This is really great work, Iztok, and such a powerful case for why Luka deserves to be in that conversation.
Jaylen Brown tweeted something about winning 50 games for what was supposedly a gap year and that made me think about how much of his case for MVP is overcorrection from the media. They made that assumption about this year’s Boston team that to me, even without Tatum, had the makings of a playoff team. It’s like very little evaluation actually takes place beyond “are they better/worse than I expected them to be?” and they’re just rewarding teams/players based on how much they exceeded their preconceived expectations.
Thanks! Jaylen Brown's advanced metrics are actually a very strange, curious case...the Celtics have been better with him off the floor in each of the last 4 seasons and for most of his career.
I've seen you post this stat before. Do you have any thoughts on what causes the stats to look this way?
I also agree that the evaluations and pre-conceptions of those attempting to rank MVP candidates is more of a factor than the candidates actual play on the court. Many of those pre-conceptions are driven by frequently recited memes that circulate around these players. I also believe it is driven by media members needing to create content as much as it is my the play of those candidates. Kind of a flawed system.
For Brown to be honest I can give a very confident answer, as I dont watch every Celitc game. One potential explanation is that he is much better individual defender, that raises his level for certain matchups, than overall sound team defender. And his efficiency among top options is over on the lower spectrum of this group.
That makes sense; at times he is a very good one on one defender. That’s not the same at all as a good overall team defender. In the times I’ve watched he can be very engaged in the game at times and not do much at others.
He defended Luka fiercely in the finals—very motivated in that series, much more than their other playoff series that year
Yeah really Great Iztok ! You are the best! USA Media would never 👎 Analyse 📈 it this way! And Chris mannix is even using wrong Numbers ! Great Observation! Let SGA win and let jokic get his dribble Hand off assists ! Wemby all his Blocks ! Luka gets Finals mvp in a 7 Game Finals win against the Celtics
would You Trade vando and Dalton Knecht plus the 2026 first for Dayron sharpe and ziarie Williams ? I would do it in a heartbeat ! But would the nets do it ? 😅
Slovenia News reported that Luka told a friend that he lost another 7 pounds and that he Feels great and that he would do Everything to win a Championship for the Lakers ! No excuses
Excellent, on-point analysis as always Iztok 👊🏻 And you didn't even have room for how false the defensive liability slander on our boy has become as he has bought in on that end. Seeing him get giddy over slick steals is as much fun as the in-your-face step backs these days! 💯🔥
As a very biased Luka homer myself, I love the analysis, even if it does not bring good tidings. I hope the perception changes; I suspect the Lakers will need to win some playoff series before that.
This is really great work, Iztok, and such a powerful case for why Luka deserves to be in that conversation.
Jaylen Brown tweeted something about winning 50 games for what was supposedly a gap year and that made me think about how much of his case for MVP is overcorrection from the media. They made that assumption about this year’s Boston team that to me, even without Tatum, had the makings of a playoff team. It’s like very little evaluation actually takes place beyond “are they better/worse than I expected them to be?” and they’re just rewarding teams/players based on how much they exceeded their preconceived expectations.
Thanks! Jaylen Brown's advanced metrics are actually a very strange, curious case...the Celtics have been better with him off the floor in each of the last 4 seasons and for most of his career.
I've seen you post this stat before. Do you have any thoughts on what causes the stats to look this way?
I also agree that the evaluations and pre-conceptions of those attempting to rank MVP candidates is more of a factor than the candidates actual play on the court. Many of those pre-conceptions are driven by frequently recited memes that circulate around these players. I also believe it is driven by media members needing to create content as much as it is my the play of those candidates. Kind of a flawed system.
For Brown to be honest I can give a very confident answer, as I dont watch every Celitc game. One potential explanation is that he is much better individual defender, that raises his level for certain matchups, than overall sound team defender. And his efficiency among top options is over on the lower spectrum of this group.
That makes sense; at times he is a very good one on one defender. That’s not the same at all as a good overall team defender. In the times I’ve watched he can be very engaged in the game at times and not do much at others.
He defended Luka fiercely in the finals—very motivated in that series, much more than their other playoff series that year
Yeah really Great Iztok ! You are the best! USA Media would never 👎 Analyse 📈 it this way! And Chris mannix is even using wrong Numbers ! Great Observation! Let SGA win and let jokic get his dribble Hand off assists ! Wemby all his Blocks ! Luka gets Finals mvp in a 7 Game Finals win against the Celtics
I, and I'm sure Luka, would swap MVP any day for this outcome!
Yeah for sure ! Luka is always playing even better in the playoffs ! We need a win tonight without him ! And one Tomorrow vs the Cavs
25 freethrows for sga is a joke
would You Trade vando and Dalton Knecht plus the 2026 first for Dayron sharpe and ziarie Williams ? I would do it in a heartbeat ! But would the nets do it ? 😅
Not trading the 1st for a player I am not certain will start.
new Nickname for mr. flopper and Push off ! „FTA“ 😅😅instead of sga 😅
i think jaden Ivey Needs to play in Europe now 🎉
Safe victory ✌️ Luke kennard and LBJ and Ayton and Hayes
Slovenia News reported that Luka told a friend that he lost another 7 pounds and that he Feels great and that he would do Everything to win a Championship for the Lakers ! No excuses
I think Dayron sharpe and ziarie Williams on 6.25 mio expiring deals are real good deals ! I would take a shot
But You get rid of vando and Dalton and You get a back up Center and a back up Wing and Three mio in Cap Space !! I would do it
Excellent, on-point analysis as always Iztok 👊🏻 And you didn't even have room for how false the defensive liability slander on our boy has become as he has bought in on that end. Seeing him get giddy over slick steals is as much fun as the in-your-face step backs these days! 💯🔥
Thanks Andy, appreciate the support. As always!!
As a very biased Luka homer myself, I love the analysis, even if it does not bring good tidings. I hope the perception changes; I suspect the Lakers will need to win some playoff series before that.
Yeah...Jokić went through a lot of similar, although less imo, criticism before he won the title.
Thank you, Iztok, nice summary.
I was quite surprised that Wemby isn’t on a long term contract.
And when you remind us of the Mavericks 2024–25 season... F*** Nico!
Oh, omitting Wemby was my mistake. Of course he is part of the future, but he is technically on the rookie deal steal.