The Doncic Addiction
For 15 years I’ve had LeBronitis, the persistent desire to watch his brand of high-flying ball. And since they became Kings, uber-athletic lefties De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley have also ignited hot circuits in my brain. It took a couple of months but last night I discovered I’ve all at once developed a new disorder the psychiatrist next door diagnosed as The Doncic Addiction.
More perceptive thrill seekers than I experienced the potency of Doncic’s appeal while he still played in Europe. I did my homework last year, watching many highlight tapes and reading scouting reports but agreed with others who opined that his average speed and jumping ability meant he’d likely be a solid NBA player who had no more than a modest chance of even once becoming an all star. Granted, Doncic had only turned 19 and could shoot from distance, and drive and finish, and drive and pass, and rebound, and make clutch plays, and play decent team defense, but so what? He probably wouldn’t be able to do these things against the NBA’s muscular sprinters and leapers.
Stubborn I certainly am but a basketball illiterate I am not. I’d still have taken Luka Doncic third in the NBA draft. Even so, as the season began, I was startled by those who continued to rave about the transcendence of the kid’s subtle game. He was playing much better here than he’d performed in Europe. Nevertheless, hadn’t all this praise been a little too much?
After watching the Mavericks play the Clippers last night, I’ve determined that the hysteria – and it’s something approaching that – is justified. Two-thirds of the notes I took concerned Doncic because that’s what moved me. In the first quarter he hit a three-pointer and a floater and a jumper, and in the second sank six of eight free throws to tally 13 points by half. "Mavs down 11, imagine what it would be without Luka," I texted a friend.
In the third quarter he twice navigated inside, absorbed contact, made his baskets, and sank free throws. He soon hit another free throw and a three pointer and a jumper and, following a pump fake, a basket that drew another foul. He missed the free throw, finishing the quarter with 14 points and 27 total as the Mavs trailed by seven.
Coach Rick Carlisle doubtless digs Doncic but admirably controlled himself the first seven and a half minutes of the fourth quarter, keeping the six-foot-seven star on the bench as veteran backup guards J.J. Barea and Devin Harris shot and passed the rallying Mavericks into a tie at 109. Luka then returned to assist towering De’Andre Jordan, and Dallas, startlingly, led by two. Three Clippers – persistent Danilo Gallinari, sweet-shooting Lou Williams, and strongman Montrezl Harrell – responded with 10 straight points before contested Doncic dribbled and drove fifty feet fast for a layup, Barea swished a three and Doncic a step back three, his specialty, to slash the deficit to two with a couple of seconds left. The Clippers sank two free throws and won by four. I texted and received texts throughout the event. I don’t know what would’ve happened this game if Doncic hadn’t played, but it wouldn’t have been as fun.
At this point I’m obligated to warn there could be some moderately worrisome developments in Luka Land. In October he made 45.8 percent of his shots and an even 40 from three-point land. Those figures slid to 43.3 and 36.8 in November. And for December, as of the 21st, they’ve slipped to 39.6 and 28.9. Is young Luka tiring during the rigors of an NBA campaign? Probably a little. Are other teams figuring out how to more closely contest his creative but not lightning moves? That’s part of it. Is he doing anything better this Christmas season? Yes, his rebounds and assists, at 7.3 and 6.5, are his highest and becoming historically significant for a guard. Rebounds and assists are generally weatherproof. Luka Doncic does too many things well to be shut down.