Mavericks’ Luka Doncic out against Pacers due to inability to not whine

Rick Carlisle’s old team is in Indiana to take on the Indiana Pacers, and the matchup is going to look quite a bit less star-studded than it might otherwise. This, of course, is common this late in the seasons with many teams struggling through injuries and trying to recover in time for the playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks have two of the biggest stars in the game in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and shook up the entire league by trading for Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline this season. However, they continue to show the league that having talent doesn’t equal wins in the NBA always. Since the two superstars starting playing together Dallas has fallen like an anchor in the Western Conference.

One of the biggest issues seems to be mindset and attitude during the games. Furthering the case, this weekend, Luka received his 16th technical foul which leads to an automatic one-game suspension. The reason he got the technical foul? Watch below:

If you are watching that play and thinking to yourself “it doesn’t even look like he got touched?” You aren’t alone. But it is hardly just Luka, it is becoming a larger trend in the NBA to complain about no-calls.

This isn’t just about Luka, it is everywhere across the NBA as officiating continues to be under a large microscope.

The NBA has an officiating problem right now and it is two-sided. For one, there have been large mistakes in the officiating in recent weeks that have altered games. Consider the really strange inbound play that happened a while back that essentially gifted the Warriors a game over the Mavericks.

But on the other side of the coin, players are complaining now more than ever about no-calls to the point that it is almost distracting for fans. And to think it doesn’t impact the game would be foolish, as players are consistently complaining about calls rather than getting back on defense. And when the officiating is actually bad it makes the players more frustrated leading to suspensions like Luka’s.

Unfortunately, the officiating frustrations across the NBA are eliminating the possibility for many Pacers fans to get to see Luka in Gainbridge, something that only happens once a year. Pacers fans will have to see if Luka can control himself enough next year to make it to Gainbridge.”

The Pacers are currently risking absolute catastrophe

The Pacers franchise can be a bit short-sided at moments and some of their actions this week speak volumes to their lack of long-term vision.