Luka Doncic Is the Finals’ Best Player, but That’s Not Enough to Beat the Boston Celtics

Getty Images/Ringer illustration The best player usually wins an NBA playoff series. But basketball is still a team sport, and the Boston Celtics have the superior team. Midway through the second quarter of Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals, Luka Doncic isolated on the right baseline, backing down Jrue Holiday in pursuit of a clean look. Despite being announced as questionable earlier in the day due to a "thoracic contusion" suffered in Game 1, Doncic was on fire to start Sunday's contest: He was sinking midrange jumpers, stepbacks, off-balance 3s. In an attempt to cool off the scorching Dallas Mavericks star, Al Horford rotated over to trap Doncic—a look the Celtics had largely avoided in Game 1 as they focused on limiting Luka's passes and held him to one measly assist. So Doncic took what the defense gave him: Once Horford committed, Luka whipped a wicked wraparound pass, which zipped from beyond the baseline, through the paint, and right into P.J. Washington's shooting pocket on the opposite wing. Washington rose, fired the open 3 … and missed long. Incredible wraparound pass. https://t.co/oIEx733iBk pic.twitter.com/2Xm3DzHVbu— Jonathan Chen (@jonathancchenn) June 10,...