Luka’s old school strategy that’s driving teams mad

[@peterlopinto]

That's wild that Luka is leading the league in post-up points. Really interesting to see old-school tactics with new school twists

[@Jonteponte71]

I haven't checked, but I think Marcus Smart is pretty high up on that list as well. At least for being a guard...

[@ballsballsballs3617]

@@Jonteponte71 luka not even really a guard tho, people consider him a pg cuz he runs the offense but luka just kinda like lebron where they don’t necessarily have a position they r just do good them being on the court is a game plan in its self

[@Dengen111]

@@ballsballsballs3617 nah, he's 100% a guard. They run a 2 guard 2 wing and 1 center/big lineup. You could call him a shooting guard if you wanted but it's mostly about who is on the floor than what he's doing.

[@myzticalz3289]

@@ballsballsballs3617 no, he is defo a guard.

[@c_rock3512]

@@myzticalz3289 he’s a guard but he has forward size

[@MDLR]

Thanks to Ben for letting me be involved in this! Excited to hear what everyone thinks. I love how old-school tactics can be remixed for the modern game

[@MDLR]

Yes absolutely! I’ve been really into this season so you’ll see work in some capacity on Thinking Basketball or my own channel

[@yackum_3331]

So being in the video didn't do enough for you huh? Just had to come in the comments and be all corny like you're accepting some award to get more attention. I know I'm in the minority, but I could give a shit who was involved in this video. Just put the content out. You aren't accepting the Arthur ashe award lol

[@ZEA88-22]

@@MDLR what’s your channel?

[@oraborna]

#realslavs

[@crunch9362]

Old school tactics are a thing of beauty in basketball. Luka's game is the best to watch in the league. I get so tired of these talking heads saying his game is basically James Harden's game. They're idiots. That would be a good video debunking Luka is just another Harden.

[@davidmitnick868]

Luka is the most impressive player I’ve seen live on court. It’s hard to convey unless you see it in person. The physicality, ballhandling, crazy shot making, breathtaking passes, control of tempo, ability to read defenses, it’s all incredible. It feels like he’s beating your team by himself. Real superhero stuff.

[@smey02]

if he had dont know, kevin duratn for example in his team, he would get 15 aissists consistenly

[@lastnamefirstname1491]

It’s crazy to look back at ppl questioning if he would thrive in the n a

[@6r3ys0n]

@@smey02 Bad example. Kevin Durant is an iso heavy player and carries the ball up court much of the time. Somebody like Giannis for example, or say Evan Mobley a year or two from now. That would be something. Or an off ball two guard like Klay Thompson.

[@smey02]

@@6r3ys0n yeah whatever...you get what I want to say. Im just saiyng that he is an incredible passer, if not the best in the league. Doing the craziest passes, and very rarely they dont find the player

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

@@ihaveadream3321 but in Europe this is not a problem, and you see only 1 player. So it is just natural talent that was born in Europe. Jokic developed in NBA - so the age is not a problem.

[@fateriddle14]

I love how this video is about Luka's playmaking dismentles his opponents, yet every teammate he passes to bricks the shot.

[@CreedBratt0n]

Luka would have 15 apg if teammates hit even an average amount of shots

[@Avian07]

Well you can't expect much from a mostly defensive minded lineup. It's Luka who runs the offense and the rest plays clean up on defense.

[@lando9670]

@@Avian07 Dorian didn’t shoot this bad last year, this something recent

[@Avian07]

@@lando9670 Last season, Dorian only got into his shooting touch after the all-star break, so did Bullock. If the same pattern occurs again this season and Dinwiddie & Wood continues to improve. I don't think we have to worry about the rest of the year.

[@willliam1420]

Not every player is a microwave catch and shoot. Most guys need to touch the ball to get a feel and rhythm for shooting

[@LukaDaGoat77]

Although he's only 23, he's already on pace to be one of the most incredible offensive juggernauts the league has ever seen and an all-time NBA legend.

[@dusk6159]

With this ulterior level, the guy has become a perennial MVP. Another year of excellence, and Bird-Lebron style of madness on the court.

[@ssrr9000]

​@@dusk6159 I didn't get to watch young LeBron. Did he exhibit this much ability in controlling the game back then?

[@johnwild8217]

+ He won all main titles/championships in Europe by the age of 18. And he was leading those teams. It can take decades if ever for another European player to achieve what Luka did by the age of 18. US sometimes has a hard time grasping the impossible goal Luka has set in Europe back then

[@raviatm]

@@ssrr9000 no

[@MrSlashblade]

@@ssrr9000 yes, all those greats like bird magic and Bron have that level of control.

[@MarioDiciple]

What gets me about Lukas post ups on mismatches is how fast he gets to work. Someone like James Harden would size up the defender and lull him to sleep and go to work. Luka just puts them in the pain train immediately. The defense doesnt have time to decide whos going to double him because luka has already backed them down and scored. Heres to hoping he stays healthy because this is mvp stuff.

[@Zayk74u]

Harden never used the post. Thats what separates the two and it's a Big separation

[@kaizerchief17]

Looking at old footage, MJ was the same way in the post. Always efficient with his movement, moving or shooting once he leveraged position. He'd kick it out when he didn't, then reposition or cut to the basket.

