LOS ANGELES — Before playing his first NBA playoff game, Dallas Mavericks rookie Derek Lively II expressed his excitement about facing the Los Angeles Clippers in such a high-stakes matchup. expressed.
“The energy, the emotion, the competition that's there,” Lively said. mavericks game day On what he's looking forward to in his postseason debut.
Lively's impact on the Mavericks' season was proven as he helped the team go from a 38-44 record to a 50-win season and a playoff berth. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks this season, providing a much-needed rim-protecting presence, aggressive rebounder and efficient finisher.
Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II prepares for Game 1 of the first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Lively missed the Mavericks' final eight games of the regular season because of a sprained right knee. But more than a week after learning he would face the Clippers in the first round, Lively has had some preparation time reminiscent of his season at Duke.
“I feel like it was good, I feel like I was back in college, like an underdog, instead of just taking it day by day and changing the schedule and changing the way I think about the game. I had to get ready for the game.'' “
As the Mavericks compete for the postseason, Lively takes pride in making a positive impact, emphasizing the importance of every possession and taking the game personally.
“Right now it's really just settling into just possession,” Lively said. “Every play counts in the playoffs and we know we have to take it personally.”
The Mavericks benefited from the acquisition of Daniel Gafford in a midseason trade, and he has since emerged as the team's starting center. Since Lively transferred midseason, he said how beneficial it has been to get reps with him every day.
“Just having a player like that, he's older and has been around the league for more years than me,” Lively said. “Being able to do that has made him stronger. He knows a little bit more about the game, he's given a little more. He's able to put himself in different situations that he hasn't been in before. I was able to ask questions, learn, and grow.”
During the Mavericks' final practice before playing the Clippers in the postseason at USC on Saturday, Lively was at the training station working on face-up footwork with Gafford and player development coach Tim Grugrich. . It was a glimpse that that day-to-day process was beneficial to his Lively development.
“The bottom line is, when we get him, when Luka doubles, when Kyrie doubles, he just comes out of the pocket and just stands there,” Lively said. “A lot of times I get caught because I'm going too fast or moving my feet too fast. My body can't keep up, but my body is catching up and I'm slow enough to make the right read.”
The player development process happens throughout the year, even when the Mavericks are in the postseason. He emphasized that the most important area of his development is preparation, which will be tested in the postseason in such a high-stakes situation.
“Get ready,” Lively said. “Watching film before a game means studying film before the game.''
Whether Lively fills the dunker spot or plays in the middle of the floor, there is a particular focus on positioning him within the flow of the game to maximize his impact on the offense. He also remains focused on adding counters to his game when it comes to making moves that are high on the list.
“I was trying to figure out what position I was going to be in and try to take advantage of that position and see if I was going to be in this position or not, whether I was going to be a dunker or not,” Lively said. Ta. “How can we steal the ball in the middle, and if we do steal the ball, what should we do on the counter?”
The results of Lively's postseason exposure in his first season, along with the progress the Mavericks continue to make as a team around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, underscore the immediacy of his impact. This will prove that.
