JJ Redick quietly fixed the Luka Doncic flaw Jason Kidd never could

Luka Doncic loves to talk. If you're an opposing defender who just got smoked, he'll let you know. If you're a heckling fan, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar will put you in your place. If you're an NBA referee who just made a bad call, Doncic has grown a touch more forgiving this season.

Don't get it twisted: Luka can and certainly will still have a conversation if it is necessary. However, the frequency, on the whole, has gone down. Doncic has also been willing to wait for more timely moments to have those chats too. This was something pointed out on The Zach Lowe Show..

Lowe asked his guest, Mo Dakhil, if it felt like Luka was 'whining' less this year. Dakhil said it did, and that Doncic was 'goofing off' and having more fun overall. The exchanges had with Austin Reaves have showcased a lighter side of the superstar point guard's personality since his arrival.

The quiet part of the equation that should not be ignored is JJ Redick. Doncic does not need to spend as much time in referee debates when his head coach is picking those battles for him. That terrific working relationship, and synergy, is something Jason Kidd never quite delivered for Luka.

Doncic-Redick duo continues to bring the best out of Lakers

Lowe added that Doncic's conversations with the referees are not only happening less, but the duration is also shorter. The NBA analyst praised the Lakers superstar for getting back on defense with his improved fitness and not letting those moments derail the team on the other end.

There is a very human side to this. It's been touched on before around here, but Redick really is obsessed with basketball in the best way possible. If you're Doncic, why waste the time with the officials when you know your head coach will go to war for you?

The optics from the outside of the relationship between Doncic and Redick just look better than that of Kidd and his former superstar. Many have pointed out during the meetings between Luka's Lakers and his old team, there never appears to be a warm moment between between the superstar and his former coach.

Even after the Mavericks' recent loss to the Lakers in NBA Cup action, Kidd simply took off immediately after the game. Could this all be a touch of the magnifying glass being pressed up a bit too tight on the situation? Perhaps to some degree, sure.

Would a player also feel the need to plead his case to a referee more often if he knew the support system around him did not have his back? That thought is definitely worth pondering.