Dallas Mavericks: Examining the early 3-point struggles of Luka Doncic

Dallas Mavericks: Examining the early 3-point struggles of Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a 51-point destruction of the LA Clippers for their first win of the season. Luka Doncic had the offense rolling, and fans saw the team’s defensive potential for the first time. It proved the Mavs are a force that will only improve when Kristaps Porzingis returns to the lineup.

The impressive victory also calmed the nerves of fans. Dallas’ 0-2 start had some fearing the sky was falling. The schedule makers did the Mavericks no favors by starting them with three road games against expected playoff teams. The Mavs have their home opener on Dec. 30 and should ride the momentum of their blowout win into a massive second week of the 2020-2021 season.

Luka has played well in the team’s first three games, but the 3-pointers are not falling. He is just two of 16 so far. Should fans be worried? Will it become a trend for his third season? Let us take a closer look at his struggles to determine what they mean moving forward.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has struggled from 3-point range so far

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is not worried about Doncic’s shooting. See his quote below from before Sunday’s game against the Clippers.

"“I think Luka is a basketball player that reads the situation constantly. As we played last year in Orlando, he kept adjusting to defenses that were coming at him, to how the game was flowing. If he didn’t have the long shot going, he made sure that he was creating downhill attacking opportunities. I don’t see him as a guy that is discouraged at all by missing a few shots. He’s a strong-willed player that is going to play his game. A great example of that is at the end of quarters. The only player I’ve ever seen willing to take 60 to 70-foot shots with no regard for shooting percentage or misses or anything like that is Darrell Armstrong.”"

Fans can bet Luka is not worried. He has attempted at least five in every game so far, despite only two falling. Let us take a closer look at the shots before determining what it means going forward.

Next: Getting open