[@blackjacktrial]

This set of plays is about using pace and space strategies to allow isolation. It's actually very similar off ball to what the Ws do for Curry, it's what's happening on ball which is different - instead of Green looking for an open man, it's Luka in the post looking for the soft spot in the defence (and the primary attack being Luka instead of offball). Similar principles with wildly different looking execution.

[@MrREAPERsz]

Harden wasn't a post player. He stayed around the perimeter until he got a screen, then he drove to the paint. Harden never used his size to dominate. Just used his athleticism, ball skills and foul cheese.

[@javigar133]

So many comparison with Harden, I get why but there many differences between them. Harden does all the work on the perimeter, then either finds the killing pass, step backs shoots or trick the defender into a faul. Luka does all that but also uses the flow of the Game by getting on the post, where he can get better passes and easy reach to the basket with his Size. In 2 years he would be able to get the others better involved in the flow, in 5 his shooting should improve

[@TheTEN24]

I love the versatility in Lukas game and that he still uses the post game to his advantage. There is absolutely a place for it and it’s satisfying to watch the variety of moves to get a good look

[@kimjosephbertumen1706]

he is like an unathletic lebron but a better shooter earlier in their respective careers.

[@hittkid6312]

Post-ups definitely have a lot of advantages as long as the team has someone that is big enough to get into position and also can pass. GSW uses post plays a lot they just don't have a post-threat so it's usually used to just pass the ball to either a cutter or a shooter

[@dusk6159]

I love that McGee and Dinwiddie are his teammates. They're put to good use by someone great on the court like Luka.

[@Kingkam_77]

@@kimjosephbertumen1706 he’s Larry bird with better handles

[@t4d0W]

It is a natural progression if you look back at his tape from his rookie season to Year 5. He always had a tight handle in traffic even after a screen action where he's jailing a defender behind him while he attacks a big protecting the basket. In recent years he did a lot more match up hunting in the playoffs to get easy baskets having smaller guards on him. So it is a matter of blending those 2 actions but still keeping his teammates cutting and moving around so Doncic will find them when defenses bite.

[@SLMusica214]

Man I wish ben had the staff to make more videos. I could watch breakdowns like this all day

[@chrisgotnext]

Let me fill your void for content in between then 🤝🏼

[@michaeljansz4346]

agree

[@chipjnba403]

We’re working on it!

[@huntercityhunter]

@Knot Gulty this is why i'm considering subbing to the patreon

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

@Knot Gulty I’d rather 90% of the quality but weekly videos than 100% of the quality but 1/3 the videos.

[@calmfy1406]

Let remind yall that Luka is still 23 years old 😭😭😭 this dude has literally no ceiling and could potentially be one of the greatest of literally all time. As he could seamlessly fit into any era with his blend of old school and new school plays and skills. Thats why they call him Luka magic 🔥🔥🔥

[@January_Cold]

One size fits all generational player.

[@javigar133]

He could take the hand check era with his Size and IQ, he wont back down

[@dusk6159]

We're lucky to witness his play. Great stuff for the Mavs.

[@full6330name]

He is so damn talented. I honestly feel like if his only job was to be catch and shoot player he would somehow turn into a sniper. He can shoot off the drible,he can post up,he can play the pick and roll,he can pass from every angle,he has great ball handling,he can get creative and save the posession when he gets stuck,he can make those '' luka magic '' shots...I could go on and on. There is literarly nothing on the offense end he's not good at. Is simply not asked off him to be a catch and shoot player but if that was the mission I'm sure he would do it. He's just one off the best/most talented players that ever played basketball and I'm just happy I get to see it happen in real time.

[@Willy72070]

The mavs problem is that Luka is TOO good. With most young stars, the team has a few years to drafts high picks in hopes of a second star that can mature around them (Tatum and Brown). But with Luka, the team was in immediately good after he got drafted, so they never got a chance at drafting a second star. Hopefully they can get someone in free agency, but otherwise Idk how they expect to win a championship

[@kakerandelin]

Playing their 2nd best player more than 25min per game would be a good start

[@mrbucky226]

@@kakerandelin Christian wood?

[@geordiejones5618]

Same thing happened to Lebron. Couldnt get enough draft/trade capital before he exploded into an all star/all NBA talent and they were stuck asking him to do too much at too young of an age. Kobe had Shaq and Jordan at least had a much more competent front office and coaching staff that knew how to maximize his talent. Haven't seen that for Luka yet. It happened to Wilt and almost happened to Kareem too. Its a tricky balance, you just cannot compete AND develop at the highest levels at the same time. Russell, Magic and Bird are probably the only examples of guys who immediately made a playoff ready team into contenders but they also had great teammates too.

