Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd came to the defense of his star player – point guard Luka Dončić – who was heavily criticized on the nationalLuka television talk shows this week for what the critics perceived was his lack of defense.

“Everybody has the right to their opinion,” Kidd said. “It’s just sometimes we might take it a little bit too far – right — and understanding if you put yourself in that person’s shoes, could you stand up to the barbecue, right?

“Sometimes we want to fry someone, but if you reversed it and it was you being fried, would you like it? Most likely not, right? That’s just the nature of the business. But this young man has done nothing to anyone but play the game of basketball. And when he’s asked the question, he’s never run from it. He’s answered it. And he’s 25 years old.”

Dončić had the best defensive season of his six-year career this year, including finishing tied for seventh in the NBA at 1.4 steals per game. And despite playing in the NBA Finals with a series of injuries that would keep him sidelined if this was the regular season, Kidd believes that should be given some consideration.

“You know, I think that’s what I’m more disappointed in is that we are at the highest stage where we have one of the best players in the world playing the game the right way, but we want to criticize some of the things that he does not do well,” Kidd said. “But when he does do them well, we are going to come back and want to talk to him, and then when he says ‘No, I’m going to pass,’ then what happens, right?

Luka“I think sometimes it’s just unfair or unwarranted to say those things. No one in this room is perfect, right? So, like, give my man a break. Let him play the game, because we are all here to watch him play, right, and so let’s just enjoy it. He’s 25 years old. He will be better.”

Dončić will be better, Kidd believes, because he was eviscerated on national television in attacks he feel crossed the line.

“When you look at what’s come out here in the last day or so, if you’ve watched the Mavs, Luka has improved his defense,” Kidd said. “But we are asking him, or some are asking him, to be a shutdown defender.

“Well, he’s never been on an All-Defensive Team, but he’s been on five All-Pro Teams, first team. So that means he’s one of the top five players in the world, and he’s playing the game the right way where he can find open guys.”

Dončić finished Friday’s 122-84 blowout victory over the Boston Celtics with 29 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals as the Mavs now trail this best-of-seven NBA Finals series, 3-1.Luka

“But when you’re on the biggest stage, there’s got to be — someone’s got to poke a hole,” Kidd said. “This will only make the great ones better. I truly believe Luka will come back stronger and better.

“Some criticize that he could never get this far. But sometimes when you are a free agent in the media business, you’ve got to say something crazy to get a new contract, or likes, or clicks.”

EXUM HAS BREAKOUT GAME: Mavs guard Dante Exum entered Game 4 with just five points in the first three games of this series.

Well, Exum doubled that total on Friday with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting while providing a huge spark off the bench for the Mavs.

“I think for me, it’s just come in and do what I do with my minutes,” said Exum, who played 14 minutes. “I think obviously Luka (Dončić) creates a lot of attention. (I’m) just using that to my advantage to get downhill.

Exum“I’ve been super confident in my shot all year. (It’s) unfortunate that one of them was taken away. I just have to stay confident and keep shooting.

The Mavs rolled out a much faster pace Friday than at any point in this series, while reaching the 100-point plateau for the first time against the Celtics.

“I think (pushing the ball up the court is) contagious,” Exum said. “I come in, I do it. Everyone starts to build that pace. Everyone’s running their lanes.

“I think also it’s getting defensive stops. That helps it a lot. I think my main focus when I go in — even when they do score — all right, let’s go get it, try and push it during those times. It’s easy to push when you have an advantage.”

Exum was 2-of-4 from three-point range Friday, and the 10 points are the most he’s scored in the playoffs this season. Thus, going into Game 5 on Monday in Boston, his confidence is sky high.

“A lot of the times guys go through ups and downs,” Exum said. “It’s just about getting back in the gym, doing our craft, what we know.

“Whether that’s lifting, shooting, extra reps, anything. You see everyone on this team doing that. And it shows on the court.

X: @DwainPrice

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