04 April 2023 , 22:23
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Luka Doncic has taken responsibility for the Dallas Mavericks ' crumbling regular NBA season, where they sit 11th in the Western Conference after losing seven of their past eight games, while also issuing a defiant message with the team’s season hanging by a thread.
The 37-42 Mavs are one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference's final play-in spot. However, the Thunder own the tiebreaker over the Mavericks, meaning that Dallas must win two more games than Oklahoma City in the final week of the season to progress.
Doncic has taken responsibility for the Mavericks’ collapsing season but also admitted fatigue hasn’t helped his case. The 24-year-old is a regular for the Mavs and the Slovenian national team, and has also taken added offensive responsibility this season following Jalen Brunson's departure in free agency.
"But that's not an excuse," Doncic said. "I'm still young, age-wise, but it's a lot of basketball. But I gotta be way better. I'm the leader of this team. The one to blame is me."
Doncic has pointed out it’s the Mavericks’ defensive game which is letting them down. "I don't think the offense is a problem, and I always said this," Doncic said. "It's our defensive end. I think anybody can score on us. Whoever it is, anybody can score on us."
The blockbuster trade for All-Star guard Kyrie Irving hasn’t exactly gone to plan either. The Mavericks are 4-11 with both Doncic and Irving in the line-up and 7-15 overall since Irving joined the team. To make matters worse, Dallas have allowed 118.3 points per 100 possessions over those 22 games since Irving arrived.
Luka Doncic has vowed to keep on fighting until the regular season is concluded, with the Mavericks' play-in hopes in doubt (Getty)"I think you don't see that chemistry we had before -- I mean, especially last year," Doncic added. "I think that chemistry was at the top, everybody. But chemistry builds not just not right away. It's a long process."
Despite the Mavericks’ season going horrifically wrong, Doncic has issued a defiant message and will go out on his shield. Doncic and Irving were both injury doubts for Wednesday's home game against the Sacramento Kings, but both are now listed as probable.
"I'm playing tomorrow," Doncic said after Tuesday's practice. "When there's still a chance, I'm gonna play. So that's not gonna happen yet."