Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are at the forefront of the playoffs and are doing everything they can to avoid being part of the NBA’s play-in tournament. They currently hang on the No. 5 seed but are just one game ahead of the Lakers and Trail Blazers. Any kind of stretch falls down, and Dallas can fight for his playoff life.
Doncic knows this. This is why the Mavericks star focuses on one thing for the final part of the season: he needs to avoid another technical dishonesty.
In the season, Doncic tied for the league lead with 76ers center Dwight Howard, racking up 16 technicals. Typically, players are suspended after their 16th technical dishonesty, but Donsik had a one-in-game call against him by the league office. He picked up the one screaming, “And -1!” During a game against New York in early April.
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Nonetheless, Donasik is a technical take away from an automatic one-game suspension. He is staying on the sidelines, and missing a game during a tight playoff race could be crucial. Like, Donsick is doing everything he can to stay calm and level head, as he elaborated after Dallas’ win over the Nets.
“I realize it,” Doncic said, per ESPN’s Tim McMahon. “This is something I’m not going to do. [It’s difficult] With all the emotion in the games, but obviously I have to stop. It is difficult for me on the court with all the emotions, but I realize it and I have to work on it. It’s hard to do, but I have to work on it and get better at it. “
Doncic’s problems with the complaint have picked up steam since the All-Star break, as he has posted 10 technical dishonesty in 28 matches since that period. The good news for him is that the league’s technical foul count will begin in the postseason, at which point Doncic will not be suspended for the game until taking seven technical fouls. Therefore, Donsik would have to make just six games without playing the whistle for a technique to avoid missing time.
The Mavericks are in dire need of him to do it. They are just 2-4 without him this season and are averaging 102.5 points per game in those six contests. This is nearly 10 points a game, which is lower than his season-long scoring average of 112.1.
As Doncic’s energy and spirit impact the Mavericks, they need to at least strengthen it a bit in the final weeks of the season.
Because at the end of the day, Donsik can only make an impact for Dallas when he is on the court.
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