Luka Doncic spoke after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 120-108 win over the Denver Nuggets. When talking about why he started out the game by driving the ball so frequently, he noted that driving the ball makes things better, not just for him, but for all his teammates, as it creates more offensive options for him.
Doncic then explained how the defense was adjusting to him early on and giving him the one-on-one avenue to drive the ball and get to the basket, and why that became a go-to approach.
“It’s easy for me to start there, by driving the ball. I think when I drive the ball, it gets better for everybody on the court. So I wanted to start like that today…”
“It’s not a strategy, it’s more about what the defense gives you. At first, they were just switching and letting me go one-on-one. So I know at some point, they’re going to double. Just prior to that, we played four-on-three. We were doing great, and that’s the game.”
Luka had a brilliant game for the Lakers last night, putting up 31 points (10-21 FG), eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block. Doncic had 21 points by the end of the first quarter, showing just how incredible an offensive performance he was having so early into the game. He was clearly feeling himself early one, trash-talking a Nuggets fan during his first-quarter explosion.
The former All-Star is really coming into his own during this stretch on the Lakers. With LeBron James out with an injury, Doncic has a little more freedom with the ball and can call or make plays for himself and other members of the roster.
This season, he is averaging 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 40.5% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc, and 77.1% from the free-throw line. The stats also show that his arrival has helped galvanize the Lakers’ offense into one of the best in the entire league.
Is Luka Doncic Lakers’ First Option?
The question still remains – with both LeBron James and Luka Doncic healthy and available, who is the team’s first option? The stronger argument seems to be in favor of Luka Doncic. Doncic is 25 years old, playing some elite basketball, and has proven to be not just an effective scorer, but a great playmaker.
If anything, having LeBron James, even at 40 years of age, as the second option, is a luxury no team in the history of the NBA has been afforded. For all the talk of the Lakers’ being Anthony Davis’ team over the last few years, the truth is that their successes and failures all came down to LeBron James during this period.
However, with Doncic, James can afford to take a step back, and even play off-ball for the first time in his career. James has never had a teammate the caliber of Luka Doncic play with him at this point in their careers. James can trust Luka with the ball with his eyes closed, and know that Doncic will make the best possible play, whether that involves him or not.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
