When the Lakers snatched Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month as a part of probably the most gorgeous trades in North American skilled sports activities historical past, the idea was that Los Angeles was going to be a power to be reckoned with as soon as the five-time All-Star returned from a calf harm.
Absolutely a workforce just like the Charlotte Hornets wouldn’t be giving the mighty Lakers matches.
However that’s precisely what occurred on Wednesday night time, with Charlotte escaping Los Angeles with a 100-97 victory.
Doncic did extra hurt than good for the Lakers, going simply 5-for-18 from the sector and 1-for-9 from 3-point vary en path to 14 factors. His 11 rebounds and eight assists ended up being empty stats, offset by six turnovers and 5 private fouls.
The one spotlight reel Doncic discovered himself on was Hornets guard LaMelo Ball’s, because the 25-year-old received placed on skates on the high of the important thing, permitting Ball to walk into the lane and dish a go to Mark Williams for a game-tying layup with 2:35 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Ball completed with 27 factors, thanks largely to 5 treys.
Each lapse that Doncic had got here in his 33 minutes of motion, essentially the most courtroom time he’s gotten since coming over to the Lakers. He performed 24 minutes in his Los Angeles debut on Feb. 10 earlier than getting bumped all the way down to 23 two nights later.
I’m not going to take a seat right here and say it’s time to hit the panic button simply but. Three quiet video games from Doncic to start a Lakers profession that would final nicely over a decade imply nothing in the long term.
Nonetheless, this may be a great time for Los Angeles followers to take off these rose-colored glasses and understand that this workforce would possibly expertise some critical rising pains. Having a participant of Doncic’s caliber alongside fellow famous person LeBron James is a luxurious, sure, however each are going to should tweak their playstyle ever so barely to make this factor work.
You’ll have thought that the Lakers had been by no means going to lose once more primarily based on how Los Angeles followers reacted when information of the commerce for Doncic first dropped. Don’t get me mistaken—it was a completely legitimate response. There are faults in Doncic’s recreation, although. It was simply arduous to think about that they’d be popping out this early.
Doncic isn’t transferring the needle proper now. Harsh actuality, I do know.
However, however, but it surely’s solely been three video games? How are you going to go judgment that shortly? Properly, while you pull off the most important commerce in league historical past to exit and get any person, that any person higher be enjoying rattling good basketball as quickly as their flight touches down of their new metropolis.
That actually hasn’t been the case with Doncic, and Los Angeles has dropped back-to-back video games towards the Hornets and the Utah Jazz due to it.
Merely using Doncic and James isn’t sufficient to win a title. The Lakers are nonetheless a methods away from discovering the system that may take them to the promised land, they usually’re going to want Doncic to step up quickly in the event that they wish to discover it.
