It’s far from the ideal situation for the Dallas Mavericks.
What was supposed to be a neck-and-neck competition between two of the NBA’s best teams has so far turned into a one-sided slaughter where the Mavericks are at the mercy of a Boston Celtics roster that is better than them in almost every category.
The Mavericks didn’t only have to worry about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but they also had to be concerned about Kristaps Porzingis and the rest of the Boston roster playing well. The sheer number of players to worry about played a huge role in the loss.
However, Dallas fans are especially frustrated with how Luka Doncic carried himself throughout Game 3, which ended in a 106-99 loss. Fans heavily scrutinized his lack of a defensive motor. Doncic fouling out in the fourth quarter essentially doomed the Mavericks to defeat.
Now that the Mavs’ season is on the line, many are starting to reconsider the value Luka brings to the team. One analyst even went far to make a bold statement about Luka’s place in NBA lore.
Colin Cowherd believes Dallas Mavericks’ Game 3 loss places a huge dent on Luka Doncic’s legacy
Colin Cowherd was ruthless in dissecting Luka Doncic’s efforts in Game 3, even going so far as to call him a better version of Carmelo Anthony.
In a video posted by The Volume on their Twitter page, the popular analyst explained his reasoning behind his claims.
“He’s a better Carmelo Anthony,” Cowherd argued. “I don’t think he’s in great shape. I don’t think he’s easy to play with. I don’t think he’s committed on the defensive end.”
It’s hard to argue against Cowherd’s arguments when his Game 3 ejection is put into consideration. His stats for the series (29.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 6.0 APG) are solid numbers, but his lack of a defensive drive in a series where opponents drill every possible weakness is disappointing.
Of course, Luka can still turn this narrative around if he manages to force a Game 7 and make an impossible run for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Until that happens, his detractors have the upper hand in this narrative.
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