Headed by Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear, winning nine straight games, during which he has not scored less than 30 points in any of them.
The Slovenian has relished his status as the primary scorer of this team with Austin Reaves and LeBron James playing off him. That combination has led to impressive results with the franchise now tipped to be championship favorites.
That last win came against the Orlando Magic at their home, and Doncic again led all scorers with 33. However, it was his technical foul that became the talking point after the win.
The media and fans forgot that Luka Kennard had to bail them out of a tough game, which could have ended their streak, and instead focused on the five-time All-NBA first-teamer's 16th technical foul, which usually means he will be suspended for their next game.
With that being against the East-leading Detroit Pistons, the Lakers appealed for that tech to be rescinded. Their logic was that Luka Doncic was not the aggressor. Rather, he was standing his ground after the Magic's Goga Bitadzetook shots at his personal life.
Considering how the 6'8″ guard is battling problems with the custody of his two daughters and child support lawsuits, the NBA decided to rescind the technical foul, which means Doncic will be available for their next game.
When fans came to know about this, they were livid at Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA's top brass. Goga Bitadze had pointed out that Luka Doncic had started the battle of words, which is what prompted him to respond in kind.
However, fans believe that the league conveniently ignored that fact, simply because the Lakers' winning is good for business. Check out examples of those reactions below.
Luka Doncic could still earn his 16th technical foul sometime during the final eleven games of the regular season, which could then incur a suspension. But fans believe the league wants to put that off until the Lakers cement third place in the West.
However, if the guard does not draw another technical foul, and does so in the playoffs, fans believe this will be the Draymond Greensituation from the 2016 finals, and that could bite the Lakers at the worst possible time.
Other than the technical foul, Luka Doncic had a productive game. Other than his game-leading 33 points, he also finished with game-high's in assists, steals, and +/-.
Such efficiency on both ends of the floor is a perfect response to his critics, who very recently pointed out how his lack of effort on the defensive end, along with his ball-hogging tendencies, were negatively affecting his team.
Overrated.
Dirk Nowitzki saidOverrated.
This was Dallas Mavericks legend and Doncic's mentor, Dirk Nowitzki, who, after embracing his former understudy in between the Lakers-Magic game, yelled this to troll Doncic.
Nowitzki knows all too well about the recent narratives and has seen his former teammate shut them down with his electric performances so far.
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