Luka Dončić's offense is carrying Lakers. Is LA too dependent on its 'showman'?
· Yahoo Sports
LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić earned a standing ovation from the Los Angeles Lakers fans before going on to beat the Miami Heat 138-117 at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Nov. 2.
Dončić has beocme the early favorite for regular season MVP as the NBA’s leader in scoring average (38.3) and 3-pointers made per game (5.9).
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The Slovenian point guard is known for his offensive prowess and his ability to score. It’s also what makes the Lakers a threat in the Western Conference.
He finished with 42 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds against the Heat on Nov. 2.
Lakers coch JJ Redick praised Dončić’s offensive dominance on several occasions in recent weeks, referring to him as a "showman" and a "supernova" while also comparing his rhythm on the court to a theatrical stage.
"He's just making tough shots; averaging 38 points is not easy in this league," Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo said. "He's making tough shots and you just tip your hat off to him."
The two-time scoring champion is averaging 29.3 points per game for his career, which places him third all-time behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Both players averaged 30.1 ppg for their respective careers.
Are Lakers too dependent on Luka Dončić’s offense?
Dončić has propelled the Lakers to a fast start this season, and his play on Monday was no different. He scored 16 points as Los Angeles led Miami 37-30 in the first quarter.
Dončić is averaging 15 points in the opening quarter, and has scored at least 13 in all but one game this season.
When the six-time All-NBA player is hot, so are the Lakers.
The Lakers have outscored opponents by 113 points when Dončić is on the court during the seven games he's played this season, according to StatMuse.
When Dončić isn't on the floor, things can get tricky for Redick.
Los Angeles’ bench nearly blew a 16-point lead with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors cut the Lakers’ lead to make it a five-point game. Toronto scored 11 points in 40 seconds and forced Redick to put Dončić and Austin Reaves back into the game and help secure the victory.
On Monday, Dončić and the Lakers produced 111 points, the team’s highest-scoring point total through three quarters this season. This time, the Lakers left very little room for mistakes and refused to give up the lead in the final frame.
Dončić’s ability to score isn’t the only benefit of having him on the court.
Even if Dončić had a low-scoring night, he will always remain a threat that will keep defenses focused on him. It does free up his teammates for opportunities, who can also benefit from his playmaking and his ability to draw a double team.
That was the case Monday, as the Heat applied double-team looks on Dončić.
"I think at the beginning of the season we didn’t execute well with the double team, but today I think we improved a lot," Dončić said. "Everybody was in the right spots, so it's not just me.
"It’s everybody, just to be in the right spot and being aggressive and shooting with confidence."
Lakers forward Ziaire Williams has been able to benefit from some of the open looks that come with sharing the floor with Dončić.
"Very easy looks," Williams said. "Way easier than they've been in the past. They're sending two (players) to Luka and two at (Reaves) every time."
Williams finished with nine points.
Can Austin Reaves carry offense with Dončić?
Reaves has proven he can be a high-efficiency volume scorer, but he is less likely to thrive without Dončić on the court.
If Dončić were unavailable, opposing game plans would focus on Reaves and he would be challenged by teams' toughest defenders.
Beyond Reaves (23.1 ppg), the Lakers would have to rely on center Walker Kessler (14.3) as a third-scoring option.
Williams (11.3) and Collin Sexton (10.3) could also be options, but neither would be able to guarantee similar production to Dončić on a nightly basis.
Dončić remains the Lakers' best option.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Dončić's offense is carrying Lakers. Is LA too dependent on its 'showman'?