Doncic marks the best debut in the history of the NBA 'playoffs'

Luka Doncic, after a disastrous start in which he lost the ball four times and suffered a slip that raised concerns about his continuity in the game due to a sprained left ankle, marked the best debut in the history of the playoffs of the NBA. The 21-year-old Slovenian guard who has been causing a sensation since he arrived in the NBA in 2018, after having triumphed in European basketball with Real Madrid and with the national team, returned to give a recital, assumed the leadership of his team and added 42 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals.

Doncic's formidable performance was overshadowed because he accumulated 11 turnovers and, above all, because it was insufficient for his team to beat the Clippers (118-110). The Mavericks were weighed down by the expulsion of Kristaps Porzingis after committing his second technical foul in the third quarter. The Latvian power forward could only play 20 minutes in which he added 14 points and 6 rebounds. The best score of a rookie in the NBA playoffs was held by the legendary George Mikan of the Lakers, with 37 points in 1949. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved 36 points on the day of his debut in the title playoffs, in 1970 with Milwaukee Bucks. Also they obtained 36 points Gary Brokaw, in 1976 with Milwaukee Bucks, and Derrick Rose, in 2009 with Chicago Bulls.

The Clippers' victory over the Mavericks was based on the contributions of Kawhi Leonard, with 29 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals; Paul George, with 27 points; and Marcus Morris, with 19 points. Doncic had to deal with the marking of Patrick Beverley, one of the most difficult players to face in the NBA for his aggressiveness and his defensive efficiency. And it was not a relief for the Slovenian when Paul George or Kawhi Leonard took over from his partner in that role. "I'd bet a lot of the fouls they did against him weren't called, which is something that often happens in the NBA playoffs ," said Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. "His performance has been spectacular, if you also take into account the way they slow him down and how often they hit him."

Praise and self-criticism

"Luka was just Luka," Porzingis said. "He has made history again, but I know that it does not matter much to him because we did not achieve victory." Doncic, far from rejoicing in his historic performance, called him "terrible" because of those 11 turnovers, just one less than James Harden's record. "I know my opponents are going to be very physical with me," says the 77th Mavericks. “I never should have had those 11 turnovers. That's 11 possessions for my team. I was able to do much better. "

The Mavericks' rivals are sparing no praise for the young Slovenian star. “He is the future. We didn't get to this thinking we were going to stop Luka, "said Paul George, the 30-time forward who has been a six-time All Star." But what we expected was to make it difficult for him. We will try to keep wearing it as much as possible. " Clippers coach Doc Rivers analyzed: “What we did wrong, and what shows his greatness, is that every time we made a mistake on the weak side… he found a partner and that partner was able to pitch. I did not care so much about his tickets to the basket or his triples as his ability to generate the game of his team and his assists ”.

THE 'PLAYOFFS'

Eastern Conference

1st Milwaukee - 8th Orlando (1st game, August 18)

4th Indiana - 5th Miami (1st game, August 18)

Boston, 109; Philadelphia, 101 (1-0)

Toronto, 134; Brooklyn, 110 (1-0)

Western Conference

1st Lakers - 8th Portland (1st game, August 18)

4th Houston - 5th Oklahoma (Game 1, August 18)

Denver, 135; Utah, 125 (1-0)

Clippers, 118; Dallas, 110 (1-0)

THE CALENDAR

All series, best of seven games.

On August 31, the Conference semifinals will begin

On September 15, the Conference finals will begin

On September 30 the final will begin and, if necessary, the seventh game will be on October 13.