The premier player for the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, is subjected to more pick-and-rolls than any other player in the NBA.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers finds it incomprehensible that opponents continue to target him.

Luka Doncic is producing historical numbers for the Dallas Mavericks, who are dominating the Western Conference and heading into the NBA postseason. The Mavericks have won nine of their past ten games and are now sixth in the standings. Despite facing every challenge imaginable from opposing defenses, Doncic is putting up incredible numbers every night.

Doncic is shooting 48.7 percent from the field and a career-high 37.4 percent from three-point range, and through 63 games this season, he is averaging a league-best and career-high 33.9 points to go along with 9.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. Whatever defensive coverages are used against him, Doncic always finds a way to dominate games, whether it be in the paint, from deep, or from mid-range.

J.J. Redick and LeBron James talked about how NBA players are getting blitzed off pick-and-rolls in the most recent episode of Mind The Game. James couldn’t figure out why Doncic is getting blitzed more than anybody else in the league.

“So this year, top five players that have been blitzed in the pick-and-roll: Luka by a lot – almost 200 more blitzes, and then the next four guys are bunched together,” Redick explained to LeBron James. You’ve never truly been in the top 20 in blitzes versus pick-and-rolls, which is important to note. I dug up your blitzing statistics during the tracking era. What makes you believe that to be the case?”

LeBron James smiled back and said, “Because I make all the proper reads. Really, it’s that easy. Teams are aware that they can’t pick and roll me with ease.”
Luka is intriguing because, in my opinion, he’s one of the few players in this day and age who can make any kind of pass when facing a double-team. You can be sure that James is one of them. Luka is among them, according to Redick. “So why are you blitzing him?”

LeBron James remarked, “I don’t understand it.” “Especially because they are also surrounding him with gunfire.

Nothing about it makes sense. For one, he will make every read, and two, you’re out when Tim Hardaway hits six or seven threes. Kyrie is going to do Kyrie. Luka will do what he pleases. When you have Tim Hardaway making six or seven threes, or when we dominated Luka in a game earlier this year and Dante Exum made five or six threes, then, well. LeBron James laughed at how impossible it is as he concluded his response.

A good illustration of what James is referring to is the Mavs’ 132-96 thrashing of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. Doncic led the way with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in the first half. Kyrie Irving took the lead with 24 points and eight assists in the second half.

Nevertheless, Dallas was able to overwhelm Sacramento because of 3-point shooting from Tim Hardaway Jr. and P.J. Washington. For a total of 36 points, the pair shot 8–12 from beyond the half. Dallas might have a remarkable postseason run if teams keep pressing Doncic and their supporting cast members continue to perform at that caliber going into the tournament.

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