There is one reason everyone in the NBA world is currently discussing the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the biggest threats to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this coming June: Luka Doncic. When the superstar was shockingly sent to Southern California on the first day of February, it completely disrupted the balance of power in the West, and made everyone begin to re-think what this Lakers team was capable of.
Sure, LA was playing some solid basketball before the trade. Anthony Davis had just gotten done dropping 42 and 23 on the Charlotte Hornets on insane efficiency. There was already the thought that this team could be a dangerous playoff team with he and LeBron James leading the way. But then when AD was shipped out and one of the league's greatest playoff performers brought in, it was as if a massive reset button was pressed.
Now, JJ Redick's squad is looking like the team no one wants to face come the postseason. Other teams are acutely aware of just how easy it is for Doncic to go off on a scoring flurry and completely dominate a playoff game. Luka can win you a playoff series nearly by himself, and Lakers fans are simply bursting at the seams with excitement. Rightfully so.
But with all that in mind, there appears to still be a little bit of work to do for Doncic before he gets to the level where he is truly capable of carrying the Lake Show to a playoff series victory all by himself. As of right now, Luka's offensive game could actually use a little touching up.
Doncic's offense is very jumper-reliant at the moment - not much burst
Sure, go ahead and laugh all you want. I'm well aware of the fact that he is averaging 29.4 points in the month of March while shooting 40% from three. But my overall point remains in this fact: right now, Luka's offensive game is relying heavily on his ability to hit jumpers. His quick first step that allows him to blow past defenders and get to the rim at will is simply not showing up as consistently as it should be right now.
As a result, he is somewhat one-dimensional in that regard at the moment. Now of course, even a one-dimensional Luka Doncic is better than most players in the NBA. But the matter of whether that type of play is sustainable come playoff time is a real question in need of addressing. Doncic can nail step-back jumpers on any defender all day, but there will come a time where he has a cold shooting night.
He needs that close-range game and rim-pressuring presence that will open up his playmaking that much more, and create all sorts of problems for the Lakers' opponents. If he can get his burst and quickness back, it could be curtains for the league. But until he does, this remains a legitimate concern.