Only Russell Westbrook (5) and Oscar Robertson (4) have had streaks of this many 30pt triple doubles in a row. Unfortunate that a fun statistical moment is being robbed by sad outcomes due to terrible defense.
Source: [https://twitter.com/NBA\_University/status/1765392976337940778](https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1765392976337940778)
38 comments
> Something(s) needs to change.
The coach
This is unreadable. Learn how to use some punctuation.
He’s gone. Mavs have failed to build around him for like 5 years now. Heavy 2000s LeBron vibes
How much of it is scheme versus just not having the personnel? I know Gafford is really good and he’s not getting nearly enough playing time, but to my eye it just seems like no matter what, they’re going to be limited by their roster.
Gafford and Lively are both good in the paint but neither of them are like DPOY caliber anchors, and they lack any really good PoA defenders that can sit down and just give the opposing best player hell for 30 minutes a night.
Future Nugget
How much of this is coaching vs the fact the starting backcourt are atrocious defenders that have a crazy heavy offensive load and they start a rookie center?
Luka haters having the best week of their lives
Kidd needs to go, but its been no secret that Lukas attitude, defense and overall effort on that end is putrid right now. It was great in 2023 but since the new year hes fallen back into that pattern again
Dyslexia working overtime rn
Lukas the new James harden, a lot of stats on offence, no defence to save his life and the kids going wild cause they love numbers. lol
Has the fact they’re one of the worst defensive teams in the league anything to do with Luka being one of the worst defensive players in the league, targeted relentlessly by opponents? Maybe less triple doubles and more defensive effort, how about that?
Out of your 2 best players, atleast one should be able to play some defence, ppl forget there are 2 sides to the court. Inflated stats last few years have fooled a lot of people who don’t understand the game beyond the stat sheet
What happened to like 2 weeks ago when everyone was like “Mavs are a big problem in the West”
Most stars can get those stats if they don’t have to put any effort or energy into defense.
Below average defender, who has high usage rate and dribbles the ball for 20 seconds+ every possession.
Getting triple-doubles really isn’t what it used to be.
It’s always “he doesn’t have enough help” but so far different options have been tried and he hasn’t really succeeded outside of putting up big numbers.
Hard to win with 4 players standing still on offense.
This title would be so much more readable if you had just used some commas smh
Bottom 6-10 rankings in the West getting real interesting
I know, they should bring in Trae Young. The best defense is more offense.
I tried to tell everyone that trading 2 firsts for Gafford and Washington wasn’t going to move the needle
Someone pointed out that prior to the all start break, the Mavs had played the most home games. So after the all star break, they were going to be on the road A LOT.
Seems the losing is kinda coinciding with the heavier road schedule.
Pairing 2 offensive superstars who don’t play a lick of defense and both need the ball to be most effective?
How could anyone have seen this coming?
Luka gives off strong MJ-under-Doug-Collins vibes.
Against popular thought, I don’t think scoring 40 pts per game is healthy for a team as a whole. I do believe several players can score that much and choose not to in order to feed the team. Make it more dynamic. SGA is a good example of this.
Coach killer Luka, at it again.
We have learned that a player with 35-10-10 isn’t going to win by themselves these days. He needs to lead the defensive effort (or have a guy like Draymond to lead the defensive effort), and needs complimentary players. Luka can continue his 35-10-10 with a new coach and I feel the results will be the same. Dallas needs to find a few Marcus Smarts or Derrick Whites, or Trade Luka for a boatload of assets.
The Mavs just have Doncic, who can’t play defense and Irving who also cannot play defense as stars.
What do you expect ? The rest of them can’t play defense and the ownership, including Cuban, never ever wants to do anything or add anyone.
If he was smart, Doncic would leave. Mavs are a joke and always have been historically in the NBA. Pathetic.
Just watch that video of Luka not getting an offensive rebound that went right too him cause he was too busy pouting after missing a layup. People don’t wanna say it but Luka is lazy and if he doesn’t put more effort in, no team he’s on will ever be a championship team.
I’m just gonna say it, Jason Kidd is a garbage coach and I have no idea why he hasn’t/isn’t taking more heat for it
So when do we start giving Luka the Westbrook treatment (stat-padder, doesn’t contribute to winning, etc)?
Note, this is coming from a Westbrook fan who resents the haters.
you’re telling me all we’re missing is a generational talent from europe?
No one ever wants to talk about how bad Luka is on defense.
I don’t think its JUST the defense I think Luka just needs to mature more as a leader. Luka legitimately has top 10 of all time potential, but there are so many plays where he’s just pouting and its costing his team possessions. Its like how Bron had to learn to stop bitching constantly, or at least tactically choose when to do it because (ironically enough) the Mavs would just start the next play while he’s crying and get easy buckets.
Ultimate stat padder. Most teams play ball while Luka plays Luka ball.
But Russell Westbrooks were empty stats and Luka is basketball’s savior right
Maybe Luka needs to start playing defense….
Isn’t Luka a big part of why Dallas has no defense? He’s a generational player but I definitely have him as a below average defender
Luka’s ultra talented but he is not a leader. He’s not a good example to his teammates with the whining, pouting and defensive lapses. When he wants to try harder to win, it’s only on one side of the court, holding the offense hostage with no desire to move without the ball or set screens. When you reduce everyone’s role to just a spot up shooter and dunker every possession, they are less engaged and less willing to want to play defense. Especially when the best player clearly doesn’t want to play defense either. 30-7-7 and even just mid defense would probably help his team win more than 40-10-10 and shit defense.
Luka is giving me Melo/Harden vibes. He can carry you through the season, might even win you one playoff series. You ain’t winning a championship.