This stat highlights one area where Mavs star must improve

After losing Game 3 106-99 on Wednesday night, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd conceded Doncic — who fouled out — could be a defensive liability. 

"He's definitely got a bullseye on his chest. And so, he's got to be able to guard," Kidd said, via Bleacher Report. "He's carrying a load offensively, and [the Celtics] are putting him in every pick-and-roll and iso. And so he's got to play the game where he rests on offense and lets others carry the load."

To cut Doncic some slack, he's putting Dallas' offense on his back despite knee, chest and ankle injuries. The 25-year-old guard is averaging 29.7 points per game in the finals. Aside from guard Kyrie Irving (21 PPG) and forward P.J. Washington (14.7), no Maverick is totaling 10 PPG. 

However, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer noted that Doncic's defense has been considered a weakness throughout his career, and it's becoming more apparent against Boston.

"For all his gifts, for all his wizardry orchestrating the Mavericks' offense, for his no-look dishes and his step-back triples, Doncic lacks the foot speed and the awareness on too many defensive possessions that have opened floodgates for the Celtics' stable of scorers," wrote Fischer. "He has tested the limits of what one-sided NBA brilliance can truly achieve, and now Dallas is failing its toughest exam."

The Mavericks are on the brink of elimination. No team in NBA playoff history has come back from a 3-0 deficit. Assuming Dallas loses the series, Doncic should prioritize improving his defense this offseason, which could help him capture his first ring.