[@Willy72070]

@@geordiejones5618 Exactly. And it isn’t as much that their front office isn’t competent, it’s just that they have to create big trades while giving up NOTHING. They have no leeway or assets and can only pray that a superstar free agent will want to come

[@ireplytostupidpeople4750]

@@Willy72070 I like the team they have now. Dinwiddie been solid. Not so sure about Wood yet tho

[@kevinhowe3280]

I'm a former d1 college player. I wasnt really good in college but i was dominant in high school and I'm still pretty damn good compared to average players. The moves luka does takes so much strength. I practice all his post moves still to this day. Luka actually sparked a new interest in basketball for me. Hes doing things that I literally have never seen b4 and I never thought I'd say that again. Th balance it takes and the savvy to pull off these post moves. Hes th best player in th world

[@javigar133]

Good point, in terms of tecnich I would agree he is the best right now, even ahead of Jokic, then in skills is up.there. with the best. He should improve efficiency and that would be unfair. In general, not just 3s

[@denosi]

Same here, I'm seeing the exact same thing with complete admiration and astonishment for the guy. The only difference is I was shite in high school and college. Did pick up the ball again tho for the exact same reason hehe

[@chavoreia]

I was mid in Highschool but I find the same thing for me, I feel his game could be used for almost anyone, other than bigs

[@kevinhowe3280]

@@chavoreia just as an example of th kind of strength and savvy I'm talking about. Next time your playing against a really good defender, try the post fade over ur right shoulder. If yr right handed th defense will be literally right on your shooting hand. Getting really good defenders off balance to get that shot off constantly is th savviness I'm referring to and the strength to knock th defender off balance. These moves look easy but against really good comp they're not easy to pull off like he does. And hes only 23

[@chavoreia]

@@kevinhowe3280 most definitely that’s why he’s the mvp, but I’m only 20 so I can get pretty good for every day people Ig

[@simonl6005]

It's painful to watch how many wide-open 3s created by Luka being bricked.

[@dusk6159]

6:38 hurt me bad. What an assist move.

[@m3gusta17]

@@dusk6159 to be fair, if you've watched the Mavs this season, Wood has been one of our better shooters. It's the Bullock and THJ bricks that are truly painful to behold.

[@dusk6159]

@@m3gusta17 Indeed, and in fact I wanted to add how that shooter still deserves some slack, because it's Wood, a big man. Shame though because his movement on the catch was nice to see as well.

[@diegomata3624]

Watching some of these clips just make it clear how genius Luka is and how badly he needs better teammates.

[@1122-o4r]

Mavs reached WCF with only role players. Imagine Luka would get as much of what Trae Young is getting every year. Hawks get what they want, this year a superb Murray, top ten picks every season and so on. If Luka would get players like Trae is, mavs would already won a title.

[@dusk6159]

Luka working with a Capela and a great defending guard would be scary.

[@ryogouw1185]

@@1122-o4r fvcking true. All those trae teammates were top prospects (hunter, collins, reddish*) and solid role with good reputation (capela, bogdan, gallinari*), and now they have allstar guard dejounte. While Luka big help were only wood and dinwiddie 🤣🤣

[@wallieshere]

yeah he needs lebron

[@EmanCollins]

So many of Luka's moves/decisions are absolutely breathtaking. A basketball genius!

[@johanndiaz8387]

Luka is one of the basketball players of all time. The accolades will catch up but the eye test has been there from day one

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

He’s got a chance of top 10 all time given his age which means he can still improve. Giannis is already at his peak - so can Luka top Giannis? I already see Giannis as potential for top 8-12 all time if he can win 2 more titles.

[@MerkhVision]

He sure is one of the players lmao

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Knockit off

[@MustardOverlord]

I think running this sort of offense makes a lot of sense for Luka. In the traditional high pick-and-roll version of these plays, Luka would call his own number by either driving all the way to the rim (which he can still do in a post-up because his footwork is so good, maybe even better because he can conserve a bit more energy and not telegraph his intentions as much) or take a step-back 3. He's shooting so well from 2 this season and mediocre enough from 3 that resorting to the step back less often is actually making him more efficient. Plus his free throw rate is ridiculous right now. Dallas found a way to emphasize Luka's scoring strengths (handle, rim touch and strength) while still giving him the traditional reads for passes in the PnR. Cool to see!

[@t4d0W]

Yeah I think its an ideal way to give Luka different ways to 'get hot' throughout the game. Him playing with his dribble for step back 3s when things broke down wasn't for the best at times. But he'll always have that if he just needs to match up hunt a smaller defender and make the opposing bigs pick their poison. Overall in both screen and post up games, Doncic will actively draw another defender on his way to the rim which sets up a big time basket attempt or an even impressive no look assist.

[@krisharkleroad8]

Great video analysis. Makes me appreciate Luka even more. He gets a ton of hockey assists. It's amazing how many open looks he gets for his teammates. MVP.

[@Jabbersac]

4:11 To be fair, while Bol Bol is about 7 inches taller than Luka he's also about 15 or 20 pounds lighter, with a higher center of gravity. With that in mind, it's not actually too surprising that Bol gets thrown around by Luka's shoving, and in fact it's pretty good that he still keeps his balance well enough to get a respectable contest in - only an elite scorer like Luka can feather in an arcing shot like that over Bol Bol's crazy long arms.

[@jayem8981]

I think the more astounding thing though is that a PG who was giving up half a foot to a defender, decided to take him in the post. When was the last time you’ve seen a 6’7” guy post up a 7’2” guy, irrespective of weight? As you said, that speaks to Doncic’s skill that he was even able to get his shot off over Bol’s clearly superior reach, but that is generally not something someone so “out-heighted” would even attempt.

