Tracking NBA Trends: Dončić’s Scoring Surge and Garland’s Strategic Shifts
Three NBA storylines stood out this week. They ranged from an elite scorer on a run to a playmaker changing tempo. A team’s winning streak also raised new questions.
Dončić’s recent scoring run
Luka Dončić has been unstoppable in an 11-game stretch. He is averaging 39.5 points during that run.
His streak began on March 6. Since then, he has relied heavily on the stepback 3.
Second Spectrum tracks him taking 8.5 stepback 3s per game in this span. He is making those shots at about 37 percent.
Before the hot streak, he averaged 5.9 stepback 3s per game. The increase dwarfs other shooters.
Dončić attempts 13.9 3-pointers per game during the streak. Defenses are adjusting but cannot fully stop him.
Key moments include a dribble handoff from Jaxson Hayes. He hit a stepback over Aaron Nesmith in that sequence. He also used a drive and floater against Pascal Siakam to punish overhelping defenders.
His production has pushed him back into MVP conversations. Tracking NBA Trends: Dončić’s Scoring Surge sums up why teams are anxious.
Darius Garland’s return and playmaking tweaks
Darius Garland has found a new rhythm since joining his current team. His first step appears much quicker again.
He missed his first month after the move. Across 11 games, he has hit more than half his 3-pointers.
Garland scored a season-high 41 points in an overtime win in Dallas. He also had 11 assists in that game.
He produced 23 assists over three games this week. Ten of those assists came before he reached the 3-point line.
Only four of those dimes required his feet to touch the paint. He relies on speed and quick reads to force early help defenders.
His chemistry with Brook Lopez is notable. Garland has run pick-and-pop actions with Lopez and used hook-style backward passes.
The team climbed to eighth place in the West. They went 14-9 after trading for Garland and moving Ivica Zubac to another club.
Garland’s Strategic Shifts have helped revive his impact. Quick bursts and sudden reversals are central to his current game.
Atlanta’s heater and the quality-of-opponents question
The Atlanta Hawks have won 14 of 15 games. Their starting five has been central to that success.
The usual starting lineup has been CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. That unit has limited opponents well.
Over the recent stretch, their defense has yielded the fewest points per possession. They have allowed the second-least airspace on 3-pointers.
Wednesday’s overtime win over the Detroit Pistons differed from many recent victories. The Pistons were without Cade Cunningham.
The Hawks’ starters averaged plus-28 per 100 possessions over the 15 games. They were minus-10 in that specific game against Detroit.
Atlanta climbed to fifth place in the Eastern Conference by March 27. Their record improved from 27-31 to 41-32 over the run.
Still, the schedule raises questions. The last 14 wins came against opponents with a .392 combined winning percentage.
Seven of those wins were against teams often described as tanking. Opponents included the Nets twice, Wizards twice, Mavericks twice, and the Grizzlies.
Six other wins came against teams missing core pieces. Those foes included the Bucks twice, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Magic, and Warriors.
Inside the roster, McCollum has eased Daniels’ playmaking load. Okongwu has emerged as an improved defender and rim presence. Alexander-Walker has been hot from deep.
A tougher home stretch lies ahead. Matchups with the Celtics, two games against the Cavaliers, and a meeting with the Knicks will reveal more.
Report compiled for Filmogaz.com.
