The Los Angeles Lakers have put up a 4-2 record since Luka Doncic made his official debut with the team on Feb. 10. What should scare the rest of the association is the fact that this team is only just beginning to figure things out with their new best player.
We all know that Doncic is a playoff riser, and he is always most dangerous once the calendar hits April, May and June. He has the ability to drag this team to a playoff series victory or two by himself, but in the meantime, the rest of the group around him continues to improve in their own unique facets.
LeBron James, for one, is continuing to play at an unbelievable level. In the month of February, he is averaging 29.0 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 55% from the floor and 46% from three. Seriously, is he ever going to slow down?
But perhaps an underrated part of his impact as of late has been on the defensive side of things. It has been a long time since LeBron was known as one of the premier defenders in the NBA, but he is enjoying a stretch of extremely solid play on the defensive end as of late. Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch recently went on KFAN sports radio to discuss James' play, and the Wolves' upcoming matchup with the Lakers.
Finch: LeBron has leveled up on defense with AD gone
"LeBron continues to play at an extremely high level," Finch said. "I think that's been key for them all season. And that's really, in my mind, still the biggest driver of success, when he's able to have these nights, and I've been impressed with his defense of late and this year. Many times he's been a difference-maker on defense.
"Probably the most engaged and active level I've seen in the last five, six years for him. And (the Lakers) know losing Anthony Davis, sometimes there's an awareness that goes on, where like, 'hey, AD is no longer here to fix all of our problems, so we've got to be better across the board.' "
It would seem that not having Davis as the Lakers' defensive anchor has definitely driven James to step up and take more pride in the defensive end. But it also stands to reason that with Doncic now able to run the offense, LeBron can focus less of his energy on scoring and playmaking, and bring more of an all-around approach to the floor each night.
This new formula LA is still refining has a high chance of paying dividends by the time the postseason comes around. With six-plus more weeks of LeBron sharpening up his defense and of getting Luka more comfortable with his new team, the Lakers should be a positively scary sight to see.
