PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 15: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
3 ways Luka Doncic humiliated the Phoenix Suns in Game 7
May 15, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) against the Phoenix Suns in game seven of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
3 ways Luka Doncic humiliated the Phoenix Suns in Game 7: Step-back threes
The step-back jump shot is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing shot in the game of basketball. It encompasses all the technically beautiful aspects of basketball in a singular possession.
To perfect the craft of a step-back, the pupil requires supreme footwork, astute balance, a quick but powerful sidestep, and not to mention a proficient shooting touch from an array of distances.
In short, the step-back maneuverer is incredibly difficult to master. It’s why only the greatest wing scorers in history have been able to take and make the game’s prettiest shot consistently. Prior to James Harden’s revolution of the shot type in the 2010s, the step-back jumper was considered a bench-able shot for most, reserved as a last resort option for star players to attempt.
In the case of Luka Doncic, the step-back has been his weapon of choice since entering the league in 2018. As a rookie, he patterned the shot as his signature, stepping back on opponents with his deadly move on a myriad of occasions.
Doncic is particularly damaging when electing to step back to his left, bringing the ball up from the left side of his body and releasing it over his defender. Although shooting only 34.5% from three in these playoffs, the former Euro League MVP had every chamber filled when firing from distance in Game 7.
The 23-year-old lit up the Suns, shooting 6-of-11 from deep, with all six makes coming in the form of step-back jumpers. It felt as though each make destroyed a Phoenix Horcrux, with the final blow draining the life out of their championship hopes.
!["Luka](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2251,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2018%2F08%2F18281980.jpeg")
Dallas Mavericks’ 33-point drubbing of the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/phoenix-suns/">Phoenix Suns, ESPN’s Zach Lowe provided the perfect description of events during his opening monologue in the latest episode of his podcast, <em>The Lowe Post</em>:</p>
<p>“<em>The Dallas Mavericks, and a sneering, mean-mugging, step-back jacking Luka Doncic, just absolutely…[took] their [the Suns] heart, eating it, stomping it and throwing it in Robert Sarver’s face court-side”</em></p>
<h2>3 ways Luka Doncic humiliated the Phoenix Suns in Game 7</h2>
<p>More than forty-eight hours later, with two nights to sleep on it, it still seems inconceivable to think the 64-win Suns, with everything to play for, had the game lost through the first half. In fact, when the first half buzzer sounded, Doncic had registered as many points as his opponent, scoring a dazzling 27.</p>
<p>As shocking of a contest as Game 7 was, the Slovenian superstar’s 35-point display was anything but a surprise. In his brief playoff career, Doncic averages an absurd 33-9-8. As a spry 23-year-old, the Mavericks superstar is putting up numbers we haven’t seen since 2007, when a 22-year-old Lebron led a shaky Cleveland team to the finals.</p>
<p>It takes a player the caliber of Doncic to inflict an opposing team with multiple cascades of boos from their own fans. While the entire Dallas squad joined forces to eliminate Phoenix in embarrassing fashion, this piece will highlight three facets of Doncic’s game seven onslaught which evoked an all-time humiliating response from the top-seeded Suns.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Death by step-back </a>
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<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/18281945.jpeg">!["Luka](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2280,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2018%2F08%2F18281945.jpeg")
pic.twitter.com/yVnoaLeSNu
<p>— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1525991325132132353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 16, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Per NBA.com, the All-NBA guard finished the game scoring 10 points, on 4-of-5 shooting with Ayton as his primary defender. While those numbers are impressive, the fact that Doncic scored that much with the Suns big only defending him for a total of 101 seconds is demoralizing. Put simply, Doncic realized his fellow draftsman’s deficiencies as a pick and roll defender and proceeded to relentlessly attack at every opportunity.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Defensive intensity </a>
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<p>— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1525993833393057797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 16, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Doncic does a great job of staying attached to the hip of Chris Paul, not allowing the crafty vet to blow by for an easy floater. Staying with Paul allows Maxi Kleber just enough time to rotate and provide weakside rim protection.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most complimentary stat attributed to Doncic’s defense is that, in the final game of the series, he held the trio of Booker, Paul, and Bridges to 25% shooting from the field (3-of-12 FG), per NBA.com</p>
<p>As previously mentioned, the Mavericks’ Game 7 win required an inspiring group effort. However, the soul-crushing performance that Luka Doncic inflicted upon the helpless Suns will go down in history as one of the most shocking upsets in league history.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="The Luka Special: How the Phoenix Suns poked the bear" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/luka-doncic-phoenix-suns-bear/" data-call-to-action="Next"
> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/18/luka-doncic-humiliated-phoenix-suns/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/17/luka-doncic-phoenix-suns-bear/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> The Luka Special: How the Phoenix Suns poked the bear </a> </div>
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