Perhaps the Dallas medical staff decided such a threat was very little, however the benefit was inarguably smaller. This wasnt Game 7 of the Finals. This was the 3rd in what could be hundreds of playoff video games Doncic plays for the Mavericks. No group needs to ever risk that possibility for such a weak prize. Dallas should know that. Nearly 20 years ago, it found itself in a really comparable scenario..
In Game 3 of the 2003 Western Conference finals, Dirk Nowitzki sprained his knee. He remained for the rest of the series regardless of the demonstrations of group owner Mark Cuban. Don Nelson refused to run the risk of Dirks future on a single series. Nowitzki ended up playing another 110, mainly injury-free championship game for Dallas, and won the franchise the 2011 championship. He may have swung that 2003 series against San Antonio in Dallas favor, however one year is nearly never ever worth a decade. Neither, then, is one video game..
And it shouldnt take a doctor to understand that. It doesnt take a medical professional to understand a healthy Luka Doncic is the single-most important thing the Mavericks can take out of their bubble experience.
Playing him used the weak possibility of an upset that likely wouldnt have actually altered the groups overall trajectory, but produced the threat of a more injury that would have torpedoed it. Doncic currently had a history of ankle issues (albeit on the right side rather than the left). He is also 21 years old, an MVP prospect and the secret to unlocking a years or more of contention for Dallas. The Mavericks gambled that on a 1.6 percent chance to win the third game of a first-round series..
Because they have physicians, they can justify that decision. They understand Lukas overall medical photo much better than the outsiders who had actually choose to see it safeguarded. Golden States medical staff knew Kevin Durants body simply. How d that one work out?.
Envision a circumstance in which Doncic, not able to put weight on his left leg, suffered a more debilitating injury by overcompensating on the. A prospective Dallas dynasty might have disappeared over 1.6 percent in the first round.
You will not find 5 more useless words in sports than “Im not a medical professional, but …” Theyre an outsiders hedge versus expert understanding, the justification for decisions based upon knowledge that should not be needed. It doesnt take a medical professional to conduct a risk-reward analysis. It does not take a physician to apply typical sense..
And it didnt take a doctor to see that Luka Doncic was struggling to make it up and down the court in the fourth quarter of Fridays Game 3 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. The second-year experience sprained his left ankle late in the third quarter, hopped off the court without showing any capability to put weight on the affected foot, and in some way made it back onto the flooring less than four minutes of video game time later. Naturally, he lasted just around two minutes prior to shuffling off the floor for the remainder of the night. The pain was too terrific to play through, which asks the concern: Why even attempt?.
The simple answer is that Doncic, and the Mavs, desired to win the game. A triumph would have pushed them up 2-1 in the series, taking them halfway to one of the most significant upsets in NBA history.
Even if they d managed the return, they d still be underdogs in the series. The Clippers have actually been without beginning point player Patrick Beverley for two games. Montrezl Harrell is still getting back into shape after leaving the bubble. They are only going to get more powerful as the series advances. And taking the Clippers down would hardly position Dallas as championship favorites. They d likely go into the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals as heavy underdogs, thanks to their No. 7 seed. The overall stakes here were low. Sitting Doncic just suggested punting away a video game, a series, and a season they were probably losing anyway..
It doesnt take a physician to perform a risk-reward analysis. And it didnt take a doctor to see that Luka Doncic was having a hard time to make it up and down the court in the fourth quarter of Fridays Game 3 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. And it shouldnt take a doctor to know that. Whether Doncic firmly insisted on playing, the coaching staff grew overzealous in seeking out an ultimately meaningless win or the organization as an entire decided to take the possibility, somebody required to stand up and remind everyone involved what was on the line by putting him back in the video game. It does not take a doctor to know a healthy Luka Doncic is the single-most important thing the Mavericks can take out of their bubble experience.
