Statements
Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Doncic fouled out while trying to play defense. The Mavericks were making a comeback from down 21 points. Doncic attempted to slide in front of Jaylen Brown for a charge, but he 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 lost the game 106-99. Boston now holds a 3-0 series lead.
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. This is the most "blown by" times by a single defender in the last 10 postseasons. Doncic's slow feet and weak lateral movement have been detrimental.
Defensive Struggles
Doncic has excelled offensively against Jayson Tatum, but his defensive effort pales in comparison. Tatum has been putting in effort 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. His sternum injury is not a valid excuse for his poor performance.
Doncic has never been a good defender. Any improvements in Doncic's defense have been dramatized by his supporters. Doncic has been a zero defensively in this series. His deficiencies have caused 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 is also not a good defender, further complicating matters for Dallas.
Comparison to Other Players
Doncic's defensive efforts have been compared to James Harden’s poor defense. He was not close to guarding sharpshooter Sam Hauser, and was even pointing at the opposite side of the court in a laughable display of unawareness. Doncic also 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.
In transition defense, Doncic failed by staying on the ground and complaining to referees, allowing the Celtics to walk into another open 3-pointer. The Mavericks are outclassed by a wide margin against the Celtics. The defensive gap cannot be blamed solely on Doncic; nobody on the Mavericks can keep up with the Celtics. The Mavericks’ reputation as a defensive team was a mirage.
Doncic is undeniably a gifted offensive player, but his defensive ineptitude in this series is glaring. Doncic 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, yet 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 series is effectively over for the Mavericks.
Quotes
“Many thanks to @CelticsUnite18,” a fan tweeted after Boston’s victory. Another fan remarked, “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.” Furthermore, a commentator noted, “It is one thing to be outmatched defensively. Whatever Doncic is doing, it isn't even in the same universe as trying.” Yet another pointed out, “There are players who play defense and players who wait to play offense, and Doncic is a disinterested portrait of the latter.”
The backlash continued with fans saying, “It's ridiculous.” and “I don't want to hear a word about this sternum injury.” A sarcastic comment equating defensive effort to academic performance added, “You can go from a 10% to a 30% in chemistry class, but you're still a failing student.” Despite this, some concede, “Luka Doncic is better than both those guys,” referring to Trae Young and Damian Lillard.
Doncic's defensive shortcomings have been a central theme in this series, and they have become impossible to ignore. As the Mavericks face an imminent exit from the playoffs, the focus on Doncic’s performance on both ends of the court will only intensify. Given his offensive capabilities, the hope is that he can bring some balance to his game in future seasons.