The Dallas Mavericks lost an utterly ridiculous Game 4 of the NBA playoffs to the LA Clippers. Luka Doncic had a triple double in defeat. Yet the superstar showed the challenges that lie ahead for him, both in this series and his broader usage
It was an utterly ridiculous game in Dallas where the Mavs lost a game they nearly came back to win in historic style. Despite finding a way to contribute, significantly as it turned out, it was a tough day for Luka Doncic. How the LA Clippers defended him is only part of the story.
Terance Mann is a problem
Let’s get this out of the way first. Yes, there were times when Terance Mann was rough out there. The grabbing of Luka Doncic’s foot was the most egregious issue. He also delivered a couple of tough bumps too. Still, we need to respect the wider issue.
Terance Mann has done a great job defending Doncic this series. When you look at the LA Clippers, it’s easy to not look too far past the four future hall of famers on the roster. Ok, nobody who visits this site is overlooking Ivica Zubac either but Mann deserves his props.
Mann has done a fantastic homage to Alberto Diaz on Doncic this series. Nobody, really anywhere in the NBA, has enjoyed this much success guarding him. My mind goes all the way back to how Poland frustrated Doncic in EuroBasket 2022. Take note of that, we’ll be revisiting it later. While Mann’s offensive contribution was minimal, limiting a generational talent is always worth praise. Terance Mann has managed to do so on a regular basis during this series.
Hustle and flow
First the good. Luka Doncic recorded a triple double with 29 points on 24 shots with 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Now we get to the bad. He had to drag his hide around at times. Doncic looked frustrated early and tired earlier than a player of his age should.
Granted, the big names all logged big minutes in this game. Yet there was Kyrie Irving, having the type of night that makes you remember why so many players love playing with him. There was always energy in Kyrie despite his 13 seasons of play. He could run when Luka was unable. That rallied Irving, it enabled him to rally the Mavs. Indeed, it enabled Kyrie to get more out of Doncic.
The frustration from the rough treatment seemed an expression of anger at himself from Doncic. He clearly wanted to be able to fight through, to show that no amount of physicality could contain him. Normally when a player is described as lethargic, it’s a criticism of effort. Doncic was lethargic but his workrate for the Dallas Mavericks wasn’t up for debate here. Luka was grinding but he wasn’t making it work at the level required of the NBA playoffs.
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A long-term question
Remember 2020? Yes, of course you do but while it was terrible for all of us it was great for one person. Rather, it was good for one person’s body. The summer of 2020 was the last one that Luka Doncic’s body was allowed to rest.
In 2021, the Mavs got dumped out of the NBA playoffs in the first round. Then Doncic joined the Slovenia national team for the Olympics. In 2022, it was a first trip to the conference finals for the Dallas Mavericks since 2011. Once that was done, Luka Doncic played with Slovenia at EuroBasket. Then came last year. The Mavs missed the playoffs but Luka had the FIBA Basketball World Cup to play in.
The man is not taking breaks and none appear on the horizon. Barring injury, he’ll play Olympic qualifiers with Slovenia this summer. If Slovenia progress from the tournament in Piraeus, Greece, then he’ll play in Paris. There’s also every reason to expect him to suit up at EuroBasket 2025. Doncic loves playing for his national team and that is good for the sport but this debate goes beyond the number of games he plays. Even if Doncic were to take a summer off, the Mavs have to look at another matter.
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Usage is a real thing
When you have an utterly ludicrous talent like Luka Doncic, you want to make the most of him. The Dallas Mavericks know what they have and they lean on him heavily. Great players want the load and Luka is no different. The LA Clippers have shown in this series that carrying it so much eventually proves costly.
That game against Poland in 2022 stood out to me watching Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. Doncic wasn’t terribly efficient. His workrate was beyond question. Mistakes were made with the ball in hand often. The frustration was shown in the boxscore through foul trouble. Granted, Luka didn’t foul out against the Clippers as he did against Poland.
Still, that sheer exhaustion from being the man a team leans on so often was familiar. Just because Doncic is only 25, it doesn’t mean he has infinite stamina. Conditioning can only bring a player so far. Every trainer or doctor worth a damn will tell players the importance of rest. Doncic isn’t getting enough. Be that by his own decision or the Mavs failing to force him to take more. If the Dallas Mavericks plan on winning a championship with Luka Doncic then rest, that most hated word amongst NBA pundits, has to be part of the plan.
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