The Clippers absolutely do not have an answer for Luka Doncic and this wild stat proves it
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Luka Doncic is always unguardable — that’s just who he is. But he’s especially so against the Clippers.
Occasionally, there’s a match-up that might give the Mavs’ phenom fits. For example, he tends to struggle when he’s guarded by Dillon Brooks and that’s because Brooks makes him work so hard. Doncic will get to his spots, but he won’t have an easy time doing it.
With the Clippers? The red carpet is out. And it doesn’t matter who is defending him — he’s getting his. He scored 39 points and hit 16 field goals in the Mavs’ win on Tuesday. On his way there he gave eight (!!!!) different Clippers defenders buckets.
And, yes, that includes both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
That doesn’t inspire much hope for Clippers’ fans. They’re just making everything too easy for Doncic.
He’s facing 0 resistance on any of the drives he makes. Look at how easily he dribbles by this double-team.
Then there’s this tough one-legged fadeaway over Leonard here. He’s just toying with the Clippers at this point.
He’s also allowed to back down Kawhi Leonard here and take five dribbles before getting his shot up. He’s right in his comfort zone.
There’s not even a stunt from the nearest man in Rajon Rondo. Leonard defends this as solidly as possible, but Doncic is great at making tough shots. This is a cakewalk for him.
It doesn’t matter who you stick on Doncic. If there’s going to be this little resistance from the Clippers, he’s going to continue to have nights like this.
Speaking of little resistance, look at how weak this double team on Doncic is.
There’s no pressure on this double team at the top in the middle of the floor. Dorian Finney-Smith is allowed to make an easy catch right in the eye and the contest to Hardaway Jr. is late.
The Clippers just don’t do the little things here. Doncic’s initial pass gets off clean and neither Patrick Beverley nor Paul George gets their hands up in time. They’re not being physical at all at the point of attack.
Dorian-Finney Smith isn’t pressured on his catch, either. He makes an easy touch pass to Tim Hardaway Jr. that essentially puts away the game. That’s not anything special — the Clippers just made that easy. There’s no urgency or cohesion on defense for them right now. And that’s what it’s been through the first two games of the series.
And as a result, Doncic is absolutely having his way with them and they’re two wins away from moving on. If it continues this way, the Mavs will win this series in 4.
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