacking a little OK 1. Everybody says you need a championship to be the best player. Theres a reason KD left OKC for Warriors. Look at Skip Bayless (the numb 1 bball media guy in 2011) roasting bron. In fact this stigma has largely led to the player mobility era of superstars joining eachother 2. I wasn't using that as an argument, I was trying to explain that in certain times, the best player in the league (MJ) does not need a lot playoff success when their team is bad 3. Yes BAD! Bro I watch NBA every day, maybe 30 dallas games just this season. Finney is good, but im taking Marcus Morris instead of him. Not just for name recognition. Oh and clearly FINNEY IS EXCELENT for his contract and should be resigned. Morris has just done more on bad teams and good teams that Finney has ever. Facts. Do you think he would of been the second best player on the on 2020 Knicks? Sure he think his better than he is but he defs is better than smith. 3. That Jordan point: Every single season Jordan had JUST ONE ALL STAR Teammate, it was a wrap, they won the championship. They lost game 7 because MJ didnt have an all star teammate that game. Not that pippen wasnt great. But he wasnt before then. Look maybe im being harsh with that word 'garbage' but at end of the day he was not an all star. And marucs morris had a much better 3pt percentage on more attempts in the reg season.
astro
Roar Rookie
Honestly, these articles do my head in...Who is saying the best player in the NBA has to win the championship? You are arguing against something, that's not an actual argument... If you think Luka is the best player in the league, just write an article on that! It'll be hard to say he's definitely better than KD, Lebron, Steph, Giannis and Kawhi (who outplayed him in this series), especially if you only rely on box scores for your info... You're really showing how little you think about things if your analysis of players is based on which ones you've heard of or not. Finney-Smith has been fantastic for the Mavs...Shooting 40% from 3, playing good defense, and on $4mil a year...but yeah, he's terrible because you watched one game where Marcus Morris was better, and you haven't heard of him. And I'm not even going to bother arguing the "Jordan’s teammates were garbage" comment, because Pippen had one bad game. Its like saying Kobe was "garbage" because in the 2004 Finals he went 4 for 13 with 11 points...he must be terrible!