Luka Doncic put up a heroic effort against the almighty Clippers, but he ultimately fell short. His role players failed to back up his monstrous performances.
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The young Mavericks superstar could not be contained all series long, but even then he fell short of beating the Clippers once again.
He averaged a ridiculous 35.2 points per game, leading all postseason players, and continued his all-round dominance. He chipped in with 10.3 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game as well. Simply put, he was everywhere for Dallas.
His co-stars? Not so much. Kristaps Porzingis largely struggled through the series, scoring only 13.1 points per game on an abysmal 29.6% mark from three.
In fact, in game 7, Luka was responsible for 77 points with 46 points and 14 assists, the most in game 7 history. Shannon Sharpe believes the Mavs superstar needs more help.
.@ShannonSharpe on the Clippers overcoming a 3-2 deficit to advance:
“The last 2 games Kawhi Leonard was sensational, but this was all about the role players. Luka canceled out PG and Kawhi, but he needed one or two guys to come along with him and he didn’t get it.” pic.twitter.com/AtxiIrRruy
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 7, 2021
Luka Doncic Could Find Himself In The Same Situation As LeBron James With The Cleveland Cavaliers
Doncic’s situation with Dallas could be something to monitor in the upcoming offseason. The Mavericks clearly have a generational talent on their team, but they now need to make sure that Doncic reaches the heights of NBA greatness he’s destined for.
The situation is eerily similar to what LeBron James faced in his early days with the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron would often find himself manning a one man army against legendary teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics with very little help from his teammates.
That lack of support ultimately led to James’ decision to leave the Cavs to team up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. If Dallas fails to give Doncic the help he needs, they may find themselves in a similar situation.
Kristaps Porzingis was supposed to be Doncic’s running-mate, but he’s failed to prove he can regain the all-star caliber form he had in New York. Nevertheless, it is admirable to watch the Mavs star grow. With an adequate second fiddle, Doncic could take his game to even greater heights next year.
Luka Doncic in his 2nd playoff series at age 22:
35.7 PPG
7.9 RPG
10.3 APG
1.3 SPG
49% FG
40.8 on 3sTHE FUTURE IS BRIGHT 🔥🔥🔥 since you like # stats & all that other crap..This is his playoff avg against your bandwagon team #2
— Carlos Gonzalez (@RealLos23) June 6, 2021