[@viktorkopinc4055]

It's surprising Luka reads that right away and goes to work on him, might have felt that Bol Bol is easily moved in a instance under the basket before that play. Either way Luka plays off of knowledge and feeling so I can't tell if he already knew how he going to finish before he strted backing him down. Probably not much options left than a hakeem/dirk turn fadeaway.

[@TheMarkoSeke]

@@jayem8981 it actually speaks to his thick booty

[@dennisbautista6795]

Great thing about Luka is he sees the weaknesses of whoever is guarding him and takes advantage of that

[@bernardfinucane2061]

Luka plays basketball like he's playing handball, which is pretty rough and tumble.

[@chrissullivan6572]

Jason Kidd's growth as a coach has been nice. I like this offense a lot.

[@dusk6159]

They're a perfect match too, JKidd and Luka are two genius basketball minds.

[@chrissullivan6572]

@@dusk6159 Kidd being a big PG with crazy vision, it makes sense he'd put Luka in similar positions he was successful in

[@dusk6159]

@@chrissullivan6572 Big and all-around star PGs too

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Luka is not a genius

[@chrissullivan6572]

@@BoosterGoldEarth6 I don't think anyone would agree with you. His game has flaws but how is he not a genius?

[@JayZone23]

Props to coach Kidd for implementing the post up offense back. This will for sure be more valuable in the playoffs. Some guys with physical advantage tends to settle for jumpshots so it is great that the Mavs are implementing old school style of basketball.

[@MasterResolve]

Lbj didn't start doing this until late in his career. This dude is so advanced everywhere on offense.

[@theSUBVERSIVE]

and even in his 2nd year with the heat, when he finally started using the post, or even now, LBJ doesn't have anywhere near the same bag of moves and footwork as Luka. LBJ's bread and butter was very basic and he would stick to that. And it's not like Luka didn't have a post-game before, he was already using it in previous years, Carlisle didn't like it much but Kidd was already letting him cook in the posts last season, it's just that now Kidd adjusted what the other players should do to help Luka become even more lethal.

[@robertoboypaos3918]

@@theSUBVERSIVE 👏

[@MrREAPERsz]

LeBron didn't need to do this. He was big and fast and that's how he won games. He's also a SF. Luka is a guard.

[@January_Cold]

@@theSUBVERSIVE I'm so happy Carlisle is gone

[@lourencoteles8414]

@@MrREAPERsz This! Young Lebron was a freight train, he didn't need to "control" the opposing defense as much to be able to score/assist. He only slowed his game down in his second stint with the Cavs, because he understood that he would last longer (season and career) if he didn't bully ball his way to win games.

[@thefilipinoknight6617]

I love this breakdown, and love the evolution of Luka’s game. Every year they say he’s hit a ceiling because he’s not an explosive athlete, but he just blasts through those haters like they were Patrick Beverly.

[@KleinpeterHank]

Lukas post scoring rarely gets talked about. Thank you Ben for shining on this old school mixed with new school style.

[@dusk6159]

Ben's videos on Luka are a treat, to me right up with his ones covering Embiid and Lebron.

[@AleksandarGospic]

Excellent analysis! Arsenal Luka has at his disposal is insane, I'd say he is the most complete player in the world. There are other great scorers out there but his vision of the game and assists are mind blowing, no one else has such package

[@szethcaligo3735]

Luka can make a case for being the most complete offensive player ever. If he was an all-star level player on defense he's the best player in the league, no discussion.

[@javigar133]

If he could only get into that 50-40-90 efficiency level and improve his role on D, we Will hear comparison with Larry Legend

[@deathsmage42]

This is one of my favorite videos just because I'm such a sucker for oldhead basketball. I love when you highlight post play and midrange games still being vital and important tactics in the Layup and 3 era.

[@Ballhawk99]

All you hear people saying is that the game is changing and shooting is superior, same w football in that passing it 50 times a game is best to score….weird thing is is that when it comes to playoff time for both sports, teams usually revert back to old school play style (post ups in basketball, and running the ball in football) wonder why these aren’t emphasized for both sports during the regular season

[@ryanr20091]

golden state didnt win the championships because they were great at post ups so this isn't some renaissance. even the way luka post up is more skillful so it gives the illusion that others can do what he does . his approach is different from the old school style because of his uniquie skillset and being a big guard thats like 6'7 230 240 hes a huge guard and exceptional passing hes not one dimensional from the post like alot old school players were . he can do alot more

[@MerkhVision]

It’s because when the season is on the line u want the odds in your favor, so you’re more likely to favor traditional safe tried and true methods rather than newer or riskier untested methods.

[@Dekartz]

Wear and tear. In football especially thr ground attack is physically demanding so you're not gonna use it in thr regular season purely because you've gotta keep your guys healthy for the whole season. In the playoffs you have the whole off-season ahead for recovery.

[@bdictjames]

Glad to see Luka employ more of an all-around game.

[@alejandrosierra3743]

It is scary how good this young kid already is. I don't know what is going to happen if he keeps imporving his game.

[@BRAOSGEELR]

Best basketball player all time. Thats whats going to happen

[@TheNamesDitto]

There's a chance he might be the next GOAT. Not saying its final but he has the talent to be.

