So you’re telling me Luka trailing behind plays to argue with the ref, both on offense and defense, doesn’t negatively impact the team? Asinine. That’s similar to the people who defended Harden standing at halfcourt saying it doesn’t hurt the team.
He actually laid it out very well and the body language is what he said that affects the winning, it impacts the team because he does it when they do something wrong as well. He was saying when somebody misses a shot he starts to slump his shoulders (Bad body language)
I am telling you that "Luka's body language" doesn't mean a damn thing. If he doesn't get back on defense that has nothing to do with body language. I have seen lots of players with poor body language that were great players that gave effort and I have seen players with great body language that suck. This is another effort to make a story by Lowe, which is a specialty of Lowe and the other idiots at ESPN and the wider media. If they want want to complain that he doesn't get back, then leave it at that. I heard complaints about Olajuwon's body language for years.... people said Shaq had bad body language as well..... I had to listen to complaints about KD's poor posture and body language early in his career and how great the "go getter" Westbrook was with his body language. I heard the same bull **** about Harden and Scottie Pippen in their prime.
Cuban looks like he lost weight. As far as Luka, seems like he's developing a reputation. If he's not careful, he can be on ref's hit list. Reputation is a hard thing to shake.
I understand that, and reading into slumped shoulders and facial expressions is stupid. Does he get back on defense? No, then be critical of him for that, not because he slumps his shoulders or looks forlorn.
He has already developed the reputation. He also supposedly expects special concessions for him........ like most superstars do. If the Mavericks think he is going to be like Dirk Nowitski, they are in for a surprise. Criticize him for coming into camp fat and out of shape at 22 years old. Criticize him for not defending..... all of that is fair game.
The Mavs are underperforming pretty bad. We saw first hand how Harden's whining would take him out of a play defensively. Luka has always been the taller, whiter James Harden.
Luka is one of my favorite players, but he admittedly came into the season out of shape, which is partially excusable since most players were surprised by the quick turnaround from last season. Luka's always been a whiner and flopper (he's from the euro league!) but he went from a little too much to Draymond & prime Cousins level this season. His frustration and how he deals with it is IMO noticeably affecting his play. He's only 21, so a little immaturity and growing pains is to be expected. I personally wouldn't mind refs giving loud/incessant/habitual complaining/arguing quicker techs while at the same time letting physical reactions, celebrations and demonstrations go uncalled. As for the Mavs disappointing season... that's the result of going from one of the best 3 point shooting team (2nd in makes - 10th in %) to being the worst 3 point shooting team (last in % - 20th in makes). That one factor pretty much explains how they went from the best offensive rating of all time (115.9) to being the 17th (109.8) this year. Their defense rating has dropped slightly from 18th (111.2) to 25th (112.5). The cause of their 3 point and offensive woes is probably some combination of the Seth Curry departure, Silas departure, injuries, shooting slump. lineup changes and regression.
I listened to the pod yesterday and I don't remember Lowe speaking any lies. McMahon went in hard on Luka. Cuban is acting ridiculous because that's what he does, but it doesn't change the fact that Luka is a big time whiner.
Like is top 3 among whining.. Lebron is still king.. That mfer act like he invented basketball... I'd be that unemployed ref for saying " Would you shut the **** up !"
Or Lebron for that matter. Well, let's be honest, he's modeled almost his entire game after Harden. Zach Lowe is a scrub but I'm glad to see someone finally taking shots at Luka.
But why is it absurd? The hypothesis that shitty body language and whining to the refs can negatively effect the spirit of a team during a game seems entirely plausible to me. I get that there's a correlation vs causation question here, but if "leadership" means anything on the court then having a leader who reacts poorly to adversity on the court is clearly not helpful.
i actually remember that play. from what i remember luka had just made a couple of shots/plays in a row and anybody would have given him the ball to continue the roll on that possession. no matter how good seth is at shooting, i couldn't believe he took that shot instead of giving it to luka. absolutely horrible that luka didn't get back and wasn't even looking at his man in a possession that important, but i'm not a luka fan and i would have been too busy beating seth's ass to get back on defense.
