Should the Mavericks rely less on Luka Doncic? | Good Word with Goodwill

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill and NBA contributor Tom Haberstroh debate whether the Mavs are leaning too much on Luka Doncic and what needs to change for Dallas to make the next leap. Hear the full conversation on “Good Word with Goodwill” - part of the “Ball Don’t Lie” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Video transcript

Luka D, of course, he didn't look healthy, he doesn't look healthy right with that knee, he got tripped up on um I think it was foot, it was like a right wing three and he just got tripped up on the follow through of the leg.It wasn't anything nefarious there.It's smart to say if your best player is your best player, you run everything through him because that's the most efficient way to run offense.But Luca had a 36 usage.That means a either the shots are being taken by Luca or one pass away from Luca, 36% of the time.That is, that's so laborious.Luke is at a 36 usage.Giannis is at a 33 usage.Jalen Brunson is at 32.5.You know what I see in those dudes, injured dudes and somebody who's going to get injured sooner or later because you cannot keep up with that level 82 games and then multiple playoff rounds.And Luke's always running around here looking like he going to say, Elizabeth, I'm coming home to you.You know what I mean?Because he has so much weight on him.You got to bring some of this usage down to save a Luca from himself to actually make your team better down the line.So when a playoff series, when Luca needs to go 36 usage or 38 usage or whatever it is, he has the energy to do it.I feel like he and Jamal Murray are getting a little bit of, I need to hit the weight room this summer.I need to, I need to actually get my ass in shape.I feel like every year we do with him is like, you know, when is he gonna like get in shape for the entire season?Not just right when the season begins and he looks great or looks a little bit more cut.But we're what, how many years into the Luka Donic thing right now?It looks like a slog for, you know, 40 minutes.But what about when it's the Western conference finals?And he's got to be as conditioned as the best player in the planet.Like the whole Golden State Warriors thing was built around Steph is gonna outrun you.He is not gonna run out of gas and he's gonna run you to the bone offensively like you can't have your best defender on him and still survive on the other end.I feel like Jamal Murray, uh how he kind of didn't really get in shape this season and a calf issue.And then now he's just, he, he looks like totally out matched against this Minnesota, you know, Doberman defense.Same thing with Luca where it's like, when are we gonna have that conversation about how he's not being serious about his body.Um, he was an MVP candidate this year, but we're gonna have to have that conversation at some point.