Luka Doncic tries to restart his magnificent second year season

Editor’s Note: We are starting our player previews this week, which we usually reserve for the low season. Since the suspended season of the NBA basically lasted a low season, we thought it appropriate to bring everyone in step with the times. Posts for the rest of the week will follow a more uniform format.

After spending most of the break in Slovenia, Luka Doncic is in Orlando and is ready for basketball. Since returning from an ankle injury on February 12, Doncic has averaged 27.8 points, 8.9 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game. Just a little below the average of his season, but still very similar numbers to Luka despite adapting to the ankle sprain. The last few months of rest should prove to be a huge benefit to Doncic’s health and Mavericks’ overall success.

Below are the averages per game of Doncic in wins and losses this season. There is a statistic that is significantly worse in losses than in wins: percentage of three points.

Ryan Mainville

Everyone knows about the famous backward step, or the pull-up after a screen, but what happens when it can’t enter? Seems to be bad for Mavericks. obviously a victory requires more than one person to score basketball. In fact, it’s amazing that Doncic’s average points per game does not slip even a full point despite his three-point percentage plummeting 13 percent. It is clear that the Mavericks have the best chance of winning when Luka makes his shots; it’s a no-brainer. This is particularly important to note for a three player bubble list.

I seem to mention the pick-and-roll of each article, which despite being as frequent as it seems, makes sense since it is the bread and butter of Mavericks’ offense. The numbers for Doncic as a pick and roll handler are simply absurd. According to NBA.com/Stats, Doncic scores 46.9 percent of the time he is in a pick and roll. This is good for the third in the league of players who run it with a frequency of 45 percent or higher. As good as he is at pick-and-roll, most of his three pointers come from his step back in individual situations. Doncic has made 236 setbacks of three this season compared to the conventional 170 three.

The key to making sure Luka’s shot goes in is making sure it gets in place. Oddly, not only does he favor, but he shoots significantly better by going to the left, his non-dominant hand, which goes to the right. Take a look at his three-point chart from last season:

The key to getting consistent and sustainable scores from Mavericks will be to ensure Doncic gets there. The constant movement that happens in this offense is perfect to make sure it can get there. See how even the slightest disturbance of Dwight Powell gives Luka time to take a shot:

Wounded and unable to play in the bubble Powell is an undeniable loss. Fortunately, Maxi Kleber and Kristaps Porzingis are also excellent options for playing that game with Doncic. Needless to say, Rick Carlisle has done an excellent job of handling the crime so far this season. I’m sure his game plan for Luka includes many back-backs on the left side and pick-and-roll situations. If these things can be done efficiently, the Mavericks not only have a chance to compete, but they also surprise anyone who is their first round match up.