Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George is a believer in the LeBron James-Luka Doncic pairing, simply because of their basketball intelligence.
“I think it’s gonna work on the simple fact that both of those two are high-level IQ players,” George said, via Podcast P with Paul George. “They understand spacing. They understand pick and roll. They see plays two, three plays ahead. They know how to manipulate the defense. They’re both obviously great with the basketball in their hands. I think that’s an area Luka can probably be better at is playing with the ball out of his hands, so that’ll be an adjustment I think for him as well as probably LeBron, you know? LeBron is a basketball-dominant player. Obviously, he can play off the ball as well. And I think that was the reason Luka was brought over so that Bron can be off the ball a little bit more and not have to make all the plays.”
George continued, “But I think it’s gonna work, man. I think it’s definitely a pick-your-poison type of situation, and it’s gonna be tough, right, because both of those guys can set up the defense. You gotta watch out for both of those guys with their playmaking and their IQ. When they get into their pick and rolls, obviously your two best defenders are gonna be guarding Bron and Luka. You gotta switch that. And then now Bron is so big, so strong, it’s gonna be hard to get underneath that screen, which is gonna cause confusion. It’s gonna cause — whether the defender is switching out, guarding Luka or the defender is switching out, guarding Bron — it’s gonna be some chain effect because of the size that both of these guys got. They’re 6’8,” 6’9.” They can look over and see over the defense. And then I’m sure J.J. [Redick] is gonna have shooters in both corners. And then you got — what Luka is so great with playing is athletic 5s, right? That’s what unlocks his game and his potential and his ability to get downhill and put pressure at the rim is having an aerial 5-man that could take the lid off the roof. So, it’s gonna be definitely dynamic with Jaxson Hayes there at the center position. God, thank God the Mark Williams s— didn’t go through. I actually like Dalton Knecht. I think he’s definitely a weapon. Austin Reaves is definitely a weapon. Good luck in the West. It’s gonna be a nightmare when you play the Lakers.”
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