Luka Doncic too dallas mavericks Overall, it's been a little underwhelming since their Cinderella-like run to the 2024 NBA Finals. Doncic has struggled with inefficiency, shooting just 42.9 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from deep, and the Mavs are just 5-7 overall this season, perhaps as a result.
But it's safe to say that the seventh loss on that record might be the most embarrassing yet for both Mavericks, especially for Doncic. Because he had a chance to reach .500 against a disastrous Jazz team that is currently 3-8. Because the Mavs handed Utah probably the easiest game-winning basket they've seen this season, as Luka was just standing there. , doing whatever he's doing here.
After missing a three from Naji Marshall at the other end, that easy dunk turned into the game-clinching basket. And while Doncic has never been known as a defender of lockdowns…come on. That's an embarrassing lack of focus for any player, even a superstar with as much of an offensive load as Doncic.
And as you might imagine, Luka's habit of lethargy isn't just limited to crunch time. The following possessions also occurred in the first half of the same game:
To his credit, Luka took some responsibility for the blunder after the defeat…
Luka Doncic took responsibility for the defensive collapse that led to John Collins' go-ahead dunk, saying, “That was a misunderstanding. I was going to go hit, and I thought Grimes was going to go hit.'' And it was Rob.” That's why I misunderstood the bench. That's my responsibility. ”
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 15, 2024
…But he didn't exactly exude a sense of responsibility when asked about the team's struggles to shut out games.
“If we knew, we wouldn't know, right? So I didn't know,” Luka Doncic said of the Mavericks' fourth consecutive single-possession loss.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 15, 2024
Apparently they're standing on the defensive, but what do I know?
It's all part of the same trend of general insincerity for the Mavericks this season, and while it may start with their star and leader, our own Kirk Henderson has been a part of the Mavs' Moneyball And Luca made it clear that this kind of blunder isn't limited to them.
from them Summary of 115-113 loss:
That's inexcusable, but it's also surprisingly common for Maverick. Luka will get a lot of attention for his gritty play and consistently bad body language, but the Mavericks played in a league of their own for the 11th time in 12 games. They just looked awake and consistent against a shaky Orlando team. Every other game featured plenty of mental lapses and uninspired play, and every fan watching this game will be left wanting more.
And at some point, no matter how much they want Luka to perform offensively, you'd expect the Mavericks to demand a little more from him, too.
