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The comparability turned out to be an affront to basketball humanity, as a result of nowadays it is higher to be in comparison with Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons fairly than James Harden.
Because the Dallas Mavericks begin their 2021-22 common season on Thursday in Atlanta with out Rick Carlisle as their head coach for the primary time since 2008, they accomplish that with the Luka Doncic Drawback.
Luka is without doubt one of the finest gamers on the planet, who’s an issue for 2 groups: The Mavericks, and whoever the Mavericks play.
The comparisons between Luka and Harden exist for a cause, which I alluded to shortly after the Mavs’ season ended with a second straight first-round playoff loss to the LA Clippers.
The response was that Harden is a egocentric ball hog whereas Doncic is a sefless distributor, and I ought to be extradited to Jupiter for Sports activities Stupidity.
Final week, I visited with former Mavericks guard Jason Terry, and requested him how ought to followers anticipate Doncic will enhance below new coach Jason Kidd.
I by no means used Harden’s title.
“Luka has to belief that each play he doesn’t have to come back again and get the ball,” Terry mentioned. “It is comparable with James Harden down in Houston once I performed with him for 2 years.”
Do not shoot the messenger.
That is Jason Terry making the comparability, not some sports activities nerd journalist whose finest good friend is a canine that is solely into the friendship due to the free meals.
“(Harden) felt like the whole lot needed to undergo him, and that he needed to make each play. Make each help. Make each basket,” Terry mentioned.
I requested Doncic (awkwardly) if he believes his recreation compares favorably to Harden, who was named the NBA’s MVP in 2018.
“I believe my recreation is my recreation,” Doncic mentioned on a zoom name with the media on Tuesday. “Everyone performs their very own manner, so I do not know. I by no means take note of this so I do not know.”
Uber gifted gamers, like Harden and Doncic, often know they’re their crew’s finest likelihood on each possession.
“I believe (coach Jason) Kidd will get (Doncic) to grasp that he would not essentially must be that with a purpose to have success,” Terry mentioned. “(Harden and Doncic) each have the power to have the ball of their palms, and get their very own shot off no matter what defender is on him. After which the power to move it.
“There are three guys on this league who can try this — Luka Doncic, James Harden and LeBron James. The best way they move the ball is true the place you need it. Their court docket imaginative and prescient, and their really feel for the sport is the most effective.”
Kidd’s success with the Mavericks will rely on Luka not having to do as a lot as he has.
If Doncic needs to be James Harden, we all know the way it ends. It ends with a pleasant little common season adopted by a first-round loss within the postseason.
“The one damaging (to that recreation) is that over a length of a season, and into the playoffs, fatigue goes to set in,” Terry mentioned. “You may’t spend a complete season with the ball in your palms, the protection taking a look at you; the identical factor occurred to Giannis Antetokounmpo (of the Milwaukee Bucks).
“Giannis was like that till he will get a man like (teammate) Jrue Vacation, and gave extra offensive alternative to Khris Middleton. It took the stress off of Giannis and he did not must expend a lot power. So late in video games Luka will probably be more energizing and can have some power.”
The best way this works is that if Luka has teammates not solely that he can belief, but additionally who can end.
That begins extra with Kristaps Porzingis than Tim Hardaway Jr.
For Doncic, and the Mavs, to be greater than what they had been below Carlisle, Porzingis needs to be the participant he was earlier than his knee harm when he was with the New York Knicks.
He is appeared good within the preseason, and nothing just like the zombie who did so little within the playoffs when his head coach had moved on to gamers apart from KP.
However, it is the preseason.
GM Donnie Nelson and Carlisle left the Mavs after the latest playoff flop as a result of each felt they had been not the individuals to search out options to the Mavs’ issues.
The Mavs’ drawback is surrounding top-of-the-line gamers on the planet with teammates he trusts so he would not must be James Harden.
That begins with Luka Doncic, and, with this crew, can solely finish with Kristaps Porzingis.
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