All-Star Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is off to a high-scoring start for Dallas, but it hasn’t entirely translated to team success for the 6-5 club. Seth Partnow of The Athletic explores whether Doncic may be carrying too big a burden for the Mavericks in the team’s heliocentric offense.
Through 11 games, Doncic is averaging 33.6 PPG for the club. Partnow notes that so much of the Mavericks’ offensive attack revolves around Doncic, operating as the team’s primary play-maker and scorer, that he is already showing signs of exhaustion late in games. Partnow writes that the effects of handling so much of the team’s offense are even visible in the second halves of recent games, when Doncic’s output subsides somewhat.
There’s more out of the Lone Star State:
- Mavericks reserve center Christian Wood missed his second consecutive game tonight due to a left knee sprain, the team announced (via Twitter). Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News writes that Wood injured his knee in the second half of the team’s 96-94 win against the Nets on Monday, and did not travel with Dallas for its back-to-back road games against the Magic and Wizards, both losses.
- Rockets backup big man Usman Garuba, who played for Spain in the EuroBasket tournament earlier this year, spoke with Toni Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo about his current role in Houston. “They told me that if I played as in the EuroBasket, with that intensity, I would be playing minutes and it is what I am doing, trying to give everything on the court and improving, knowing that I can give more and improve and be ready for everything,” Garuba said. The 6’8″ 20-year-old is averaging 3.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, and 0.4 BPG through the team’s first 10 contests.
- Young Spurs swingmen Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell have been struggling to convert their jump shots in key moments recently, but both players are hoping to learn from their misses, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “I’ll be in the gym tomorrow,” Vassell said after missing an overtime buzzer-beater try against the Grizzlies last night. “Don’t worry about it.” Both players are averaging over 20 PPG for the first time in their NBA careers, having become primary focal points in San Antonio’s offense.
Ultra high usage = losing, Luka should be smarter than this, its also unwatchable garbage.
Mavs have little use for Hardaway, Wood stinks on defense. Crowder would be a nice addition if these teams could agree on something. Bullock, Finney-Smith, Kleiber, Mcgee are doing all the dirty work defensively, and they need some help if give Doncic the ball & get out of the way is their strategy the rest of the season
Dallas should continue to monitor the Chicago Bulls. Tough stretch of schedule coming up. DeMar DeRozan could be a nice addition. He can play everywhere on the floor except the 5. Doesn’t bring a 3-pt shot, but is deadly from mid-range. He is beginning to show a bit of age, but would be an ideal Luka sidekick.
A couple of years ago with the Spurs they put the ball in his hands, and he posted really strong assist numbers.
Veteran player who is hungry for a ring. Still has a bad taste in his mouth from the Toronto trade that resulted in a Raptor ring without him.
Nikola Vucevic will also be available.
Derozan would be a nice get for sure.
They should have signed Schroder when they had the chance.