[@Mzee1084]

​@@TheNamesDitto Got a lot of work to do on his defense if he is to be a contender.

[@BRAOSGEELR]

@@TheNamesDitto i don't know man. He will not be consistent enough. His body will not last as long as Lebrons, and he will not win as many title as Jordan. This is subjectiv anyway. For me he is the GOAT already. Why? Because if somebody told me you will wake up tomorrow and you can chose to be any player from basketball history, you will play the game same way as he did... I would chose to be Doncic. Already, now. He doesn't have to do anything until the end of his basketball career Watching him is poetry in motion. And it is fun first of all, and he himself looks to have a lot of fun playing basketball and he is a killa at the same time. What more can a man ask for...

[@Niccolo_Piccioli]

@@Mzee1084 He's inproving on defense also, he's second in steals per game this season

[@cd6xc]

He reminds me a lot of both LeBron when he finally got the post game AND of Mark Jackson just sitting his ass until a good pass came, but Jackson had those distinctive advantages of the illegal defence and the absence of the 6-second rule for a long part of his career, which is even more scary considering Luka has such pass creativity and a quick trigger doing so.

[@studentinfomovie]

This new DAL scheme reminds me a bit of what DEN/Jokic are playing. One things I noticed here is these were all "low injury risk" and quite "low energy demand" plays - for Luka and for his teammates. Strong fouls often deluded big-men's careers (ie DHoward), hard hits (ie DRose) or landing on defenders feet on contested jumpers (ie Kawhi/Zaza situation) are detremential for smaller guys. This is one thing I really like about Jokic - close to the ground, low falls, less fouls in traffic with guys running you down like NFL. So it makes even more sense - for DAL and for Luka/Jokic... You can see this being in LBJ's mind when adopting his game over the years.

[@dudeabides23]

We were just talking about the post up at work. Great video. Luka and Joker are changing basketball the way Steph did 10 years ago

[@Aggie1295]

Great video and analysis. Probably one of the most detailed breakdowns of basketball I've seen in a long time. It is amazing watching Luka play, and what impresses me is that some of his most amazing and biggest plays are his assists. I remember last season watching the Mavs play the Nets I'm Brooklyn, and Luka made a pass to a teammate for a game winning three. He takes the winning shot a lot of times, but doesn't have to. What worries me about the Mavs this year is seeing them give up big leads like they did against the Suns or seeing them struggle and lose to definitely inferior teams. Not sure if it's just a defense issue or a problem when Luka isn't on the court or what. I think if the Mavs could make a trade to get another star or high end role player. The other funny thing that jumps out, is that Luka does so much that it's tough to realize that he's a point guard.

[@Alex2099-]

I realy love watching stuff like this, plays being broken down. Also surprised me that he is leading the league in post ups.

[@Bulls1999]

The way Luka is playing; he doesn’t need another superstar, more effective 3 pt shooters and an active agile big that can guard multiple positions. Dallas needs to make the trade for Buddy Hield in miles Turner from the Pacers! And in that scenario, I can see the Mavs getting better and becoming more of a legitimate championship contender; these are prime Luka years that shouldn’t be squandered!

[@willsheekey7747]

absolutely excellent video. only thing to note is that the step through is really a travel @ 6:41 as Luka's steps back with his left and then his right, meaning he could have stepped through with his right. However, he steps through with his left instead.. close, but a travel nonetheless.

[@MyOaAesis]

Best NBA content on this site.

[@doktarr]

true fact

[@americangraffiti3971]

Doncic is revoluting the league year by year. His stepbacks are mostly indefensibles, great foot work, great in pass, great in pick and roll situations, also post ups, isolated threes, changing speeding... is crazy.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

This is how the nba changes over time. In large part it’s tule changes or how rules are enforced but players and coaches learn from before then make modifications which then become mainstream and then someone else will learn from that and make changes. Coaching and game play have certainly evolved the most and it started with the realization that the 3pt shot opens up the floor. Once that happened, the game changed and then we started seeing even more complex plays with lots more off ball movement than ever before.

[@naushilmehta652]

Another great video as usual Ben! I can’t find the link but I remember reading last year that an unnamed nba GM said SGA was pretty much ja morant without the elite supporting cast. Would love to see some sort of comparative video on those two from a metrics and play styles perspective. Thanks!

[@alexandershabazzi8890]

A reminder that Basketball will always continue to evolve, no matter the era, the changes. The craft behind this sport is so special. Luka is truly gifted, but his IQ is unprecedented about the game itself. This channel continues to exemplify why Basketball is truly a one-of-a-kind craft. We are seeing the post move fundamentals come back and it’s beautiful, and what’s special.. mainly by guards and Wing players!

[@Nicomartz52]

In his prime Kidd was the best PG playing post up game in the league

[@vc5917]

Hint hint

[@robertoboypaos3918]

Post up game no, but the best rebounder at pg, yes

[@Nicomartz52]

@@robertoboypaos3918 he was the best PG in post up game, believe me in this, they didnt run that offense too much because Kidd used to be defended for the SG of the other team. But when they can run it was Easy points for His team

[@hittkid6312]

I forgot about that good catch. Luka holding up the tradition of big bodied point guards, Magic to Kidd now to Luka.

