Boston’s offensive strategy in their halfcourt game plan is to target Luka Doncic defensively.
On Wednesday night, this strategy proved effective as Doncic found himself in foul trouble. He committed a couple of unnecessary fouls, including a reach-in foul in the third quarter that was particularly ill-advised. In the fourth quarter, a couple of 50/50 calls did not go his way, leading to his disqualification from the game just as Dallas was mounting a comeback with a 20-2 run. This turnaround slashed a 21-point Boston lead to just three points. Without Doncic on the floor, especially during this crucial stretch and for much of the game, the Mavericks struggled to generate sufficient offense. As a result, they lost, falling behind 0-3 in the series, a situation that seems increasingly dire.
Reflecting on his sixth foul, Doncic expressed frustration: “We couldn’t play physical. I don’t know. I don’t want to say nothing. You know, six fouls in the NBA Finals, basically I’m like this [gestures with palms out]. C’mon, man. [Be] better than that.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd acknowledged that Doncic has become a focal point for opposing defenses: “Yeah, he’s definitely got a bull’s-eye on his chest. He’s got to be able to guard and understand that we’re there to protect him and help him if he does get beat.”
For a detailed look, here are all six fouls called on Doncic:
Mavericks fans are likely to feel aggrieved about Doncic’s sixth foul, which was a 50/50 call. Jaylen Brown initiated contact, but Doncic was not in a legal guarding position. The fifth foul was also contentious, as Doncic pushed and tripped Brown, who in turn hooked him with his arm—an instance where a challenge might have been warranted.
Doncic compounded his issues with some avoidable fouls, such as a reach-in from behind on Payton Pritchard and fouling Derrick White in the backcourt. There were also moments where he reverted to a bad habit of arguing with officials after no-calls instead of getting back on defense, leaving Dallas vulnerable defensively.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Doncic may need to receive the benefit of the doubt on some borderline calls if Dallas hopes to win. However, the key for the Mavericks’ success lies in Doncic improving defensively. He will undoubtedly remain a target for Boston, and he must elevate his defensive performance to keep his team competitive. The Mavericks cannot afford to dig themselves into another deep deficit like the 21-point margin they faced previously. While Doncic fouling out certainly halted a potential comeback, the larger issue is the need for consistent defensive effort from him and greater support from his teammates.
If Dallas aims to force a Game 5, Doncic must focus on better defense and staying on the court. Additionally, his teammates need to step up significantly to lighten the burden on him.
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