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Luka Doncic Last 6 Games: 39-10-11 38-11-10 37-12-11 30-10-16 45-9-14 33-6-6 The Mavs have gone 1-5 & have an atrocious 127.3 defensive rating over that stretch. 5 points per 100 worse than the 29th ranked Wizards. All-time poor defense being played in Dallas. Something(s) needs to change.



Only Russell Westbrook (5) and Oscar Robertson (4) have had streaks of this many 30pt triple doubles in a row. Unfortunate that a fun statistical moment is being robbed by sad outcomes due to terrible defense.

Source: [https://twitter.com/NBA\_University/status/1765392976337940778](https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1765392976337940778)

by StrategyTop7612

50 Comments

  1. MeMeRevieweR_23

    This is unreadable. Learn how to use some punctuation.

  2. He’s gone. Mavs have failed to build around him for like 5 years now. Heavy 2000s LeBron vibes

  3. EsotericPotato

    How much of it is scheme versus just not having the personnel? I know Gafford is really good and he’s not getting nearly enough playing time, but to my eye it just seems like no matter what, they’re going to be limited by their roster.

    Gafford and Lively are both good in the paint but neither of them are like DPOY caliber anchors, and they lack any really good PoA defenders that can sit down and just give the opposing best player hell for 30 minutes a night.

  4. MindofShadow

    How much of this is coaching vs the fact the starting backcourt are atrocious defenders that have a crazy heavy offensive load and they start a rookie center?

  5. RhinoBugs

    Luka haters having the best week of their lives

  6. Kidd needs to go, but its been no secret that Lukas attitude, defense and overall effort on that end is putrid right now. It was great in 2023 but since the new year hes fallen back into that pattern again

  7. Wise_Ad_112

    Lukas the new James harden, a lot of stats on offence, no defence to save his life and the kids going wild cause they love numbers. lol

  8. Nearby_Preference261

    Has the fact they’re one of the worst defensive teams in the league anything to do with Luka being one of the worst defensive players in the league, targeted relentlessly by opponents? Maybe less triple doubles and more defensive effort, how about that?

  9. Wise_Ad_112

    Out of your 2 best players, atleast one should be able to play some defence, ppl forget there are 2 sides to the court. Inflated stats last few years have fooled a lot of people who don’t understand the game beyond the stat sheet

  10. kinzieiii

    What happened to like 2 weeks ago when everyone was like “Mavs are a big problem in the West”

  11. Sunnyinphx01

    Most stars can get those stats if they don’t have to put any effort or energy into defense.

  12. snow_crash23

    Below average defender, who has high usage rate and dribbles the ball for 20 seconds+ every possession.
    Getting triple-doubles really isn’t what it used to be.
    It’s always “he doesn’t have enough help” but so far different options have been tried and he hasn’t really succeeded outside of putting up big numbers.
    Hard to win with 4 players standing still on offense.

  13. This title would be so much more readable if you had just used some commas smh

  14. wangandassociates

    Bottom 6-10 rankings in the West getting real interesting

  15. AHealthyKawhi

    I know, they should bring in Trae Young. The best defense is more offense.

  16. coacoanutbenjamn

    I tried to tell everyone that trading 2 firsts for Gafford and Washington wasn’t going to move the needle

  17. alldaylurkerforever

    Someone pointed out that prior to the all start break, the Mavs had played the most home games. So after the all star break, they were going to be on the road A LOT.

    Seems the losing is kinda coinciding with the heavier road schedule.

  18. Camctrail

    Pairing 2 offensive superstars who don’t play a lick of defense and both need the ball to be most effective?

    How could anyone have seen this coming?

  19. FlashMan1981

    Luka gives off strong MJ-under-Doug-Collins vibes.

  20. HomicEYEd

    Against popular thought, I don’t think scoring 40 pts per game is healthy for a team as a whole. I do believe several players can score that much and choose not to in order to feed the team. Make it more dynamic. SGA is a good example of this.

  21. AttentionFantastic76

    We have learned that a player with 35-10-10 isn’t going to win by themselves these days. He needs to lead the defensive effort (or have a guy like Draymond to lead the defensive effort), and needs complimentary players. Luka can continue his 35-10-10 with a new coach and I feel the results will be the same. Dallas needs to find a few Marcus Smarts or Derrick Whites, or Trade Luka for a boatload of assets.