[@pbplss2248]

This is HANDS DOWN the best KZbin channel about breaking down plays AND bball in general. Outstanding work man, thanks and keep it up !

[@armanifrazier6130]

Love this channel! Always detailed and well thought out.

[@danraul9759]

Doncic is that unorthodox hybrid player like Magic Johnson was in his era. And now Doncic is playing great defense so early in the development of his career at the age of 23 being 1st in steals, 1st in overall PER, and 22nd in rebounds

[@Spider-Complexion]

Seeing Luka play the post as a big PG reminds me a lot like Magic Johnson

[@RwandaBob]

when i watch luka i feel like i’m watching larry bird again great passing, great shooting, slow pace, classic moves. i love watching lukas game i think it’s extremely under appreciated.

[@AveChristusRex789]

A lot of people compare Luka to Harden but I think this is the major difference between the two (plus Luka’s tendency to use the PnR compared to the ISO) and that makes Luka a much more different player than what most people may think

[@antonquirgst2812]

I think they compare him less in terms of playstyle and more in terms of what their respective role is/was on their resepctive teams. LIn Houston Harden was the system- Harden was the offense and the same can be said about Luka and the Mavs - without him... the Mavs hardly make the playoffs- as seen in Houston where they lost!

[@blicleak1101]

Luka has a HUGE heart which is the main difference

[@theSUBVERSIVE]

@@blicleak1101 and he doesn't disappear in big moments, quite the opposite, plus Harden's play is far more limited than Luka's, not even close.

[@dgerch]

I think he's a cross between Bron and Harden. He has Bron's size, strength and passing and Harden's step back, under the basket running back moves to the rim.

[@AveChristusRex789]

@@dgerch I would also add in Bird even if some people think that’s an outdated comparison now. Just like Bird, Luka isn’t really conventionally athletic when it comes to vert and speed but they both know their angles and post up frequently. Luka a mix of Harden, Bird and Bron in my view for sure

[@JJames666male]

Post moves and footwork are the coolest thing in basketball imo.

[@shenielgarcia]

I love you Ben!!! Best basketball content on KZbin 🔥🔥. Legit makes my day better whenever you post. Shoutout to you bro, keep grinding 💪🏽💪🏽

[@bitw434]

Posting luka against smaller guards on 2K is unstoppable

[@swigthealo]

J Kid bringing back the 90s post up plays with the modern playbook #genius

[@Only1Mal]

I was just watching Lukas highlights from yesterday perfect timing on this upload

[@doktarr]

I felt bad for Bones when he got switched onto Luka. Luka looked like a dad backing down his kid in the driveway.

[@Only1Mal]

@@doktarr I swear to god i instantly started shaking my head😂😂😂

[@easybepoppyofficial]

Luka understands momentum and body position so well. He’s not explosive at all but he plays at his own pace. The game lulls when he has the ball but he sees every mistake the defense makes. One of my favorite players to watch

[@chriswillis7154]

As a Raptor fan, Luka single handedly beat us. Kobe 80 pt level dismantling. It was incredible. I love how he doesn't oversell his no looks or feints.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

7:47 that 3pt seeking play is very common today and I think it makes the game less interesting. I love Lukas post play because it adds more diversity to game rather than all the 3pt seeking we see. Sometimes if feels like half the plays are “seek the 3pt but if D overplays cut to hoop for easy layup”

[@23ofSeptember]

Luka has incredible basketball IQ, more than Lebron by far. Amazing to watch how he can figure out a way to score or make an incredible dish in almost any possession. The way he scored on Bol, just by recognizing how much space a Big was going to give him. Incredible.

[@colemanbranum5593]

I watch Mavs basketball more often than not, see this stuff all the time, and there was still so much in this video I have never noticed watching live. Awesome breakdown. It’s crazy how much off ball movement there is on plays where Luka does all the dribbling, and even those that are pure iso with no pnr. I would love to see a counter to this video highlighting what defenses are doing to cause so many of the late game meltdown I’ve seen from Dallas. I feel like there is some combination of a big body on doncic and staying home to shooters that has really caused problems late in games, especially when Luka is already gassed.

[@cameronbolden5064]

This was one of my favorite parts of Kobe’s game

[@richmahogany1]

that hop step into the lane and quick floater

[@willhooke]

This might be your best offensive video Ben The perfect compliment to the offball videos with Curry and the Warriors It's the whole enchilada

[@RICECAKE1]

The post game I think will make a small comeback due to the success players like Luka and other guards have had with it and it’s just another option the defense has to worry about

[@antonquirgst2812]

I sor of agree- the way teams play is following trends and a lot has to do with the success golden State had in the past- which ofc had a lot to do with Currys ability to shoot the ball...

[@NerdChannelBrasil]

This only works because Luka is a really good post-up player, is big and has supreme footwork.

[@t4d0W]

just becuase it works for one outlier athlete doesn't mean every other team with that talent can pull it off. Even some of the best big wing scorers aren't looking to match up hunt as much as Luka does. And rarely do they have the handles nor the passing vision to put defenders to sleep while he finds his open man. Zion could borrow from this but his game is also vastly different and he lacks the craft to make some of those passes.

[@eshnajizzle]

Part of this is defences (and especially smalle pg's) not knowing how to defend the post-up (because nobody uses it anymore).

