Thread for general discussion about the 2018-2019 NBA season. I want to start things off Nikola Jokic. Did either of you tell me to watch this guy? I feel like maybe Don recommend that I watch him. Anyway, I saw some highlights of his passing. Some of these passes are approaching, if not equivalent to Magic and Bird, which is really exciting for me. The guy seems to have some other skills, too. He’s making me more interested in watching the NBA, or at least watching him. Here’s some highlights:
More
I’m becoming a fan.
For comparison:
No I only heard of Jokic, but really don’t know much. I didn’t know he was even a seven-footer.
Luka Doncic is going to be the rookie of the year this year. He seems like the modern day Bird. He’s pretty slow (not Bird slow), and he can shoot lights out. He’s the modern day version in that he has great handles, which seem to be a trait of today’s players. He cannot pass quite like Bird, but he has skills, and no he cannot rebound quite like Bird, but he’s good enough.
OK. Who was the guy you told me to watch because you thought I might like him? Do you recall telling me something like that?
Doncic kinda sounds like Nowitski, although Nowitski didn’t have great handles. I’ll try to check him out.
Bird wouldn’t be the player that comes to mind. He seems like a 3 who likes to do things off the dribble–similar to the Grant Hill (although Hill didn’t come to mind while watching Doncic). He had some nice passes.
In terms of handles and shooting, there are so many players that are really good at both. Doncic looks solid, but I don’t know if I would put him a notch or two below Bird.
You think Grant Hill is a better comparison? Grant Hill couldn’t shoot. Doncic is a great shooter at least from what little I saw.
Are you saying Bird is a better dribbler than Doncic? That’s a wow.
I’m comparing Hill for one specific reason–his game seemed to depend on dribbling (and he seemed to like to favor the free throw line area). This is terrible for a wing player, where using screens and moving without the ball is really important. In the highlights, Doncic isn’t really using those skills. The good things he’s doing come from dribbling (and not a few dribbles after the catch, but dribbling in a way a 1 would). Then again, I guess you could say that about many of the best NBA players now.
I don’t think Bird is a better dribbler (and Bird doesn’t seem as athletic)–their games just seem really different; Bird wouldn’t have come to mind as a comparison (and neither would Hill, as I mentioned; I brought up Hill to make a specific point). I don’t know how I’d compare him, too–maybe Sarunas Marciulionis?
Hmmm, I was thinking early Bird (ie: rookie year) versus Doncic in terms of athleticism is very close, which is one of the main reasons I compared Doncic to Bird. Doncic is pretty slow (straight ahead speed) and has very little hops. I think Doncic is a little quicker, but not by a lot at least in terms of comparing himself against his peers.
Like Bird, Doncic does it all, but just at a lower level. He averages 20 a game, 7.5 rebounds, and close to 6 assists. None of that reaches Bird’s numbers, but it’s an all around game like Bird.
Don,
Right against his peers, but comparing him to Bird, he seems faster and quicker. But Bird just may appear slower. Bird didn’t have the quick dribble moves, either.
I’m not sure stats is the best way to compare as the eras they played in are so different. In any event, I’m just going by the short video clip I posted, for what it’s worth.