After being sidelined for six weeks with a calf injury, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is still trying to get back into game shape and rhythm while also acclimating himself to his new team and city.
Unfortunately, the five-time All-NBA guard has not had the luxury of lesser competition as he searches for his rhythm. On Friday against the L.A. Clippers, Doncic showed flashes of his old self by drilling two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He put together his second 30-point performance with the Lakers, granted it was not efficient shooting.
Trying to adjust to a new situation while trying to play back into shape is a tough task, but Doncic being aggressive is a step in the right direction. After their 106-102 win, the 26-year old shared the he noticed right away how connected his new team is and now he is starting to feel like himself while trying not to take away from this connectivity.
“I think the first thing I noticed was how connected they play on both ends of the floor,” Doncic said. “The ball is moving and that’s the first thing I learned or watched the first time. For me, it was just trying to fit in with a little bit of different basketball than I’m used to. But since I’ve been back, they just let me be me and I got a long way to go, but slowly I’m starting to feel like myself.”
Going back to his two clutch 3-pointers, those were of the step back variety, which has become a staple through his career. What worked this time is asserting himself by taking and making those shots.
“Yeah, a little bit, yeah,” he said. “I think the thing I was doing different was don’t wait for it, just go. And that’s what helped me in the fourth quarter.”
Through seven games with the Lakers, Doncic is averaging 21 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 37.3% from the field and 24.1% from 3-point range. Anticipation is mounting for the superstar to put up a signature performance, but at the end of the day, the purple and gold are finding ways to win despite trying to acclimate a top talent in the league.
Luka Doncic credits second unit for win over Clippers
Friday night was not a pretty win by any stretch of the imagination as playing without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura was a tough blow. But, the Lakers bench stepped up in a big way on both sides of the ball and Luka Doncic credited them for putting the team in a position to win against the Clippers.
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