  22. End-Resident

    The Mavs just have Doncic, who can’t play defense and Irving who also cannot play defense as stars.

    What do you expect ? The rest of them can’t play defense and the ownership, including Cuban, never ever wants to do anything or add anyone.

    If he was smart, Doncic would leave. Mavs are a joke and always have been historically in the NBA. Pathetic.

  23. Prestigious_Team3134

    Just watch that video of Luka not getting an offensive rebound that went right too him cause he was too busy pouting after missing a layup. People don’t wanna say it but Luka is lazy and if he doesn’t put more effort in, no team he’s on will ever be a championship team.

  24. I’m just gonna say it, Jason Kidd is a garbage coach and I have no idea why he hasn’t/isn’t taking more heat for it

  25. uptoolate712

    So when do we start giving Luka the Westbrook treatment (stat-padder, doesn’t contribute to winning, etc)?

    Note, this is coming from a Westbrook fan who resents the haters.

  26. erenjaeger99

    you’re telling me all we’re missing is a generational talent from europe?

  27. thecharliepowers4

    No one ever wants to talk about how bad Luka is on defense.

  28. I don’t think its JUST the defense I think Luka just needs to mature more as a leader. Luka legitimately has top 10 of all time potential, but there are so many plays where he’s just pouting and its costing his team possessions. Its like how Bron had to learn to stop bitching constantly, or at least tactically choose when to do it because (ironically enough) the Mavs would just start the next play while he’s crying and get easy buckets.

  29. tjshipman44

    Post all star break, the Mavs have given up 42.1% on opponent 3pers.

    This is mostly random noise, and makes the team look much worse on defense than it actually is. Teams have limited ability to prevent opponents from making 3pers, and no ability in a small sample size.

    They’re still *bad* on defense, but it’s more like 120 DRTG than 127.

  30. ElderberryOk5005

    Ultimate stat padder. Most teams play ball while Luka plays Luka ball.

  31. DrGoatLives

    Maybe Luka needs to start playing defense….

  32. FullHouse222

    Isn’t Luka a big part of why Dallas has no defense? He’s a generational player but I definitely have him as a below average defender

  33. CurrentJoke579

    Luka’s ultra talented but he is not a leader. He’s not a good example to his teammates with the whining, pouting and defensive lapses. When he wants to try harder to win, it’s only on one side of the court, holding the offense hostage with no desire to move without the ball or set screens. When you reduce everyone’s role to just a spot up shooter and dunker every possession, they are less engaged and less willing to want to play defense. Especially when the best player clearly doesn’t want to play defense either. 30-7-7 and even just mid defense would probably help his team win more than 40-10-10 and shit defense.

  34. PM_ME_UR_RESPECT

    If we don’t win or at a bare minimum show marked improvement in our game against Miami, I’ll officially be on the fire Jason Kidd train.

    This roster is too talented to be going through this.

  35. Jackfitz88

    Kid has to go! He isn’t the guy. All excuses are over. We have the roster imo, minor a couple people they have to go but we should be playing a lot better then this.

    Fire kid hire bud

  36. kingmonsterzero

    So when they win it’s “Luka Magic” not great coaching. When they lose it’s “Kidd is awful” “Luka has no help” come on with the bullshit people

  37. Equivalent_Map272

    luka is an amazing scorer, not a good defender(he’s okay better though than last year) and not a team floor riser. he’s just a less version of harden, but harden would’ve dragged this team to 50 wins

  38. Choice_Marzipan5322

    Come to the Lakers and get that Chip.

  39. So he’s basically just padding since these “stats” are not leading to any wins? Hmmm interesting. Safe to say Harden was doing this and much better while also winning.

  40. WhenItsHalfPastFive

    Why do people format titles this way?

  41. Smok3dSalmon

    Why not just write the averages over those 5 games? Why list them, lmao.

  42. TheMeerkatLobbyist

    Mavs have the worst coach in the league and a terrible front office, who sacrificed their future flexibility for mediocre upgrades. Its a laughable franchise that just lucked into two all time greats who kepts them relevant for decades.

  43. Magazine_Mediocre

    Please use punctuation, e.g. commas, bruh.

  44. Nash13101

    If you share the ball and get other people involved in the offense, they will be more invested in defense. This is not “get luka some help”. Harden ball will not work for longterm success

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