Luka Doncic stunned the Boston Celtics, playing well in Game 1 but then playing idly in the first half of Game 2, scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. When Boston challenged him to score in the Finals opener, he replied, “Sure, just wait and see.”
That led the Celtics to adjust how they played against him. They didn't send double teams at him, they weren't direct, but they did pressure and shade him with a lot more help defense than they did in Game 1. It was a strategy to draw attention to Doncic's teammates.
And for the most part, they didn't live up to expectations. Derrick Jones Jr. struggled offensively, and Josh Green missed all three of his 3-pointers. Jaden Hardy played two minutes in the third quarter before being replaced. Dante Exum, who wasn't in the main rotation in Game 1, suddenly played 10 minutes thanks to a 3-pointer he made. That was enough for Jason Kidd to trust him for long stretches in the second half. Every other Mavericks player other than Doncic shot just 1 for 16.
The same could be said about the team's three centers, with Kidd switching them around multiple times rather than implementing a planned rotation to see who could get enough time on the court. None of Kidd's three options were particularly effective.
Dallas deservedly earned a trip to the Finals, and their role players complemented and supported Doncic's stellar play (and Kyrie Irving's yet another lackluster performance). But this was the toughest test they'd ever faced, and they weren't able to overcome it. Dallas now finds itself 0-2 down.
