Inside The Celtics

'The Best Team in the NBA': Luka Doncic Struck by Celtics' Balance

Friday night at TD Garden, the Celtics turned a matchup billed as a battle between MVP candidates and two red-hot teams into another bludgeoning.

Bobby Krivitsky

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The Dallas Mavericks came to TD Garden as winners of eight of their last ten tilts. They left with a 28-point loss.

The Boston Celtics held the seventh-highest-scoring offense in the NBA to 110 points, nearly nine below its season average of 118.8. At the other end, they generated 138, almost 15 more than the Indiana Pacers' league-leading output of 123.6.

They've been bludgeoning opponents. Friday's 138-110 victory is their tenth straight, the longest winning streak in the Association in the 2023-24 campaign. The hosts have beaten foes by an average margin of 19.1 points during that stretch.

The team with the most talented top six in the NBA has answers for whatever's thrown its way at either end of the court. The Celtics have the rarely-found ability of not needing to put two defenders on the ball, allowing them to avoid playing in rotation with a numbers disadvantage.

From Derrick White and Jrue Holiday to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, their point-of-attack defenders are putting pressure on opposing ball handlers akin to what free divers feel at the ocean's depths.

And behind them is often a seven-foot-three rim protector. Even if he's not there and one gets around the basket, those protecting the perimeter are good enough to recover to take care of that job.

At the other end of the court, they're taking and making the most threes, and Kristaps Porzingis is punishing switches. As the roll man, he's producing 1.32 points per possession, the second-most, per NBA.com. He's even more lethal on post-ups, capitalizing on his size and touch, manufacturing a league-leading 1.38 points per possession on those opportunities, per NBA.com.

Boston's balance has Luka Doncic convinced the team he just went up against is the best in the NBA.

"That's why they're the No. 1 or No. 2 defense in the NBA," voiced the five-time All-Star after Friday's loss. "They have offense and defense. I think that's the best team in the NBA right now. And it's tough on both ends, for sure."

Regarding the challenge of guarding a team capable of playing five-out, whether it goes small or uses two bigs, the recently turned 25-year-old conveyed of the Celtics' offense, "Everybody basically is a laser. Everybody can shoot. Everybody can make it, so it's tough. It's a different coverage than any other games."

Mavericks' head coach Jason Kidd hit on one of the keys allowing Boston to maximize the advantages its talent affords it: sacrifice.

"It's about team for them," said Kidd. "You can see that with the ball movement. They're not worried about who is shooting it. A lot of times, the person shooting it is wide open."

You can go up and down the Celtics' roster and identify how they're embracing a role that requires them to prioritize what's best for the collective.

For Jayson Tatum, who recently opened up about the challenge of knowing he can score 30 every night but maintaining a steadfast commitment to making the right play as opponents, including Dallas on Friday night, often send a second defender to force the ball out of the five-time All-Star's hands, it likely means watching the MVP Award go elsewhere.

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David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

In a national TV battle spotlighting two of the top candidates for that accolade, Doncic registered a game-high 37 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out 11 assists, notching his second triple-double in as many matchups against Boston this season. Only two other players, Tyrese Haliburton and Alperen Sengun, have done so vs. the Celtics in the 2023-24 campaign.

In a national TV battle spotlighting two of the top candidates for that accolade, Doncic registered a game-high 37 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out 11 assists, notching his second triple-double in as many matchups against Boston this season. Only two other players, Tyrese Haliburton and Alperen Sengun, have done so vs. the Celtics in the 2023-24 campaign.

Tatum finished with 32 points and eight rebounds, both team-highs. Also, he repeatedly carved up Dallas' defense when the visitors sent a second defender at him, willingly moving the ball to allow the hosts to capitalize on their numbers advantage.

The two-time All-NBA First Team selection directly dished out three assists and facilitated three more of the hockey variety, making the pass before the feed that led to a bucket.

At the other end, opponents shot 33.3 percent against him, the lowest success rate of any defender who spent at least ten minutes on defense. His two-way performance helped the hosts outscore their guests 72-51 in the second half of their 28-point thrashing.

While both stars helped their MVP case in different fashions, Doncic doesn't want to get caught up in something he can't control.

"Oh, I mean, I don't know. I think that's for the media. They have the votes, so I don't know."

There's also a mutual respect between the two stars who conversed with each other after Friday's clash, with the hub of the Mavericks' offense expressing, "He's a great guy. We both have a lot of respect for each other, which is amazing."

Further Reading

Tired of Celtics' Playoff Inconsistency, Wyc Grousbeck Decided 'We're Not Running It Back'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Kristaps Porzingis Shares How First Season with Celtics Compares to His Expectations: 'Haven't Stopped Smiling'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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