LeBron James talks about how Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has grown with his rare skill set despite being the most blitzed player in the NBA.
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- As detailed by JJ Redick, Luka Doncic has faced nearly 200 more blitzes than any other player in the NBA.
- Doncic will need to spread his wealth if he wants to win this season, but LeBron James praised him for handling the pressure well.
- Kyrie Irving is shooting 43.6 percent from 3-point range with Doncic's assists, showing just how deadly this duo can be in that particular category.
The Dallas Mavericks, who have won nine of their last 10 games, are currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference and have a realistic goal of moving into fourth place after being a play-in team for so long. , is spiking at the right time. seasonal.
Luka Doncic is averaging MVP-caliber numbers, averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.1 rebounds per game, despite facing nearly 200 more blitzes than anyone else in the league.
In a recent episode of Mind the Game, LeBron James and JJ Redick try to understand why teams blitz the Slovenian guard. Especially considering the numerous ways he can defeat opponents, as seen throughout his young NBA career.
“What's interesting about Luka is…he's one of the few guys in this era who can make every pass against a double team. James (Harden) is one of them, you're definitely one of them. Luka is one of those guys.” So why hit him? ” — JJ Reddick
“I don't understand it, especially since they're surrounding him and shooting. It doesn't make any sense…because he's going to make all the reads and Tim Hardaway is going to hit six or seven threes. If you do, it’s over.’ Kyrie is going to do what Kyrie (Irving) does. Luka does what he does too. When Tim Hardaway he hit six or he hit seven he threes or in a game earlier this year, Luka and Dante he Exum he hit five, six threes, we We did a blitz. . Yeah. ” – LeBron James
Redick noted that the Atlanta Hawks didn't blitz Doncic in their recent matchup against the Mavs because they feared the consequences. However, as a result, Doncic exploded for an astonishing 73 points against his opponent.
How far can the Mavericks go in the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
The duo of Doncic and Kyrie Irving is finding their niche at the right time.
Doncic is a lethal step-back 3-point shooter and finisher at the rim, but blitzing helps negate his effectiveness in both areas, especially in the playoffs.
That's why if Doncic wants to win a championship this season, he'll need to distribute the wealth to a group of 3-point specialists on his side.
|
Luka Doncic – 2023-24 Statistics on assists leading to 3-point shots |
||
|---|---|---|
|
player |
3 pm |
3PA |
|
kyrie irving |
51 |
117 |
|
tim hardaway jr. |
36 |
120 |
|
derrick jones jr. |
34 |
98 |
|
Dante Exum |
20 |
30 |
|
josh green |
17 |
50 |
|
PJ Washington |
15 |
40 |
|
Maxi Kleber |
13 |
31 |
Kyrie Irving has a unique ability to move without the ball in his hands, so it's imperative that Doncic feed him the ball as much as possible, especially when he has hot hands. Dew. Conversely, Irving could be the most valuable player, and Doncic is arguably one of the team's most important pieces this postseason.
Luka Doncic calls himself Robin to Kyrie Irving's Batman
As the Mavericks make strides in the West, Dallas' key players seem comfortable sharing the spotlight.
