Luka Doncic started the season on a tear, averaging 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists to lead the Lakers to a 10-2 record and the top seed in the West entering Wednesday’s slate of games.
While he leads the league in scoring, there are other things he likely needs to check if he wants to win his first MVP award. Eric Pincus writes for Bleacher Report.
Leading the Lakers to a better record than the Spurs and Thunder would go a long way toward proving him, a job made a little easier given the injuries Oklahoma City is dealing with this season. He’ll also need to maintain the active and focused defensive intensity he’s shown during this hot start, and will likely have to find ways to remain as effective if and when his hot shooting cools off.
Finally, he will need to stay healthy to reach the 65 or more game mark needed to be eligible for the award. If he does all of those things, he’ll have a strong case for the best player at the end of the year.
We have more from the Lakers:
- Quentin Grimes sat out the lakers game on monday with a sprained right finger and will also miss Wednesday’s game against the Bucks. coach Jay Jay Reddick said before the Bucks game that Grimes passed the shooting, but the team is choosing to err on the side of caution because of the swelling Grimes experienced, according to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register (Link to Twitter). “Want to make sure he feels comfortable shooting the basketball” Redick said.
- One of the Lakers’ key additions this summer has been a versatile big man Sandro Mamukelashviliwho are they signed to a four-year contract. Mamukelashvili had his best game of the season on Monday, scoring 23 points and adding eight rebounds off the bench. “Guys kept finding me and I kept knocking down shotsMamukelashvili said.Just being yourself, playing instinctively. I have faith and others; they had my back. And defensively, it was actually a lot of fun because everyone was on the same page. Everyone communicated and it was much easier for us. But it’s a great game and hopefully I’ll keep improving.” The Georgia big man has also begun to develop chemistry from the starting center Walker Kesslerand believes they can do a lot to unlock each other moving forward, according to Royer.
- Beginner wing Cameron Carr scored his first career points on Monday. Afterward, he admitted that he still gets nervous going into the game, but he knows it’s just part of the process. Tuc Ni Nguyen writes for the LA Times. “As time goes on it will only grow, it will only get better,– said Carr.I will become more and more confident, so every time I get a chance to perform, I will just show what I can do and of course show my talents through God’s work.” Redick has been encouraged by Carr’s offensive skills, but is pushing for him to develop as a defender. After the game, Doncic rewarded the rookie for reaching the milestone by tracking down a game ball so he could remember his first basket. “That’s big time, especially from himCarr said.That says a lot about who he is as a person.”
