Lakers' All-In Strategy on Luka Dončić: A Risky Bet or Perfect Fit?

Hey there, basketball fans! So imagine this: in unfathomable way, Luka Doncic is now donning the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster…First off, let’s dive into the gritty saga with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With their defense that was no slouch during the regular season, you’d think the Lakers would struggle. But no, with Luka orchestrating, they’ve managed an OK-looking 109.7 points per 100 possessions—on paper, that’s not earth-shattering, tying them with last season’s underperforming New Orleans Pelicans for offensive productivity.

But here’s the kicker, without Luka, things take a sharp dive to the low-90s; it’s like trading in your Ferrari for a no-wheel jalopy. This dependency on Luka’s magic has left the Lakers in an interesting spot, especially as they gear up for a pivotal Game 3 in Minneapolis. Now, let’s talk about the man of the hour—Luka Dončić. His seamless adjustment into the Laker system or should I say constellation, has been less surprising. This guy’s an offensive virtuoso, no matter where he plays. But it’s his sheer dominance and relentless scoring in these playoffs that has everyone sit up and take notice.

In the initial clashes with Minnesota, Luka’s been averaging 34 points per game, shooting at a clip that’s just unreal—50/39/95 from field, three, and free throw lines. Like, what?! My colleague Tom Haberstroh, in his recent episode The Big Number couldn’t help but point out that Luka’s already charted into second place all-time in career playoff scoring, trailing only behind thelegend, Michael.

Despite a blowout in Game 1, Luka has seemingly single-handedly dragged the Lakers back into the series. But here’s food for thought: while Luka’s on the floor, the Lakers’ offense crunches. But what happens when he rests? Well, the Wolves have exploited this to the tune of a plus-13 in just 13 minutes. It’s here where the depth of the Greens is put to the test, and unfortunately, it’s not looking pretty.

And as we pivot towards Game 3, the stakes are higher than a Stephen Curry’s long bomb. Can coach Redick piece togetherah combination that not only complements plays, but also would give Luka those much-needed respites?

As we move forward, remember, it’s not just about how high Luka can lift the Lakers—it’s about how far he can push them with-out breaking. It’s a delicate balance, and frankly, it’s going to be thrilling to watch it all unfold.

For a deeper dive into this captivating series, or maybe just to understand how to cope with such a heavy reliance on one player, LEARN MORE

Now, let’s see if the Lakers can rally, or if the Wolves will continue to howl at Los Angeles’ moon. Keep your eyes peeled, folks…! This one’s not going to be settled with pretty basketball.

AdvertisementThat is a sub-lockout-season Bobcats and mid-Process Sixers-level of woof …. and, as the Lakers and Timberwolves get set for Game 3 of a physical, fascinating and tied series back in Minneapolis on Friday, it’s something worth keeping an eye on for a Los Angeles team that has come to be awfully reliant on Luka Magic to generate offense.Advertisement

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Dončić averaged 34 points per game on 50/39/95 shooting splits across the Lakers’ first two games against the Wolves. As my colleague Tom Haberstroh noted on this week’s episode of The Big Number, that’s more than any other teammate of LeBron James has ever scored through the first two games of a postseason, and it runs Luka’s career postseason scoring average up to 31 points per game — second all-time, behind only Michael Jordan.Advertisement