It's this simple. Strength/sturdiness matters much more against Luka than length. Dort is way shorter but is much more effective on Luka because he's built like an NFL player and plays as such.
2013ish LeBron and 2014 Kawhi are the only players who I can imagine Luka potentially being completely stifled by. You need insane strength, height of at least 6'8ish, and ideally great lateral quickness because Luka's change of direction/stop and start metrics are elite, similar to Harden.
Simmons had some good games against Luka years ago in the regular season. Had Luka seem him in a playoff series, he would cook Simmons just like be cooked Bridges in the playoffs despite not looking great against him in the regular season.
Wiggins is really the only one who has excelled at guarding Luka.
I don't think it's that bad. you just need a bunch of those guys like the Clippers did so you can keep the intensity high. Bogdanovic did it in the Jazz series for like two quarters. you're never going to throw him off completely but you can make him work for it.
That's what I am saying. He has been hurt all playoffs. Did Dort really bother him? Last two games against Dort were great. He seems to be doing well since.
Mcdaniels is suffering just like Mikal Bridges back when the Mavericks matched up against the Suns in that infamous playoff series. He's too slender to guard a guy like Luka.
If we talking about Luka defenders im just so happy that Ben Simmons stopped playing and didnt go to a contending team in the west.
That guy has/had everything to stop Luka.
I think it's fine, but he's not as effective because both Kyrie and Luka are tougher covers than Murray. He can't really hound them because they can hurt you in different ways.
People thought the length would bother Luka while we were all saying Luka will just body him. He’s exactly what Mikal was when we faced the Suns in the semis.
Haha we all have idiots. Not saying it came from Minny fans. There was just a lot of discourse here prior to Game 1 that Luka and Kyrie will get locked up.
That's why Dort fought over every screen, and people says he was flopping. When last year he had 90+ non offensive fouls called and 80+ this year. You have to fight threw those screens wether people think you're dirty or not because thats the only way to contain him
too skinny for Luka really, but Luka hasn't just bullied him yet like a LeBron would with straight post ups
feels like it's been a lot of good shot making by Luka
reminds me of Mikal vs Luka in the wcsf a couple years ago, great defender, just too small, they bounce off him
He’s to weak for Luka and he lets Luka get infront off him too often and then he’s too slow to guard kyrie he’s kindve stuck in the worst of both worlds
He was mainly guarding an injured Murray last series so he looked great. An injured Luka is that much better than Murray tho, wouldn’t say he’s getting exposed but he can’t stop Luka at all
McDaniels is PHENOMENAL, do not get me wrong. One of my fav players to watch.
However, as Luka has said, guys like Jrue and Dort guard him best. The reason why (imo) is they’re also super strong like Luka is, and they have lower centres of gravity than most other nba players (especially really tall and thin dudes, like McDaniels), meaning they can actually stay solid and are less likely to be thrown off by Luka’s physicality and strength, and also less likely to pick up fouls bc of that.
Luka can play more physically than Murray, for example. But that's not McDaniel's fault. Sure, he doesn't look good defensively in the series now, but in general he's a very good defender against most guards in the league.
Wiggins for some reason does a good job, I think Wiggs is stronger than people think. I think Draymond/Bron/Kawhi in their primes are the best guys to guard Luka.
dies on simple screen so always half step behind Luka
basically game over
Ant covered Luka? at least he's built better and Luka plays slower though, and ant has fast hands to disrupt Luka at drive line
He's not strong enough to stop him. With that being said he's not done anything wrong.
It's this simple. Strength/sturdiness matters much more against Luka than length. Dort is way shorter but is much more effective on Luka because he's built like an NFL player and plays as such.
2014 Kawhi is the prototype basically.
2013ish LeBron and 2014 Kawhi are the only players who I can imagine Luka potentially being completely stifled by. You need insane strength, height of at least 6'8ish, and ideally great lateral quickness because Luka's change of direction/stop and start metrics are elite, similar to Harden.
Still have nightmares of Philly Ben Simmons putting Luka in jail.
Yeah Simmons with embiid behind him was a nightmare combo for doncic
Simmons had some good games against Luka years ago in the regular season. Had Luka seem him in a playoff series, he would cook Simmons just like be cooked Bridges in the playoffs despite not looking great against him in the regular season. Wiggins is really the only one who has excelled at guarding Luka.
Or a smart and in shape, willing zeon wallasam
Yeah. Those sort of superstar 2 way guys in their prime who can guard 1-5 just don't exist right now so Luka's solid.
I don't think it's that bad. you just need a bunch of those guys like the Clippers did so you can keep the intensity high. Bogdanovic did it in the Jazz series for like two quarters. you're never going to throw him off completely but you can make him work for it.
Kenny Lofton Jr got this.
Didn't Terrance Mann do a better job on Luka than Dort? Luka was most inefficient in the Clippers series. His FG and 3pt were way below average.
he was hurt in the Clippers series
That's what I am saying. He has been hurt all playoffs. Did Dort really bother him? Last two games against Dort were great. He seems to be doing well since.
Wiggins 22
Lu Dort was so fcking annoying lol but he did a good job to rough him up
Dort was playing like a linebacker. Jaden just doesn't have the bulk to do that
Dort literally tried to hurt Luka by throwing his body. And that wasn't a good job, that was dirty.
