PIRAEUS, GREECE - JULY 4: Luka Doncic of Slovenia during the FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament match between New Zealand and Slovenia on July 4, 2024 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Sad News: Mavericks Star player Luka Doncic said he has …
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The Dallas Mavericks experienced a tough night on Tuesday, falling 131-110 to the New Orleans Pelicans in their NBA In-Season Tournament matchup.
The game saw a less-than-stellar performance from star player Luka Doncic, who stumbled early in the game, contributing to the Mavs’ struggle throughout the night.
Doncic: The court was really bad
The highlight of the evening was not just the Mavericks’ defeat but also the court they played on, part of the unique design chosen for the in-season tournament.
Luka Doncic had previously voiced his concerns about these specially designed courts, particularly after the Nov. 3 loss at Denver.
Following Tuesday’s game, he openly criticized the court’s quality, emphasizing its slipperiness and uneven bounce.
Doncic, in an interview with Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, expressed his dissatisfaction: “I mean, outside all of the colors, the court today was really bad. It was really slippery. And then some places, the ball didn’t really bounce. So you know, if we’re going to have these courts, we’re going to make sure that it’s a stable court, so you can play on it. Like in Dallas, you know? It wasn’t stable, so we had to change it.”
Doncic’s complaints about the court’s playing surface echo his sentiments from the Nov. 3 game.
It seems that the color schemes and the unique design are not the only issues; the court’s stability is also a significant concern for players.
Mavs don’t have excuse for loss against Pelicans
Despite his complaint, Doncic and the Mavericks did not blame their loss solely to the court.
Coach Jason Kidd commented on the NBA’s recent experimentation with court designs, suggesting that the league might have gone too far.
“We’ve had problems with the floor, but it’s too late. There’s nothing about the floor. Tonight. We’re not using the floor as excuse so just make sure we’re not quoted on saying the floor is the reason why we lost turnovers and give credit to New Orleans coming out and playing hard,”Kidd remarked.
Teammates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams shared their thoughts on the court, pointing out potential inconsistencies and the need for adjustments in the future.
Hardaway Jr. said, “It doesn’t matter what I say. They’re going to do whatever they want at the end of the day. Court. Outdoor court. Windy conditions. Doesn’t matter. Basketball is basketball. They just kicked our ass.”
