How Luka Dominated The Suns, And Why Phoenix Let Him 

Luka beat the Suns so bad that Kawhi got a legacy boost just for stopping Luka 😂

The Luka special

Devin Booker ordered the Luka Special and Chef Luka delivered.

In 1969 the Lakers were playing in their home floor for game 7 of the NBA finals against a much older and weaker Celtics team. Apparently the staff had put up balloons and even signs that were saying the lakers were gonna win the championship before the game even started. I bring up this story because this clear amount of disrespect fired up Bill Russell and the Celtics to beat the lakers in stunning fashion and it was all because of the clear amount of disrespect they got. Never get arrogant or cocky like the suns were the entire season or you’ll get the Luka special.

I think it’s been said before too many times (Rockets, OKC, last szn even), but this really did feel like CP0s last chance.

Would be nice if you did a breakdown like this during the off season on a community voted playoffs series.

That's what people forget about Luka. He's been in these high pressure situations before, just not in the NBA.

The Suns were sadly a very philosophically rigid/stubborn team. Lack of adjustments and a system that was better for the regular season than the post season. Soft switches, too little zone, not getting the ball out of Luka’s hands early, and very unwilling to go small when the Mavs spaced the floor. Their offense was too reliant on CP3 and Booker. They absolutely needed a third perimeter threat to create offense. They didn’t utilize Ayton enough for me on offense to punish mismatches.

Booker got what he asked for (Luca Special) and CP0 got what he deserved meaning: His team always schemed on attacking opponent’s main player like when Rockets iso attacked Curry, now Luca. However, the same tactic is used on CP0 himself and he crumbled.

My favorite thing about watching Luka is how he always chooses the appropriate shot for the situation, he doesn't feel the need to hit a trademark dunk or lay up or 3, he just takes the best shot, including his insane assist skills

This is special the music is back .

That transition from Devin Booker being haunted by Luka to the advertisement was so perfectly times and hilarious! But in all seriousness the Suns did completely fall apart after game 5 and when they failed to make adjustments to their perimeter defense, and bench scoring, that’s when the Mavericks just took advantage and Jason Kidd completely out coached Monty Williams.

Dont wanna hear Booker being the next Kobe.

Another issue is that Luka is a physical mismatch for everybody: too fast for Ayton and bigmen, too big for fast forwards, WAY too big for guards, and too fast for veterans.

One thing about Luka is longevity you can sense he really loves to play the basketball court is his playground smiling every possesion,while dominating the other team

The most underrated aspect about coaching is being able to make in-game adjustments. Almost every coach deep in the playoffs has a great plan A. The really great coaches also have a great plan B and plan C if plan A fails.

There’s the music we love!

Thinking basketball, has the best breakdown on what Jason Kidd did this series to win

What a series

Every time Luka isolated Ayton he threw so much shit at him it's unbearable

Oh it's much worse from Booker's perspective: Luka has now done something HE never could: Eliminate a top team from the Playoffs! Booker was supposed to be the next Kobe and now Luka has ALREADY overtaken him?! That's the worst burn I can imagine. Luka beat the Suns for talking trash and in the meantime showed everyone that Booker is just another pretty good SG while HE is a true MVP caliber player! He is what Booker was meant to be! Ouch

For a guy who won COTY, he should've done a much better job strategizing this game. Especially, when you factor in he had success against this team before but went away from those strategies on both sides of the ball.

Been waiting for this.

This was the most shocking implosion of a one-seed I've ever seen. Credit to the Mavs for figuring out how to play team ball with Luka on the floor.

You can always expect a GOAT breakdown whenever you hear this music.

