Doncic’s biggest problem is not the technical level, but the spiritual level?

Although Luka Doncic scored 39 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists alone, it was difficult to lead the team to a further step. Slovenia was reversed by Germany and was eliminated. This game is not only a simple battle of victory or defeat, but also reveals the deep laws of modern basketball and the thoughts brought to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are about to start the new NBA season.

1. Personal heroism is hard to beat the team's strength

Doncic's performance in this European Cup is beyond reproach, with a high score per game ranking first. In the game against Germany, he almost supported the entire team's offensive system with one person. However, basketball is a sport of five people after all. Among the other Slovenian players, only Preperic and Grovat scored in double digits, and no one scored more than 13 points.

In contrast, although the German team lacks Doncic-like superstars, six players scored more than 7 points, including Wagner Jr., 23 points, Schroeder 20 points, and Theis 15 points. The victory of the German team is a typical team basketball victory. They reversed 11 points behind in the first quarter through the movement of the ball, running without the ball and overall defense.

This reminds people of lessons learned in NBA history: teams with luxurious lines may not necessarily win the championship, while teams with reasonable configuration and good chemistry often go further. From the Pistons defeating the Lakers F4 in 2004 to the Mavericks defeating the Heat in 2011, all of which prove the importance of teamwork in basketball.

2. Emotional management is also a factor related to victory or defeat

Doncic once again exposed the emotional management problem in this game. Two minutes into the game, he got a technical foul because he shouted "Hey" to the referee. At the beginning of the third quarter, he had committed four fouls and even made controversial moves to the referee "counting money".

These behaviors not only directly affect the competition. Because technical fouls give the opponent a free throw opportunity, personal fouls mostly lead to limited playing time, which indirectly affects the team's rhythm and morale. When core players keep arguing with the referee, teammates will inevitably be distracted and the team's tactical execution will be interrupted.

Compare the great players in history, such as Jordan, James and Kobe, who learned how to get along with the referee at their peak, and even effectively utilize the referee's penalties. This does not mean that players are required to succumb to misjudgment, but rather that they need to wisely choose the way and timing of struggle. Doncic's talent is unquestionable, but if emotions are not controlled better, it is likely to become a key limiting factor in the ceiling of his career, both in the national team and in the NBA.

3. The Lakers' new season prospects

Doncic's situation in the national team is similar to his situation in the Lakers. In Slovenia, he needs to take on multiple responsibilities for scoring, organizing and leading; in the Lakers, he will face similar expectations. Judging from the lessons learned from the European Cup, the Lakers need to pay attention to the following points in the new season.

First, basketball is not a one-person game. Even if Doncic can contribute 30+ triple-double per game, it cannot guarantee the team's victory. The Lakers need to establish a more balanced offensive system around Doncic so that other players can participate better.

Secondly, emotional management is the key. Doncic needs to learn to stay calm under pressure, rather than be entangled with the referee. This not only concerns his personal technical statistics, but also directly affects the team's victory or defeat.

Third, lineup depth is crucial. One important reason for Slovenia's loss is the lack of scores in the substitute lineup. The Lakers have made multiple signings this summer, and the lineup depth seems to be good, but how to integrate these players into the system and give full play to their respective strengths will be an important issue facing coach Redick.

From a positive perspective, Doncic's performance in the European Cup proves that he is one of the top players in the world. His scoring ability and organizational vision are at its peak. As long as the problems of team cooperation and emotional management can be solved, the Lakers in the new season are still worth looking forward to.

As Doncic said after the game: "I was angry, 100% angry. I could have done more in the fourth quarter." This self-blame shows his desire for victory and also shows that he realizes his shortcomings. Basketball always finds a balance between personal ability and teamwork. For Doncic and the Lakers, the key to the new season is to find this balance point, not only to give full play to the advantages of superstars, but also to maximize the strength of the team. Only in this way can we avoid the embarrassing reenactment of "Doncic scored high scores in a blank, but the team lost the game".