[@emmanuelc316]

Could u do a vid on Shai he's killing it at the rim, has added a reliable mid range game and has improved he's defense tremendously! Would love a breakdown on him! Ur vids r always awesome

[@williamdavis9562]

Did this guy just say what in the name of Kevin MChale is going on? I must say that is a brilliant line in a basketball video.

[@nmzhoops]

Luka makes it extremely difficult to keep small guards on the floor. The helio archetype w/ a post game is very tough to deal with. This video nails it but defenses are in a conundrum because most players who play with their back to the basket aren’t this gifted as passers with this much variation to how they can deliver a pass.

[@errolseaman454]

Analysts are missing the sophistication of Lukas game when they compare his usage to Harden and Westbrook.This guy plays the game on a whole other level that incorporates his teammates and their skill sets organically. MVP of the early season and the Mavs in my opinion are a legit championship contender.

[@yersin293]

Imagine Luka and Jokic in one team

[@KreysHealth]

Worse defensive rating in nba

[@yersin293]

@@KreysHealth not worse than your grammar

[@jogunsan]

Funny how in Lukas 2nd year he was the best PnR ball handler and leading the league in drives then in years 3 and 4 he adds the mid range game and now he’s just casually becoming one of the most dominant post up players, dude is still only 23. I think we’re witnessing the greatest offensive engine in NBA history guys.

[@yoitsadottdot]

He gets better at something every year. Next thing you know, he gone be shooting 3s from the logo

[@filipe10messiyou]

The probability of a possession turning into points when Luka has the ball is the best you can get with any all time player, including MJ. His ability to manipulate defenses plus his shot creation makes him already, at 23 the best offensive player the league has ever seen.

[@connorphillips8116]

These post ups and the ability to finish and or create from down there I feel like mirror a lot of Miami's Lebron years. James I remember loved working down there to similar effect. Assessing the whole floor, using his passing as gravity but having the trade off of taking it to the rack himself. I think a huge part of this working is Mike's point of him being able to assess the whole Defense as he establishes position on the low block. Thats where the interesting stuff to me is, in Luka processing secondary actions, or how his choices can lead to others making easy decisions. Obviously he is a tremendous player, with basically every offensive tool in the bag but the isolation I find at times limiting. These clips though show amazing nuance in not only creating looks, finishing himself efficiently but also creating basic reads for players he passes too. Special stuff.

[@nanox4]

Imagine Luka next to great players

[@jt_flores]

1:12 I love how clearly you can see the Steph effect on this chart

[@gamemeister27]

I don't think it's just teams prioritizing other offense that has lead to the decline in post ups, but also players growing up without them as heavily emphasized. I've seen a lot of fan bases lament the inability of their guards to feed the post, further compounding the decline. When you're a big and you feel like getting good post position usually won't get rewarded anyways, you stop fighting for it as much too.

[@mrbucky226]

In defense of Rick Carlisle, the answers he’s giving the media about post ups in that clip are mostly in response to him not running post ups for Tingus Pingus. He was not a great postup player though, just shot turnaround jumpers every time.

[@randomperson2540]

Luka is great

[@noelazpeitiagarrido6340]

Nice video!!! will you do a top 10 best players of the 2022 season I love those videos!! Keep up the great work

[@constablekennedy7705]

This NBA Season has been 🔥 thus far and the Ankle Breakers have been Savage ….. 🏀

[@TheNamesDitto]

Ive always implemented this type of guard post up whenever I play myleague/mynba ever since I started playing. Always thought it was much easier and protected the ball better when my PnR gets shut down. Interesting to see that I've now seen a real life player good enough to have a videogame level of court awareness and scoring potential combined with a team full of shooters.

[@aniruddhiyer845]

I believe Ben Simmons could do something similar too With this gifts he can't shot if he life depends on it But layup , passes , post moves and dunks are for his skill set

[@metalsadman]

except he won't lol

[@blicleak1101]

Again it is not always about size and talent, Luka is different because of his heart and will. That’s something Ben will never have

[@jameswamba4338]

1. Doncic's ability to run offense or create a shot for himself with his back to the basket so comfortably show's a level of maturity and completeness in his offensive floor game that is rare. I disagree with the idea that the ability to play back to the basket has no value in the modern game. I know this has nothing to do with Lebron James, but this is one of the elements that was sorely lacking from LeBron's game in his earlier years - being comfortable playing with his back to the basket (see 2011 NBA Finals). 2. If all of these offensive schemes that involve Luka posting up with everyone else doing off ball screens etc on the weak side are Luka's own strategy as you suggest here, what is it that Kidd is doing?

[@wallacesouza2678]

Successful people don't become that way overnight. What most people see at a glance wealth, a great career, purpose is the result of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in

[@johannesziegler5590]

You are right, so many people don't know this

[@villadschristensen1322]

Without risk you can't be successful in life. Most millionaires you see today took risk to become who they are today

[@AndrewJohnson-yq4pw]

@@villadschristensen1322 Cypto trading is one of the easiest way to get out of poverty if you know your way around it

[@giadacolombo1249]

@@AndrewJohnson-yq4pw I'm a newbie in Cypto and Btcoin and am holding some cyptocurrencies in my wallet but I'm scared of losing them due to the recent crash

[@claudiamoro2728]

@@giadacolombo1249 You don't have to be Scared if you plan on a long term holding but if you're hoping to make passive income with the c

[@cnoteda1and0nly]

Looks like he’s carrying the ball on a good amount of these post ups.

