Luka Doncic scored his lowest scoring output on Saturday at 22 and it led to a loss to the depleted Atlanta Hawks. Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Candidate Dyson Daniels is being credited for it.
The Lakers suffered an unexpected loss to the Hawks, 102-122, with the LA superstar getting shut down early and playing just 22 minutes after the Hawks dominated his team starting in the first quarter.
Daniels was tasked to stop Doncic who averages around 40 points in his first five games. The Australian said they have the Slovenian star marked from the get go.
“It’s about our team game plan. My job is to make it tough for him (Luka), do the right things, force him off-screens, and my teammates are there for rotations and trapping him,” he said.
“I think we were good with our rotations today.”
The Hawks won the game without four key players such as Trae Young, Kristaps Porzingis, Jalen Johnson, and Luke Kennard.
Atlanta Hawks’ defensive menace shades Doncic
Shade is here is not just about Doncic almost seeing nothing on the court whenever Daniels is on him. The Australian shooting guard subtly brought up what the Lakers is being criticized for – not being athletic enough.
“The tired part I think it’s more mental. L.A. is not a very fast team. They didn’t play up and down, so I wasn’t in a defensive transition as much but I think the tired part is more mental,” he said.
Doncic is the focal point of JJ Redick’s system and so, everything runs through him. He did not play in the fourth quarter, the only quarter Lakers won, and was limited to 22 minutes. Aside from the points, he also finished with 11 assists and five rebounds.
As for Daniels, he made a personal history in the game by becoming owning the longest streak of games (62) with at least one steal in Hawks history.
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