I was really waiting on this one, Coach!👍🏾

2:50 thats what everybody says, but this dallas team is specifically built to punish that tactic. Look at the guys on the perimeter. Reggie has had 19 and DFS has had 24 in this series off of them getting good looks due to the suns overhelping on luka. Thats why this team is so dangerous - either luka destroys ur guys 1v1 over and over, or the whole team lights you up from 3 edit: also, its very obvious which fate a team chose. because every box score either says Luka dropped 40+ or the Mavs (minus Luka) shot like 55%+ from 3. And when a team chooses the second poison, every time without failure, I have to listen to a flock of casuals who go "well dallas played the best game of their life here, they will never shoot this well from 3 again"

Sweet sweet bb music 🏀 And great breakdown as always!

your first video favoring about mavs and luka in a very long time .they've been crushing it since january 2022

In fairness to Monty Williams, the Clippers tried doubling him for the whole game early in the series last year and the Mavs ended up roasting the Clippers playing 4 on 3 in the back end. They ended up reverting back to normal coverage for the rest of the series. I think doubling would have been effective as changeup but I don’t think it would have worked as a long-term strategy.

mavs defense deserves a lot of credit too

Imagine drafting Ayton over Luka

I always love to analyze this type of players... They are simply unstoppable, the way guys like Lebron and Luka control the game is just so idk how to say it, satisfying... Im so intrigued about the Warriors gameplan, If they double Luka they will need perfect rotations which we all know that with Draymmonds iq and communication they can, but if they decide to go iso, Luka is gonna be looking for swiches with Curry and Poole so they need to be more agressive and physical on defense even if it costs them some fouls.

Awwwwww yah! The OG BBallbreakdown music is back!

I SAID we should have picked Doncic over Ayton...I get why we didn't. But I still stand by that today.

I heard a commentary that makes perfect sense, “inexpirienced teams dont make the right adjustments”, can say that all about last year they making the finals and all, still just the 2nd year they made the playoffs

Been waiting for this

Coach is a savage, the transition to the Calm plug tho

I really enjoy your videos, very educational.

Great analysis, thanks.

I love watching luka play, it's like a maestro composing a musical masterpiece

First bballbreakdown positive video about the Mavs this season. My complaining worked

The way this man introduced the sponsor of the day was smooth. I didn’t even skip just because of that.

Waiting for this video man lol

Thank you for bringing back the OLD MUSIC!!!!

yo that sponsored ad might be the best transition ever lol. ok maybe not really, but it seemed to flow with the topic of the video really well. had me dying

And the glorious music is back

Not sure what’s better coach’s analysis or his advertisements 😂

That was the greatest segway into an ad I ever seen. 👍

The Suns stopped doubling after the other Mavs found confidence to hit 3-pt shots

Either try and stop luka and the role players go crazy or stop the role players and let Luke go crazy. Or let both do their thing, who cares.

Finally back to the OG breakdowns without the cheese, v nice

people starting to understand how great Luka really is. his feel for the game, fundamentals and mental toughness are just on another level, and he been like that for many years even back in the days for madrid and the national team. really feel like he is going to dominate for years to come like lebron did. this might be his 2007 run

Excellent breakdown.

Thank you very much for taking your time and do this. I swear I'll consider buy manscape in return 😋. At very least take my like for now.

Did you watch the video about the Mavs defensive adjustments? I think it's from the channel "Thinking Basketball". I think it really gets the point on what gave the Mavericks the edge over the Suns

Damn, I'm amazed how you just transit from basketball to your sponsor! The you you delivered it is just amusing!

6:25 Talking about "Helio"centric Mavs against "Sun"s of all team, clever writing.

Man the booker to calm ad was a dope shift.

“Ever begin a season in shape” bars! Lol

that ad transition I knew it!

Aye that "Calm Premium' 👌

Honestly, I think it has to do with CP3s size. He’s plays his heart out but he has to work twice as hard against guys that are almost a foot taller than him. It also makes him a complete liability on defense. But what I think really caused him to collapse in Game 3 and beyond was the defensive adjustments made by Jason Kidd. Chris Paul and Devin Booker were double teamed almost all the time and the full press by Pauls defender wore him out.