[@CrustyRusty366]

As long as the hand is above the ball, it's not a carry. Jordan did this a lot. Let the ball go higher in the air but keep the hand on top.

[@cnoteda1and0nly]

@@CrustyRusty366 He’s literally cupping the ball in some of these clips though.

[@ultimateultimate4115]

@@cnoteda1and0nly oh so he does something that literally everyone else in the league does.....ok nice try at hating though i guess

[@cnoteda1and0nly]

@@ultimateultimate4115 Who tf cares if everybody does it. Doesn’t make it right. It for sure helps him survey the court if he doesn’t have to honor the rules.

[@ultimateultimate4115]

@@cnoteda1and0nly they barely ever call "carrying "for anybody..... it does matter, they also don't call 3 seconds in the lane hardly ever either....just because it's a "rule" doesn't mean shit today. Using your logic is Lebron not that good either because he got away with essentially traveling his whole career?

[@noelalbelo]

This young superstar is amazing he creates so many situations in the court that can not be counted in the stats he’s basketball IQ is unmatched, a point guard with KM post abilities

[@robertoboypaos3918]

Karl Malone?

[@noelalbelo]

@@robertoboypaos3918 Kevin Mchale

[@robertoboypaos3918]

@@noelalbelo ohh thank u 4 d heads up

[@jvostudio]

Luka putting modern big man to shame

[@victorugri]

That's an awesome analysis and very well explained! Thx for that level of content

[@imdbtruth]

Luka is the best player in the world, sorry Giannis.

[@happyhapley]

Excellent analysis. Luka is a joy to watch because he makes it look so easy and effortless to score and create shots for his teammates. That style of play seems durable.

[@axlegallardo]

He's better than Bird. Change my mind.

[@jancon13xw3]

Easy

[@NothingElseMattersJM]

🌝Larry Bird stats from 1986-1989(5 seasons): 27.9 ppg, 9.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.8 steals , 0.9 blocks on 51.7% FG, 41.4% 3pt and 90.1% FT. People lie; numbers don’t lol

[@axlegallardo]

@@NothingElseMattersJM Those numbers are insane! But skill wise, who you taking?

[@VforVengeance159]

Luka bringing back the old-school! Never liked the "modern game", where everyone just chucks 3's. It turned me off from the game. This is perfect for Luka, being not the fastest superstar. Now we see Giannis slowly integrating the post-up to his game and it's getting scary. Okay, it's nice to see bigmen getting better at outside shooting, but when they realize their height is a great advantage down low, we'll see another reset of how the game will evolve back to the old days style of play, BUT with more variations!

[@EnZo7992]

You know Luka just loves getting someone smaller switched onto him and then just bulling tf out of them to the rim. He truly is a force unmatched.

[@oledorrs]

Love it. a great and master class analysis. Simply because Jason Kidd is a genius coach and he has LUKA, an elite basketball player (who can play all 4 positions, except no. 5).

[@SaladFingers_]

It's not "old school", it's basketball. People in the NBA have forgotten how the damn game is played. That's why some European talents are making everyone a fool.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

This demonstrates how players today aren’t naturally Better than players in the past but rule changes and coaches/ players learning from the past and improving technique or play calling decisions evolve the sport tremendously. I may know more than Galileo because there is a lot has been discovered since him but I am not smarter than Galileo.

[@jesseashton1269]

This is kinda reminiscent of LeBron adding a post-game during his miami days to give him another way to attack defenses

[@vc5917]

Lebron was no where close to this

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

3:00 Yeah, he telegraph what he's going to do just to change last minute, the techniques were very clear (and in this case it would be another Dirk Fade) but it's all made for you to bite hard. It's an interesting approach that don't rely on being neutral but in inciting a reation in one direction. Essencially what Adesanya does. It's fundamental that it is a technique he can go back and change (this cuts options too).

[@FlyWithMe_666]

Steph Curry’s dominant post game changed the NBA forever - long before Luka.

[@edongmascada2022]

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@ericzamudio2905]

Hahahahahahha

[@alansmith888]

Doncic is a power forward playing as a PG.

[@abs101]

This is literally the definition of basketball evolving!!! It baffles me how people think 3s are the evolution when it's not. Evolution should be something you take from the past and mix in the current era to make it unique. Shooting 3s is just shooting 3s lol It's a great video bdw!

[@tnk4me4]

6:42 Oh my gosh, I think that move just snatched my soul and caused me to bsod for a few seconds.

[@tylersherkin9487]

The breakdown here reminds me of how Magic did a lot of his playmaking in the latter half of the 80s and into the very early 90s. At the elbow or on the block somewhere and just abusing the defense when they made an option available or made a mistake. Obviously not a perfect analogy, but still. It's nice to see the post-up being wielded in an effective way in the modern game. Nice visual change from the usual Morey-ball type stuff we see so regularly.

[@sonpois]

Love these slowmotion breakdowns. Subd