The Dallas Mavericks hope for a championship are all but over after falling to a 0-3 series deficit after their Game 3 loss.
Brian Windhorst reacted to the game by slamming Luka Doncic’s performance, as the Slovenian star fouled out in the fourth quarter in a must-win game, calling his defensive showing and complaining to the officials ‘unacceptable.’
“When Luka fell to the ground there in an unacceptable position with four minutes left and five fouls, then immediately looks at the bench like, ‘You better bleeping challenge that,’ as if it’s the bench’s fault he made a terrible play. I am standing here in the Mavericks’ tunnel, over there is the Celtics tunnel where the winners are. If Luka is ever gonna be a winner coming out of the tunnel, he’s gonna have to use what’s happened in these NBA Finals as a learning experience.”
Windhorst attacked Doncic’s disappointing defense in the contest and his how his treatment of the officials has once against cost the Mavericks a win.
“This defensive performance is unacceptable. He’s a hole on the court and the Celtics are attacking him and they are ahead in this series because they have attacked him defensively. You have a situation where Luka is complaining about the officiating. They have begged him, they have talked with him, they have pleaded with him, he’s costing his team because of how he treats the officials. He’s a brilliant player, he does so many things well, they’re here because of how he did. His performance in this game was unacceptable and the reason why the Mavericks won’t win.”
Windhorst is hoping somebody can change Doncic’s approach to the referees over the summer because if that doesn’t happen, Doncic might never elevate himself to the level of an NBA Champion.
“The fact he came out of the game and complained about the officials shows me he’s nowhere close yet. But maybe over the summer, somebody will get to him. There’s nobody in the Mavericks or anybody else in his life who has. That’s why the Mavericks are where they are. They’re never going to get through this tunnel with the trophy if he doesn’t improve those bad habits in his game.”
Doncic put up 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the Game 3 loss, fouling out after the Mavericks went on a 20-2 run in the fourth quarter to cut a 21-point game to a 3-point game. Doncic’s control over the floor helped the Mavs achieve that, but his petulance and fouling habits prompted that momentum to be sucked out and go in Boston’s favor.
The 25-year-old has been notoriously known as a serial complainer during games, a fact he’s aware of. He’s often chatting with officials for the entirety of a game and complaining about calls. Even if his concerns are valid, his behavior further antagonizes the referees and breaks focus for the Mavericks.
Doncic even admitted he had to make a conscious effort to not jaw at the referees after their Game 4 loss in the second round to the OKC Thunder, which seemingly worked as the Mavs won six of their next seven games to make the NBA Finals.
With his team being on the precipice of a sweep, all the goodwill Doncic generated by his improved demenour and defense in the Playoffs has been wiped away with the star regressing to his old habits in a must-win game where he fell short.
He’s averaged 29.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in the NBA Finals, but this game will be a lasting reminder to Doncic about the maturity he still needs to build.
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