The Dallas Mavericks skilled a tricky night time on Tuesday, falling 131-110 to the New Orleans Pelicans of their NBA In-Season Event matchup.
The sport noticed a less-than-stellar efficiency from star participant Luka Doncic, who stumbled early within the sport, contributing to the Mavs’ battle all through the night time.
Doncic: The court docket was actually dangerous
The spotlight of the night was not simply the Mavericks’ defeat but in addition the court docket they performed on, a part of the distinctive design chosen for the in-season match.
Luka Doncic had beforehand voiced his issues about these specifically designed courts, significantly after the Nov. 3 loss at Denver.
Following Tuesday’s sport, he overtly criticized the court docket’s high quality, emphasizing its slipperiness and uneven bounce.
Doncic, in an interview with Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning Information, expressed his dissatisfaction: “I imply, outdoors all the colours, the court docket right now was actually dangerous. It was actually slippery. After which some locations, the ball did not actually bounce. So you already know, if we will have these courts, we will be sure that it is a secure court docket, so you possibly can play on it. Like in Dallas, you already know? It wasn’t secure, so we needed to change it.”
Doncic’s complaints concerning the court docket’s enjoying floor echo his sentiments from the Nov. 3 sport.
Plainly the colour schemes and the distinctive design usually are not the one points; the court docket’s stability can also be a big concern for gamers.
Mavs do not have excuse for loss towards Pelicans
Regardless of his grievance, Doncic and the Mavericks didn’t blame their loss solely to the court docket.
Coach Jason Kidd commented on the NBA’s current experimentation with court docket designs, suggesting that the league might need gone too far.
“We have had issues with the ground, however it’s too late. There’s nothing concerning the flooring. Tonight. We’re not utilizing the ground as excuse so simply be sure that we’re not quoted on saying the ground is the explanation why we misplaced turnovers and provides credit score to New Orleans popping out and enjoying exhausting,”Kidd remarked.
Teammates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams shared their ideas on the court docket, declaring potential inconsistencies and the necessity for changes sooner or later.
Hardaway Jr. stated, “It would not matter what I say. They are going to do no matter they need on the finish of the day. Court docket. Out of doors court docket. Windy situations. Would not matter. Basketball is basketball. They only kicked our ass.”
As for the in-season match, the Mavericks now face a difficult path to the knock off stage, sitting at 1-2 in Group B play.
Doncic’s struggles on the distinctive court docket increase questions concerning the impression of those designs on gamers’ performances, including a brand new layer to the continued experiment with in-season match codecs.
