Luka Doncic faced intense criticism after his performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, which led to one of the largest wins in Finals history in the following game. The 25-year-old five-time All-NBA player fouled out with over four minutes left, scoring 27 points on 27 shots and struggling defensively against the Celtics. Boston took advantage, securing a 3-0 lead in the series.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was particularly harsh, labeling Doncic’s defense as unacceptable and a liability for his team. Such harsh criticism is unusual for Doncic, known as one of the best young players in NBA history. Despite missing the playoffs in his rookie year, he was nearly unanimously named Rookie of the Year. In subsequent seasons, Doncic consistently performed well, even in losses, and led the Mavericks to the conference finals in his fourth season.
Entering the Finals with high expectations, the Mavericks faced a tough Celtics team and a 3-0 series deficit. Historically, no team has ever come back from such a deficit to win a playoff series. However, in Game 4, the Mavericks achieved a 122-84 blowout victory. Doncic scored 29 points, including 25 in the first half, demonstrating his offensive prowess. He ranks second in career playoff scoring, just behind Michael Jordan, and fourth in offensive impact on the advanced stat box plus-minus.
Critics like Windhorst focused on Doncic’s defense, which had been targeted by the Celtics’ strategic attack. Despite his significant offensive contributions, Doncic’s defensive lapses were exploited. The Mavericks’ usual strategy of using defense-first wings to support Doncic failed against the Celtics’ five-out attack, which had no weak points. This was part of a broader postseason trend where Doncic had high blow-by percentages on drives.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Doncic isn’t a typical point guard and should be able to defend adequately. In Game 4, he showed improvement, contributing to the Mavericks’ victory. Despite the adjustment, it may be too late to change the series outcome. Interestingly, even in his criticized Game 3, the Mavericks outscored the Celtics when Doncic was on the court, indicating that his presence was still valuable despite his defensive struggles.
