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Luka Doncic may be the favorite to win the MVP, but Christmas proved once again that current Finals MVP LeBron James still sits on the throne of the NBA. On Friday night, Doncic and the Mavericks fell to 0-2 on the season, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 138-115.
Here, the Mavs talk …
Luka Doncic (27 points, 7 assists) Highlights vs. LA Lakers
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle on second-chance points:
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game where a team gave up 35 second-chance points and got zero. Obviously, it’s the history of the game.”
Trey Burke on the Mavs’ performance:
“We don’t compete for 48 minutes like we’re supposed to compete. That’s a championship team there … Defensively, it’s effort. One to five. … Offensively, we’re still working things out.
Luka Doncic on disappointing defensive performance:
“It doesn’t surprise me much. You can’t win a game when you give up 35 second-chance points to zero … We have to box.”
READ MORE: ‘We have to get tougher’: Doncic’s Mavs fall to LeBron’s Lakers 138-115 at Christmas
READ MORE: Lakers 138, Mavs 115 FINAL: ‘It’s not easy being green’
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle on the team’s overall effort:
“I see a lot of possessions where we show a level of tenacity that is necessary, but too many that we don’t achieve … Bouncing is a problem, it’s a concern. So we have to look at that … I have to be tougher.
Josh Richardson on second-chance points deficit:
“I think a lot of that is because we turn and run to the basket when the shot goes up and we’re not looking for bodies.”
Return of Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle Kristaps Porzingis:
“It’s progressing all the time. At this point, I trust to say it’s weeks, not months. That’s all I’m going to tell you.”
READ MORE: The Mavs have a ‘rebound problem’ – can it be fixed?
The road doesn’t get much easier for the Mavs, with a quick switch between this loss and their next game Sunday afternoon against the undefeated Los Angeles Clippers.