The ad transition was SPECTACULAR 😂😂

This game is still shocking 2 months later. 😱

damn it coach you had me with the transition

It's crazy how a 23 year old owns two NBA organizations. (Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns) So inspirational🙌

4:00 You are a savage with that Segway into the sponsor of the video :) ROFL

That ad transition was so smooth, it left Luka open for 3

All time great player with all time great PG. Hope they can work well together because its going to be special

Yey, we got the music again 👍👍👍

Luka is no joke. He’s smart, stronger than you think, _and he never quits._

Luka is so fucking good. He is the in contention to be the best player on the planet (Giannis and Luka). What a freak. 23 years old man. WTF! LETS GO MAVS

Finally the music is back

I love that you brought back this intro song. I noticed you don't break down a lot of the Celtic games is that intentional ?

the add transition burns 😁😁😁

How destructive Luka is from everywhere on the court is reallt the best quote I heared about him

I lost it at the CALM ad 🤣🤣🤣🤣

The crazy thing is that the Suns coaching staff definitely should have used the film from how the Clippers defended the Mavs last year in the playoffs as the blueprint to come up with defensive schemes to game plan against the Mavs.

Some days ago the video was all about Luka's defense and how he was humiliated by the Suns. Suns in 4 they said.

What I’m hearing the suns best 3 players sold and handed Luka the series and Luka took it by the balls being the freaky talented scorer he is…

When you hear this beat you know u gotta get some popcorn

Here is my fav beat in the background 😋

The Mavs really need another All Star. Dinwiddie was a great addition, but obviously Luka needs another 2-way player who can score. He was _amazing_ in game 3 against the Warriors, but just didn’t have enough help. Edit: They also need more rebounding

Ha ! That ad read didn't get me this time. Knew it was coming.

Phoenix's defense is so much worse than Golden State's lol. Not saying Luka won't go off against GSW, too, but it's going to be a lot tougher for him.

I need this video after that previous suns video

At last, the good old bball music is back! 😁

Coach, appreciate the analysis. I hope the Mavs makes you a believer by the end of the playoffs. MAVS IN 6!!! LET'S GO MAVS!!! #WeBelieveRevenge #MFFL

Thank God he brought back the classic breakdown, background music! Please, do not switch the music again!

When Luka does his in the paint post moves it should now be called the “Luka Special.” Just like Hakeem has the “Dream Shake.”

exciting times to be a basketball fan!

I know the idea of double teaming Luka sounds great, but everyone on the Mavs can light it up from 3. At some point, I feel like risking open shots to more efficient shooters is detrimental to your defensive strategy.

The problem the Suns had I think was roster construction. They can only play one way and the way they play is a very, very bad matchup against the Mavs. The Suns rely on 3 and D wings (Bridges, Crowder, and Johnson) with a shot-blocking 5 to play defense. They don’t play a small ball without a traditional 5. This is a huge problem against Luka. Why? For several reasons, 1) allows Luka to target your traditional 5 for mismatches. 2) Luka is able to overpower or out quick most elite wing defenders. 3) Luka gets to hide on defense. The Suns were able to target him with CP3 in Game 2. But not afterwards. And more importantly their best offensive player Booker was not able to target him. Kidd got Luka to engage more defensively while also protecting him more within their scheme. Hiding Luka means he gets to only play and focus on offense. 4) Wing defenders that are limited offensively also limit your offensive ceiling. They can’t create if your top creators are struggling and make the game easier for your top guys. You4 top guys essentially have to do it themselves. The Clippers were the best team in the West before Kawhi went down last season and they eliminated the Mavs the prior two seasons. They did while absorbing huge offensive games from Luka including a dominant Game 7 performance from Luka. They did it by going small and limiting who Luka could target. It’s a different story going after Batum, Kawhi, PG or Marcus Morris versus Ayton. Going small allow them to play a 2-3 zone and even a triangle and 2 at times. Luka also had to work defensively. The Clippers put out lineups that had five good offensive players on the court. This is why the Warriors are still the favorites they can play small and limit who he targets, they have the firepower to remain in the game during Luka goes off, and Luka will need to play both sides of the ball. The Suns weren’t built with enough flexibility to beat a 5 out team with one of the best playoff scorers the league has ever seen.

I think it's interesting the argument can be made the four best players in the world are not from the United States (Mavs, Nuggets, 76rs, Bucks). The '92 dream team dream is coming to fruition before all of our eyes.

finally the good music

Great plug in for a meditation app 😂

this is why snatching Javale is a big W for the Mavs this summer

Let’s goooo the music

Wtf it's the original intro track. Amazing