Statements
In a moment that sucked the air out of a roaring comeback, Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks, who had clawed their way back from a 21-point deficit, faced a monumental uphill battle without their star player. Doncic fouled out while trying to set up a charge against Jaylen Brown, but he was not set in time. The whistle blew and after a replay review, the call was upheld. Doncic was out, and the Mavericks were trailing by three points. The final blow came as Dallas fell short, losing to Boston 106-99. With this defeat, the Celtics now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Defensive Woes
The call that led to Doncic’s ejection was a close one, and some believe it could have gone the other way. Ironically, Doncic fouled out while defending, which has been a problematic area for him throughout this series. In Game 2, Doncic was "blown by" 13 times, more than any other defender in the last 10 postseasons. His slow footwork and lack of lateral movement have been glaring issues.
Despite his stellar offensive performance against Jayson Tatum, Doncic's defensive efforts have been laughable. His sternum injury is not a valid excuse, as he has never been a strong defender. Claims of Doncic's improved defense have been exaggerated by his supporters. In this series, Doncic has been a non-factor on defense, forcing the Mavericks to play essentially four on five. This deficiency has allowed Boston to dominate the paint and generate open three-pointers.
Collective Defensive Collapse
However, the defensive gap between the Mavericks and the Celtics cannot be blamed solely on Doncic. Kyrie Irving is also a below-average defender, which further complicates matters for Dallas. The Mavericks’ supposed reputation as a defensive team appears to be a mirage. No one on the roster seems capable of keeping up with the Celtics’ offensive firepower.
Doncic’s poor defense has drawn comparisons to James Harden’s infamous defensive struggles. Additionally, there were instances where he failed to properly guard sharpshooter Sam Hauser and displayed a shocking lack of awareness, pointing to the wrong side of the court. His failure to recover and defend on multiple occasions left teammates scrambling to cover for his lapses.
Moreover, Doncic has been ineffective in transition defense. Too often, he has remained on the ground, complaining to referees, while the Celtics capitalized on his lack of effort by draining open three-pointers.
Offensive Brilliance but Defensive Liability
Doncic is undeniably a gifted offensive player. His scoring, passing, and playmaking abilities are world-class. Yet, his glaring defensive ineptitude in this series cannot be ignored. Unlike Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic, who have managed to improve defensively despite their offensive responsibilities, Doncic remains a liability on this end of the floor.
Contrasting the defensive prowess of Curry and Jokic with the inefficiencies of Trae Young and Damian Lillard—both long known for their defensive shortcomings—Doncic is currently aligning more with the latter group. This is particularly problematic in the playoffs, where every possession matters. His lack of defensive effort has played a significant role in the Mavericks’ struggles this series.
A Series on the Brink
As it stands, the series is effectively over for the Mavericks. Facing a 3-0 deficit against a team firing on all cylinders seems an insurmountable challenge. Doncic isn’t being asked to become an elite defender, just to show modest improvement. This modest improvement could make a world of difference for a Dallas team that appears outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics.
Ultimately, the Mavericks’ defensive collapse cannot be pinned entirely on Doncic. Still, his lack of effort and fundamental flaws on defense have been a significant factor in the current state of the series. As one observer pointedly noted, “You can go from a 10% to a 30% in chemistry class, but you're still a failing student.” The stark reality is that unless Doncic addresses these critical defensive issues, the Mavericks will continue to fall short on the grandest stage of the NBA season.