Why does Luka Doncic still hold a grudge against Vlade Divac?

The Dallas Mavericks have proven to be a very serious team. Even when the halftime score was 60-51 in favor of their opponents, the Sacramento Kings, it seemed like a missed opportunity for the Kings. The Kings seemed superior to the Mavericks a few weeks ago, but things have changed in the last week. The Mavericks have won two crucial games in California against the Kings, both ending with victories for the Mavericks. In their most recent game, the Mavericks were losing by 34 points on Tuesday and by 4 points on Friday (103-107), but they still managed to make a comeback and win. They were the best team on the court and are now a big problem in the Western Conference. The Mavericks went from being the hunter to the hunted. They made a 0-12 partial in just three minutes, and during the middle of the last quarter, they took the first advantage of the entire game (92-94). They proved they are a serious team and ready to take on any challenge.

The Mavericks have been criticized for not living up to their potential, but that’s changing. They have become a more physical and competitive team after adding players like Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr, Daniel Gafford, and PJ Washington. They are no longer solely focused on Kyrie Irving or Luka Doncic’s performances but instead on working together as a team. The Mavericks now have a stricter playing style, helping them be more successful. Doncic’s MVP-level statistics and Irving’s wildcard talent are still valuable assets, but they are no longer the only focus. If the Mavericks continue on this path, they could be a real contender in the league.

The Texans have won two games in Sacramento, bringing their record to 44-29. They have won 10 of their last 11 games, including six games in a row. They are now two games ahead of the Kings, who they have tied within their duel (2-2) and who have pushed them down to the eighth place. It will be difficult for the defeated team to escape playing in the postseason despite having a good season without the same level of success as in the past. However, the Mavs are in a good position, in their best form at the best possible time. They are within reach of the seventh-place team (Phoenix Suns), with only one and a half games between them. They are also only one game away from the fifth-place team (Pelicans) and two games away from the fourth-place team (Clippers).

Luka cannot forgive Vlade Divac, the former General Manager of the Kings

The Kings changed their pace, bouncing back after their previous game against the Mavs, where they looked fragile and tired. In this game, the Mavs invited them to win based on triples and lengthy suspensions. Unlike their last game, the Kings started strong, scoring 21 points in six minutes and 34 points in the first quarter. However, the Mavericks managed to hold on despite losing by 15 points. In the second half, they defended well, denying points near the rim and cornering De’Aaron Fox. They also executed their offensive plan, waiting for the shots to go in and finally for the stars to roll up their sleeves. Ultimately, they pounced on their chance to win, showing what good teams do in important matches—two minutes without points and with the game tied (103-103) led to a crucial triple by Dante Exum, who had missed two favorable chances just before—confidence in the plan paid off. Then Harrison Barnes couldn’t tie it with a triple and lost the ball on a takeaway after an attacking rebound.

Doncic scored the final free throw and sent a message to Vlade Divac, the general manager of the Kings, who did not give him the number 2 pick in the draft because they preferred to choose Marvin Bagley III.

The Sacramento team had previously chosen Deandre Fox, intending to build their entire franchise around him. He was their first choice to become the team’s future star. The team believed that having two ball-dominant players would be too much, so they decided to go with a tall player instead of selecting great talents like Doncic, Trey Young, or Shai.

Doncic was playing with problems in his left leg, and in this game, he also suffered a blow to his right. He bled and made constant gestures of pain. He played against a wall of defensive help, with Domantas Sabonis too far from the basket to take the ball out of his hands. It was a tough day for him, but he finished with 26 points (free throws, 10/14), 9 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Kyrie stepped up when it seemed like the game was slipping away, scoring 14 crucial points in the last quarter and 30 points. His talent and focus were evident, proving to be the difference. Exum also played a crucial role, hitting two vital three-pointers and making life difficult for Fox. Meanwhile, Washington, Jones, Gafford, and Lively won the physical battle, proving that talent and muscle are the keys to success. Ultimately, it was a simple formula that worked: the best players played with great care.

The Kings had several opportunities until the end and played much better than they did three days earlier. However, they still lost the game. Sabonis finished with his twenty-sixth triple-double of the season (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists), which is more than anyone else this season. But he was not comfortable in the second half. Fox scored 23 points but needed 22 shots and could not match the bursts of Kyrie in decisive moments despite his efforts. Malik Monk left the game with a nasty knee injury, Kevin Huerter is out for the entire season, and the team’s physicality, which was their ally last season, is failing them now. Mike Brown, the coach, complained about the difference in free throws, with the Kings having twelve (two less than Doncic) and the visitors having 33. It was a hot and tense game with traces of playoffs. The Kings come out of the game touched and with many votes to go to a play in, which will be full of sharks in the West (Suns, Lakers, Warriors?).

On the other hand, the Mavs receive the final push, the legitimizing impulse. They are a great team and have come together just in time when the moment of truth appears. They defend, hit, and know what they are up to, and when everything else isn’t enough, they have two superstars who finally play with a praetorian guard, a wall of muscle that guards their backs. They are willing to kill themselves to defend themselves. Yes, it is an easy formula, but those are always the best.