Luka Doncic Continues to Shine as Surging Lakers Take the Second Seed

There’s no doubt about it, Luka Doncic is hitting his stride. The superstar, who has started to meld with the Lakers over the past few games, is returning to form. Some fans were worried about his initial play after the trade, but those days are long gone.

In the Lakers latest contest against cross-town rivals the Clippers, the sharp shooter showed why he’s one of the most invaluable players in the NBA. He also revealed the blueprint for what the Lakers need to do if they want to get to the top of the NBA mountain.

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The league has long been propped up on all-stars. All the best teams have one or two great players who can take over a game.

Doncic and LeBron both fit that mold, and leaning on them is how Los Angeles can make a deep playoff run. That system is tried and true, and right now it’s working against everyone.

The Battle for LA

The Lakers and Clippers tend to have good games these days, and their latest bout was no exception. The Clippers played a complete game. Kawhi Leonard, another superstar back to his old self, fully returned from injury.

He played 40 minutes and, even without an assist, put up 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds

Four other Clippers players ended the game in double figures.

Even so, they couldn’t overcome the Lakers two-man assault. They did have Norman Powell back on the court for the first time in six games, but the standout looked a little rusty and couldn’t quite find his rhythm.

On the other side of the ball, LeBron James scored 17 points, dished out nine assists, and snagged seven rebounds.

Dalton Knecht put up 19 and Dorian Finney-Smith added 11 points to go with his four rebounds

Still, the standout was the new acquisition from Dallas.

Doncic put on an absolute clinic. He scored 29 points, recorded six rebounds, and threw nine assists.

That type of statline is exactly what the Lakers hoped he would bring to the team, and it perfectly outlines why the team has been surging as of late.

He and LeBron were more than enough for the Lakers, who eked out an 108-102 point victory when everything was all said and done.

A Dual Threat

Doncic might have had a tough start in California, but the recent games show he just needed a small adjustment period.

Many believed that once he found his place in the offense everything would click into place

That’s exactly what happened.

During their latest game, the ex-Maverick even made NBA history when he knocked down his first three pointer with 10:14 left in the first quarter.

It made him just the fifth player to ever make a three in 100 straight games

The crafty guard scores in a variety of ways, leads the offense, and gets everyone involved.

Everyone knows he’s a dynamic offensive threat, but his ability to move the ball around and find the open man is what makes him truly invaluable.

“I think the way he started the game got us going,” head coach J.J Redick said of Luka’s Clippers performance. “...And then it just seemed like throughout the game when we needed a bucket, when we needed him to draw a second or third defender at times, he was able to make the right play.”

Two True Stars

The victory over the Clippers have given the Lakers their sixth straight win, propelling them from fighting in the middle of the pack to second in the Western Conference.

They aren’t just looking for a playoff spot now, they’ve turned into a true contender

James can get big and hammer the ball down low, while Doncic can roam the three line and work the point.

It creates a lose-lose situation for opposing teams

They can’t focus on just one of the players, which then opens up plenty of opportunities. Even when LeBron has a low game, like he did against Los Angeles, Doncic can step up and take up the slack.

Looking to the Postseason

While it’s unlikely the Lakers close the gap with the Thunder and take the first seed, the team is more than happy with the second.

They might not even end up there, but with the way things are shaping up it seems they’re going to be far ahead of the play-in.

That’s all they can ask for at this point. With Doncic and James both playing at a high level, the Lakers can contend with just about anyone in the NBA.

It’s not about trying to get the best possible seed or position, it’s just about making the playoffs and then re-evaluating once they’re there.