Maybe he does so much because he
has to do so much? Or do you not think that's valid?
Durant had Russ, Curry, and now Kyrie/Harden
Bron had to wait, but eventually got ISO-Wade and then Kyrie.
Curry had Klay and Livingston.
Harden had CP3 and then Westbrook. Now Kyrie.
Damian has CJ.
Booker has CP3
Mitchell has Conley.
Tatum had Kyrie and then Kemba.
Luka has who? Brunson? THJ?
Some of these are patently ridiculous.
I don't know why the hell you're bringing up Livingston, when he was a shell of his former self on the Warriors, and came off the bench, providing sub-playmaking and scoring. Every superstar in the league has those types of players on their respective squads. And someone like Klay can't handle the ball nor is a playmaker, which again, it doesn't really apply here because I'm talking about Luka not having to dominate the ball on every possession. Having someone like Klay wouldn't stop him from doing that. I mean, the very fact that Klay can't handle the ball and isn't a playmaker goes against your argument of Luka needing to have the ball in his hands.
Luka had:
Porzingis
THJ
Brunson
JRich
That's more than a talent in a support cast where he doesn't need monopolize the ball. All those players can work with the ball in their hands, or at the very least, play within an offense that prioritizes ball movement. They don't need Luka to set them up on every possession. I've told you this before, but this is the problem that arises when players don't have an appropriate amount of responsibility and duty in an offense, that when the time comes for them to step up, they more than likely won't because of the role they've been pigeonholed into.
They've got to learn to walk before they can run, and this past season, all they've been doing is standing, figuratively.
If the Mavs actually had an offense which was built on egalitarian principles, and all those players worked into those roles during the season, it would put them in better position to step up when the time comes, and not be thrown in at the deep end come playoff time. How are they supposed to get any better if all they're going to do is stand around waiting for catch-and-shoot and lob opportunities from Luka? You don't think that cripples them to where they can't get better and develop their games/skillsets to where they can create offense for themselves and collectively for the team? You don't think Porzingis would be a better player and provide more value, and in turn have more confidence, if there was sets that played to his strengths rather than him merely catching and shooting?
And now you're talking like he can count on Prepelic or Blazic
They should somehow grab a hold of the tempo of a game and lead an offense, something neither one of them ever did in qualifying or the 5 games thus far of the tournament? Let me guess, that's Luka's fault as well...
You'll find that nearly every single player on this Slovenian team, even the likes of Cancar, who're based in the NBA, built their skillset and games being in equal-opportunity offenses. That's how the Euros play, whereas Luka runs contrary to that where he modeled his game after LeBron. Look at every single Euro national team that's participated in the Olympics - everyone has an equal role in accordance to their ability - there's no one person dominating the ball.
It's not about them leading the offense, it's about Luka not handling the ball to the degree that he does. It seems you have a misconception that somehow them not doing it is indicative of them not capable of doing it.
Slovenia had the same drive and kick out to 3 offense the entire qualifying and Olympic run. They never had an offense like France. They don't have the personnel of France. Clearly they don't have other ballhandlers and ISO players and a paint presence like France. So why compare the two?
With all due respect, I don't think you know what you're talking about.
Slovenia has one of the best talent pools in the world, and this squad has more than enough talent where they don't need to resort to being mannequins on offense. Dragic, Tobey, Blazic, Cancar etc have all shown the ability to get buckets, in this Olympics, in the qualifiers, the Eurobasket qualifiers and in their respective Euro leagues. Never mind the fact that the majority of this team aren't catch-and-shooter players by trade. It's a
drive and kick offense because that's all Luka knows how to operate in, and obviously, he's their best player, which is why they're hardly going to give the structure of the offense a makeover when Luka is just going to fall back into what he knows best. They don't have the time nor means to do it differently. Even teams like Italy, Argentina, Germany and the Czech Republic, who have less talent than Slovenia, don't have stylized offenses where one player is controlling it all.
