Luka Doncic has often been criticized for his effort on the defensive end, with fans often citing how he is constantly taken off the dribble or caught ball watching. 

His counting numbers are good as he averages 1.5 steals per games, but the advanced metrics and eye test tell a different story. 

Against the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Lakers All-Star had noticeably more effort on the defensive end, and ended up with three steals and two blocks. 

The Pacers aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut this season, but Luka held up his end of things defensively, while torching the Pacers on the offensive end to the tune of 44 points. 

After the game, the media asked Luka about his effort on the defensive end, and looking more engaged against the Pacers.

"I know people like to talk about it. Just trying to do my job and trying to do the work. More aggressive, being more engaged. Just trying to do better on the defensive end," he said. 

Luka had a defensive field goal percentage of 40%, which was third best on the team behind Rui Hachimura (36.4%) and Jake LaRavia (30%). Indiana players shot 6-15 when guarded by Luka on Friday. 

He had a defensive rating of 98.6, which was second behind only Hachimura. 

Friday's game against the Pacers was Luka's sixth-best defensive rating of the season. Perhaps coincidentally, five of Luka's best defensive performances came when one of LeBron James or Austin Reaves were out of the lineup. The sixth performance came with Reaves coming off the bench. 

Of the five starters on the Lakers, Luka has the second-worst defensive rating at 116.2, Only Deandre Ayton has a worse rating at 117.4. Jake Laravia is the worst among rotation players at 117.9.

Taking away low leverage situation, Luka has a 117 defensive rating. The Lakers are actually slightly better with Luka on the floor defensively as they have a 117.2 defensive rating with him off the floor. 

The duo of Luka and Reaves has been solid defensively with a 111.2 defensive rating when they are on the floor together. Luka and LeBron have a 118.6 defensive rating together.

Among all players who average 30 minutes or more, Luka has the 17th worst defensive rating. James Harden, who spent the majority of his season on a Clippers team that started off terribly, Jamal Murray, and Deni Avdija are the only players with a worse defensive rating who are on a team currently in a playoff or play-in position. 

To Luka's credit, his defensive rating has dropped to a 110.8 since the All-Star break, showing that he has, at the very least, given more effort on that end of the floor.