Statements
Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Dallas Mavericks were mounting a comeback from a 21-point deficit, but Doncic fouled out while attempting to play defense. In an effort to slide in front of Jaylen Brown to draw a charge, Doncic didn’t get set in time. The whistle blew, and the play went to replay. The call was upheld.
At that moment, Doncic was gone, and the Mavericks were trailing by three points. Ultimately, the Mavericks lost the game 106-99. Boston now holds a commanding 3-0 series lead. The call was very close; it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had been overturned. However, Doncic fouled out while defending, which is ironic given his defensive struggles in this series.
Defensive Frailties Exposed
Doncic was "blown by" 13 times in Game 2, the most by any single defender in the last 10 postseasons. His slow feet and weak lateral movement have been detrimental. Despite his offensive prowess against Jayson Tatum, Doncic's defensive efforts have been lacking. Tatum has been giving his all defensively, whereas Doncic has not matched that intensity. Instead, he has been waiting to play offense rather than committing to defense.
Doncic’s defensive effort in the NBA Finals has been laughable. His sternum injury is not a valid excuse for his poor performance. As a matter of fact, Doncic has never been a good defender. Any improvements in his defensive work have been dramatized by his supporters. In this series, Doncic has been a zero defensively, causing the Mavericks to essentially play four against five on defense. Consequently, Boston has been living in the paint and generating open three-pointers due to Doncic’s deficiencies.
Team Dynamics and Struggles
Kyrie Irving also shares the blame as he is not a good defender, further complicating matters for Dallas. Doncic's defensive efforts have even been compared to James Harden’s poor defense. For example, Doncic was not even close to guarding sharpshooter Sam Hauser. At one point, he was seen pointing at the opposite side of the court in a laughable display of unawareness.
Whenever Brown rejected a screen, Doncic failed to be in position to help, bumbling in Brown’s direction before giving up entirely. Doncic was caught out of place multiple times, forcing other Mavericks to converge on Brown due to his breakdowns. His transition defense was equally poor, as he often stayed on the ground and complained to referees while the Celtics waltzed into another open three-pointer due to his lack of effort.
The Mavericks are being outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics, a gap that’s not solely Doncic’s responsibility. Nobody on the Mavericks roster can keep up with the Celtics, and the team’s reputation as a defensive juggernaut was merely a mirage. However, Doncic’s defensive ineptitude in this series is glaring and impossible to overlook, especially in the playoffs.
Comparisons and Expectations
Not being asked to become an elite defender, Doncic is expected to show modest improvement in his defensive game. Players like Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic have managed to evolve into fine defenders despite their significant offensive responsibilities. Conversely, players like Trae Young and Damian Lillard have long been defensive liabilities. Nevertheless, Doncic is considered better than both Young and Lillard.
Despite his undeniable talent as a gifted offensive player, Doncic’s lack of defensive effort has been a significant factor in this series. The series is effectively over for the Mavericks, and their defensive struggles and overall effort must be scrutinized. Favored quotes by pundits highlight the extent of disappointment in Doncic's defense: “Many thanks to @CelticsUnite18,” one analyst remarked sarcastically. “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.”
Another observer added: “It is one thing to be outmatched defensively. Whatever Doncic is doing, it isn't even in the same universe as trying.” Such criticism underscores the growing concern over Doncic’s disinterest in defense. “There are players who play defense and players who wait to play offense, and Doncic is a disinterested portrait of the latter,” another analyst pointed out. Further emphasizing the frustration, someone commented: “It’s ridiculous. I don't want to hear a word about this sternum injury.”
In conclusion, while Luka Doncic remains an offensive powerhouse, his defensive deficiencies have been glaring and detrimental to the Mavericks in this series against the Celtics. Without notable improvement in his defensive efforts, Doncic’s shortcomings will only continue to hamper his team's success in critical playoff moments.