Statements
Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Attempting to play defense, Doncic tried to slide in front of Jaylen Brown for a charge but failed to get set in time. The whistle blew, and the play went to replay. The call was upheld, and Doncic was gone, leaving the Mavericks trailing by three. The Mavericks ultimately lost the game 106-99, with Boston now holding a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The call was very close and could have been overturned, but the Mavericks were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Ironically, Doncic fouled out while defending, an area where he has notoriously struggled. In Game 2, Doncic was blown by 13 times, the highest number recorded by a single defender in the last ten postseasons. His slow feet and weak lateral movement have been detrimental to his team’s defensive efforts.
On the offensive end, Doncic has excelled against Jayson Tatum. While Tatum has been putting in a solid defensive effort, Doncic has not reciprocated. Instead, he has been waiting to play offense rather than committing to defense, making his defensive effort in the NBA Finals almost laughable. Even his sternum injury cannot justify his poor defensive performance, as Doncic has never been known as a good defender. Any improvements in his defense have been dramatized by his supporters, as he has been a liability on that end in this series.
Doncic’s deficiencies have forced the Mavericks to play four against five on defense. Boston has been exploiting this, living in the paint and generating open 3-point shots due to his defensive lapses. Kyrie Irving’s struggles on defense further complicate matters for Dallas, drawing comparisons to James Harden's known defensive weaknesses. Doncic’s defensive ineptitude has been glaring in this series, with him caught out of position multiple times. His lack of effort in transition defense, often staying on the ground to complain to referees, has led to easy scoring opportunities for the Celtics.
While the Mavericks are outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics, the defensive gap cannot be blamed solely on Doncic. However, nobody on the Mavericks has been able to keep up with the Celtics, revealing the team's reputation as a defensive squad to be a mirage. Doncic remains an undeniably gifted offensive player, but his defensive struggles have been impossible to overlook, especially in the playoffs. He has not been asked to become an elite defender but to show modest improvement. Players like Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic have become competent defenders despite their offensive responsibilities, contrasting with long-time defensive liabilities like Trae Young and Damian Lillard. Doncic, considered better than both Young and Lillard, stands out due to his defensive shortcomings in this series.
The series is effectively over for the Mavericks. Even Doncic’s offensive brilliance cannot compensate for his defensive inadequacies, which have significantly contributed to their struggles. While he has been a zero defensively, the entire team must bear the brunt of the defensive collapse against the Celtics.
Quotes
“Many thanks to @CelticsUnite18.”
“Honestly, look at that defense. He is roaming around out there like the kid you put in right field in Little League who just picks daisies all game.”
“It is one thing to be outmatched defensively.”
“Whatever Doncic is doing, it isn't even in the same universe as trying.”
“There are players who play defense and players who wait to play offense, and Doncic is a disinterested portrait of the latter.”
“It's ridiculous.”
“I don't want to hear a word about this sternum injury.”
“You can go from a 10% to a 30% in chemistry class, but you're still a failing student.”
“Luka Doncic is better than both those guys.”