Playing with great shooters opens up the court a ton. It can be easy to spot how much more room there is inside the arc when opposing teams need to account for great knockdowns threats. However, that is not where it ends. The impact can be seen on other ends of the perimeter.
Such has been the story with Luka Doncic and Luke Kennard over the last six games. The latter may be shooting much less than the Los Angeles Lakers would want him to. 3.0 attempts per game is not a lot when his success rate from beyond the arc is 50.0 percent.
Even so, that has not stopped opposing defenses from treating him like the threat he is from distance. If it has been a matter of pick your poison between giving Doncic slightly easier looks from deep, or guarding Kennard, the priority has been the second option. Luka has benefitted in the process.
Over the six-game stretch since the All-Star Game, Doncic is shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point land, converting 4.7 of his 9.8 attempts per game. Is that exclusively thanks to Kennard? No. Is it a notable part of the equation? No doubt.
Luka Doncic's revived 3-point efficiency is not going unnoticed
Before the All-Star Break, Doncic was shooting 34.5 percent from deep on 10.3 attempts per game. That is not the type of efficiency anyone wants to see out of their team's superstar. That is especially true when that player is leading the league in usage percentage and 3-point attempts on average.
The recent stretch has been so impactful that Luka's overall percentage has leaped back up to 36.0. That puts him back around league average (35.9 at the time of his being written). For a guy with his volume, that is the bare minimum the Lakers need.
A mark like 47.5 will inevitably be unsustainable as the new standard to expect. However, what should hopefully continue is the success Doncic and Kennard have enjoyed sharing the court.
During the last six games, the pair have played 88 minutes together. During that time, Doncic and Kennard have posted an offensive rating of 125.7 on the court. That is the fourth most of any duo who have shared the hardwood for at least 50 minutes.
What is doubly notable about that is the three two-man combinations above them too. Each of those features one of either Doncic or Kennard.
Between Luka and Luke, there has to be some sort of nickname in there for this new dynamic duo in Los Angeles. If they keeping performing like they have thus far, it will be owed to them.