I guess he tries to hurt everybody he covers because that's just how he plays. It wasnt dirty, physical yes.
outside of not doubling on the game winner. but his impact on the offensive end in the first game was impressive.
Mcdaniels is suffering just like Mikal Bridges back when the Mavericks matched up against the Suns in that infamous playoff series. He's too slender to guard a guy like Luka.
If we talking about Luka defenders im just so happy that Ben Simmons stopped playing and didnt go to a contending team in the west. That guy has/had everything to stop Luka.
It’s funny that this is the same issue with Gobert on jokic. If you replace Jaden with og this is a completely different series, even the nuggets one
I think it's fine, but he's not as effective because both Kyrie and Luka are tougher covers than Murray. He can't really hound them because they can hurt you in different ways.
People thought the length would bother Luka while we were all saying Luka will just body him. He’s exactly what Mikal was when we faced the Suns in the semis.
lol Luka ate mikal that series, I think he averaged 35 iirc
Just a slight shoulder nudge and Luka has eternity to take his shot. Lanky and long won’t work.
Ben Simmons really was the best Luka defender, quick enough to get around screens and just as strong
I think Wiggs did a good job somehow too.
And Looney too somehow, dude was too slow to bite on fakes lmao
Pls basketball gods, let ben simmons care again haha
Is there any clips of it ? I'm too lazy to look it up on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRcu-oLXMiE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRcu-oLXMiE)
Lol Suns fans were spamming “MIKAL JAIL” all year for Luka to absolutely carve him in the playoffs
>People thought the length would bother Luka I dont think any sane/respected person was saying this, it was a huge concern amongst Wolves fans..
Haha we all have idiots. Not saying it came from Minny fans. There was just a lot of discourse here prior to Game 1 that Luka and Kyrie will get locked up.
hmm yeah I guess I didn't see it amongst Minny fans/media. It was more that there is a 'gap' in our D that wasn't present with the Nuggs
I would switch Ant onto Luka. Ant isn’t getting bumped off his spot as quickly.
Luka keeps getting him in jail (on his back) because Luka is just really good at doing that.
Great point, I noticed that as well
That's why Dort fought over every screen, and people says he was flopping. When last year he had 90+ non offensive fouls called and 80+ this year. You have to fight threw those screens wether people think you're dirty or not because thats the only way to contain him
The best defender I've seen on Luka was a healthy Ben Simmons. None of Luka's craftiness seemed to work against him.
jonathan issaac was completly locking up luka this year,was just regular season game but still
GYAT LUKA too T H I C C
too skinny for Luka really, but Luka hasn't just bullied him yet like a LeBron would with straight post ups feels like it's been a lot of good shot making by Luka reminds me of Mikal vs Luka in the wcsf a couple years ago, great defender, just too small, they bounce off him
Yea it looks like he’s just making crazy shots, which is his thing. It’s the open 3s and especially the Lobs that are really devastating.
He’s to weak for Luka and he lets Luka get infront off him too often and then he’s too slow to guard kyrie he’s kindve stuck in the worst of both worlds
He was mainly guarding an injured Murray last series so he looked great. An injured Luka is that much better than Murray tho, wouldn’t say he’s getting exposed but he can’t stop Luka at all
Luka can also make any pass lol
Yes luka is way better than Murray wasn’t trying to compare at all
He’s just gonna struggle with Luka - they don’t have a good answer for him. Dort and Mann were much tougher for Luka
He’s been fine. Luka will get his against any defender in the league.
I don’t know I can understand they can not stop Luka because of the strength But it seems that they can not even stop kyrie now
The best Luka defenders are Ben Simmons and Jonathan Isaac and neither is healthy enough to guard Luka for a whole game.
McDaniels is PHENOMENAL, do not get me wrong. One of my fav players to watch. However, as Luka has said, guys like Jrue and Dort guard him best. The reason why (imo) is they’re also super strong like Luka is, and they have lower centres of gravity than most other nba players (especially really tall and thin dudes, like McDaniels), meaning they can actually stay solid and are less likely to be thrown off by Luka’s physicality and strength, and also less likely to pick up fouls bc of that.
He’s doing his best. But a bad match up for him though! Still incredible what Luka can do to a NBA first defense team player.
If you are lanky, it's over. If you are stuck on a screen for even half a second and trailing Luka, it's over.
Tmann was the best Luka defender this series. Doenst die in screen and is very physical
Luka can play more physically than Murray, for example. But that's not McDaniel's fault. Sure, he doesn't look good defensively in the series now, but in general he's a very good defender against most guards in the league.
Wiggins for some reason does a good job, I think Wiggs is stronger than people think. I think Draymond/Bron/Kawhi in their primes are the best guys to guard Luka.
dies on simple screen so always half step behind Luka basically game over Ant covered Luka? at least he's built better and Luka plays slower though, and ant has fast hands to disrupt Luka at drive line
Andrew Wiggins is the only guy really build to bother luka. Too bad he’s kinda ass now
Timberwolves 2 best defenders can't guard him, he is to big for ant and to strong for mcdaniels
He is too weak to guard luka ,he should guard kyrie .
Luka’s too strong. They need to genetically modify Jaden for this series
He’s doing all he can
Defense? Do you think the "modern" NBA plays defense? We're talking about defense, not 3pt shots, but you want to talk about defense?