The Dallas Mavericks fell in disappointing fashion to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, with Luka Doncic dropping just 21 points. It was a quiet night for Mavs star, who was seen complaining to officials early on for not getting calls.
Head coach Jason Kidd didn't exactly attack Luka after the game, but he did suggest Doncic tries to just play his game more instead of hunt for fouls. Via ESPN's Tim McMahon:
“I would lean toward playing 5-on-5 a bit more,” the Mavs coach said.”You're not going to get any calls. Officials, they tend to not stop the game to change calls. You have to understand there's a point in time in games — dead balls — to be able to talk to officials.
“While the game is going on, transition defense is one of the things we've talked about that we have to get better. If we're lobbying for calls during live play, it puts us in harm's way. … Just some things have got to be a little bit more important. I think we're going to get better at understanding as a team when to talk to officials. Not just Luka.”
The Mavs guard has spoken out on several occasions on how officiating has affected his production on the court, but it's clear he just needs to let it go and play his game.
Kidd certainly has a point. Arguing with a referee isn't going to change anything. If you don't get a call, move on. It's hard to actually do that when emotions are running high, but Doncic must flip the page.
The Mavs are 11-10 this season and Luka is averaging 25.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per night. They'll be looking to bounce back on Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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