Statements
Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. The foul occurred while Doncic was trying to play defense. At this point, the Mavericks were making a comeback from down 21 points. Doncic attempted to slide in front of Jaylen Brown for a charge but didn’t get set in time. The whistle blew, and the play went to replay. The call was upheld, leaving Doncic out of the game, and the Mavericks trailing by three.
The Mavericks ultimately lost the game 106-99, with Boston now holding a commanding 3-0 series lead. This foul was very close, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had been overturned. Nonetheless, Doncic fouled out while defending, which is ironic given his defensive struggles throughout this series.
Defensive Struggles
In Game 2, Doncic was "blown by" 13 times, the most by a single defender in the last ten postseasons. His slow feet and weak lateral movement have been detrimental. While Doncic has excelled offensively against Jayson Tatum, his defensive efforts have been lackluster. Tatum has been trying defensively, whereas Doncic has not. Doncic has been waiting to play offense instead of committing to defense.
Doncic’s defensive effort in the NBA Finals has been laughable. Despite a sternum injury, which has been cited as an excuse for his poor performance, Doncic has never been known as a good defender. Any improvements in his defense have been dramatized by his supporters. In this series, Doncic has been a zero defensively, causing the Mavericks to play four against five on defense. Boston has been living in the paint and generating open 3s due to Doncic’s deficiencies. Kyrie Irving also being a poor defender further complicates matters for Dallas.
Poor Defensive Displays
Doncic's defensive efforts have been compared to James Harden’s infamous poor defense. For instance, Doncic was not close to guarding sharpshooter Sam Hauser and was pointing at the opposite side of the court in a laughable display of unawareness. Additionally, Doncic failed to be in position to help when Brown rejected a screen multiple times. He offered bumbling shuffles in Brown’s direction before giving up entirely. Doncic was caught out of place more than once, forcing multiple Mavericks to converge on Brown due to his breakdowns.
Transition Defense and Effort Issues
Doncic’s transition defense has also been problematic. Instead of getting back on defense, he stayed on the ground and complained to referees, allowing the Celtics to walk into another open 3-pointer due to his lack of effort. The Mavericks are outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics, and the defensive gap cannot be blamed solely on Doncic. Nobody on the Mavericks can keep up with the Celtics, highlighting that the Mavericks’ reputation as a defensive team was a mirage.
Gifted Offensively, Deficient Defensively
There is no denying that Doncic is an undeniably gifted offensive player. However, his defensive ineptitude in this series is glaring. He is not being asked to become an elite defender, just to show modest improvement. Players like Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic have turned into fine defenders despite their offensive responsibilities. In contrast, Trae Young and Damian Lillard have long been defensive liabilities. Doncic is better than both Young and Lillard, but his defense is impossible to overlook, especially in the playoffs. Doncic's lack of defensive effort has been a significant factor in this series, effectively ending the Mavericks' hopes.
Quotes
The frustrations with Doncic’s defense are echoed in the following 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.”
In conclusion, while Luka Doncic is a phenomenal offensive talent, his glaring defensive issues have played a significant role in the Mavericks' struggles against the Celtics. The series appears to be all but over for the Mavericks, and it's clear that Doncic's defensive effort needs to improve significantly for the team to stand a chance in future postseason runs.