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Following a 106-99 win, the Boston Celtics take control of the NBA Finals, gaining a 3-0 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks. Game 3 was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams throwing massive haymakers at each other. However, even after a 20-2 fourth-quarter run, Dallas didn’t have enough to get past the finish line. What went wrong for the Mavericks?
Frustrating Luka Doncic Game:
In the series’ first two games, it seemed like Doncic was the only Dallas player who contributed positively to the team. However, Doncic didn’t look like his usual self in game 3, scoring 27 points on 11/27 shooting. While Doncic is not known for his stellar defense, he has drastically improved on that end this postseason. However, in game 3, Doncic was a liability on defense, missing rotations and boxouts and committing unnecessary fouls.
After completing an improbable 20-2 run in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks found themselves down 3 points. With all the momentum on Dallas’ side, Doncic committed his sixth foul, ultimately fouling out of the game. Dallas had to close the game without their superstar player, which drastically hurt them.
Doncic’s worst enemy is himself, and when he lets the referees get inside his head, it affects every aspect of his game. There is no denying Doncic’s talent on the court, but he has to limit his complaining to the referees, as it actively hurts his play and his teams. However, even after an uncharacteristic game, with his team being down 3-0, Doncic isn’t counting the Mavericks out yet.
Questionable Coaching Decisions:
Being down two games going into game 3, it was no secret that Dallas was desperate to win, and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd made that very apparent. By this point in the postseason, most teams are running a six to eight-man rotation, having built lineup continuity and having already established which players they trust in a playoff setting. However, in game 3, Kidd ran an 11-man rotation, which proved to be a questionable decision.
For example, Tim Hardaway Jr. fell out of the rotation in the Western Conference Finals, but he played 19 minutes in game 3. Hardaway Jr. finished the game with 0 points, shooting 0/5 from the field, ending with a plus/minus of -16. While Kidd’s questionable coaching isn’t the sole reason Dallas lost, little details like running a large rotation and playing Hardaway Jr. for significant minutes greatly hurt the Mavericks.
Lack Of Offense From Mavericks Role Players:
While Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are arguably the most talented backcourt duo in NBA history, the Mavericks’ success cannot rely solely on their shoulders. Doncic and Irving combined for an impressive 62 points with 24 made field goals, and 5 made threes. However, the rest of the team’s contribution was not enough, with a combined 37 points, 14 made field goals, and 4 made threes. Dallas needs a more balanced contribution from its role players, especially when facing a deep and talented team like the Celtics. Players like P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. have shown this postseason they can have explosive offensive performances, but the Mavericks have yet to receive those in the Finals.
The Mavericks now face an impossible feat that has never been overcome in NBA history – coming back from a 3-0 deficit. In NBA playoff history, teams are 155-0 after taking a 3-0 lead, including 14-0 in the NBA Finals. Back in Dallas for game 4, the Mavericks will try to start a historical comeback while the Celtics look to win their first championship since 2008.
