Statements
Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, attempting to play defense. The Mavericks were making a comeback from a 21-point deficit. Doncic tried to slide in front of Jaylen Brown to draw a charge but didn’t get set in time. The whistle blew, and the play went to replay. The call was upheld. Doncic was gone, and the Mavericks were trailing by three. The Mavericks eventually lost the game 106-99. Boston now holds a 3-0 series lead.
A Controversial Call
The call was very close, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had been overturned. Doncic fouled out while defending, which is ironic given his defensive struggles in this series. Doncic was "blown by" 13 times in Game 2, the most "blown by" times by a single defender in the last 10 postseasons. His slow feet and weak lateral movement have been detrimental. While Doncic has excelled offensively against Jayson Tatum, Tatum has been performing defensively, whereas Doncic has not.
Defensive Woes
Doncic has been waiting to play offense instead of committing to defense. His defensive effort in the NBA Finals has been laughable. The argument that his sternum injury is a valid excuse for his poor performance doesn't hold much ground. Doncic has never been a good defender, and any improvements in his defense have been dramatized by his supporters. In this series, Doncic has been a zero defensively, leading Dallas to play four against five on defense. This deficiency has allowed Boston to dominate in the paint and generate open 3-pointers.
Kyrie Irving, also not known for his defensive prowess, further complicates matters for Dallas. Doncic's defensive efforts have been compared to James Harden’s widely criticized defense. At times, Doncic was not even close to guarding sharpshooter Sam Hauser, pointing at the opposite side of the court in a laughable display of unawareness. He failed to be in position to help when Brown rejected a screen multiple times and offered bumbling shuffles in Brown’s direction before giving up entirely. Multiple Mavericks had to converge on Brown due to Doncic’s breakdowns.
Transition Troubles
Doncic also failed in transition defense by staying on the ground and complaining to referees, allowing the Celtics to walk into another open 3-pointer. Overall, the Mavericks are being outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics. The defensive gap can't be blamed solely on Doncic since nobody on the Mavericks has been able to keep up with the Celtics. The Mavericks’ reputation as a defensive team was, in hindsight, a mirage.
Bright Spot on Offense
It’s undeniable that Doncic is a gifted offensive player. However, his defensive ineptitude in this series is glaring. Nobody is asking Doncic 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.
The Grim Reality
The series is effectively over for the Mavericks. Boston holds a commanding 3-0 series lead, and the prospects of a comeback seem dim given the defensive gaps that Dallas has failed to bridge. "Many thanks to @CelticsUnite18," one fan tweeted. "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, but 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," another critic mentioned. 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. Yet, until his defensive efforts match his offensive capabilities, the Mavericks will continue to struggle against top-tier teams like the Celtics.