How the Mavericks gave Luka Doncic enough help to beat the Thunder

True franchise players such as Luka Doncic, who led the Dallas Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes played this season, are a dream come true with oh so many strings attached.

The 25-year-old Slovenian star can do it all, but his conspicuous talents beget championship expectations and naturally force his teammates into subsidiary roles. When things don’t go well, fingers inevitably get pointed in every direction: The organization looks like it’s squandering its superstar’s prime, the superstar gets blamed for doing too much, and his supporting cast takes heat for not being good enough. That’s exactly where Doncic and the Mavericks found themselves a year ago when they missed the NBA playoffs in disconcerting fashion.