Dereck Lively II is first Maverick Player to earn Rising Stars Nod Since Luka Doncic

[MFFL]

This was a great read

https://archive.is/ypc7P#selection-569.0-1371.379

[SkenfromLMF]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[MFFL]

Trigg article on Lively's rise up on draft boards

https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/da...ew-podcast

[DanSchwartzgan]

Trigg article on Lively's rise up on draft boards

https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/da...ew-podcast

Thinking back to his Duke stats and now look what he’s doing with very limited time learning the system.  I wonder how long before he’s able to do this against real NBA players:

“He has adapted well so far, as he’s averaging 8.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field in 23.6 minutes per game. He has also been a big paint presence for Dallas on defense”

[Chicagojk]

Thinking back to his Duke stats and now look what he’s doing with very limited time learning the system.  I wonder how long before he’s able to do this against real NBA players:

“He has adapted well so far, as he’s averaging 8.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field in 23.6 minutes per game. He has also been a big paint presence for Dallas on defense”

I may be well over my skis here, but I just don't see him as a G-league player.  Maybe Dwight gets the higher share of minutes to begin the year, but I would be surprised if Lively doesn't earn minutes as the year goes on.  Just seeing his movement on D and how he communicates to the rest of the team, screams he is going to earn minutes.   On offense, he is really limited.  But Powell is not Jokic out there.    If he can learn to set good screens and get to the right spot, Luka is going to get him 8 points a game just off that.   

Maybe it takes time and being a 19 year old there is going to be growing pains.   But his pains aren't going to be going 2-14 in a game and messing up all sorts of defensive rotations.   He will make plenty of mistakes, but I think in theory you can hide his offensive limitations playing with Luka and Kyrie.

edit- It will not be pretty if you line him up against Jokic and Embid next year.  He is going to be abused imo.   But you can't tell me there are 15-20 centers out there where he has a fighting chance against and very well make a positive impact.  So maybe Powell gets the minutes against Jokic's, Embid's, Sabonis and those type of centers early in the year and as the years goes on Lively gets some chances against them.

[RDB]

There is a difference between could and should. Sure Lively could see a decent number of minutes this year but that doesn’t mean he should. I like the pick and the player but he is still basically playing pickup basketball against a bunch of guys who won’t make a pro roster. Reality is still 3-4 months away and as much as people want to dream about what if’s, he is going to get his lunch eaten early against grown centers. This is why so many people on this board get so down. It’s the classic expectations v. reality trap.

The Mav’s should be a playoff team with two of the top players in the league. To expect too much on this team when he clearly is not ready IMO is a mistake. If he proves to be ready by mid year, great, expand his role. If his first year is basically a red shirt year, well that’s understandable as well.

The good news is he has shown improvement each game. Why not celebrate his continued development while understanding he has a way to go. If we do that, maybe we can avoid all of the late season posts about how the Mav’s blew their #12 pick and suck at talent evaluation. And you know they are coming.

[MFFL]

https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/da...ck-podcast

[Knutsen]

Way to early over reaction:

If Wemby turns out to be the modern day Wilt Chamberlain - will Derek Lively become the new Bill Russell…?

[MFFL]

Hollinger's Rookie of the Week: Dereck Lively II, C, Dallas

https://archive.is/ZXquX#selection-1661.0-1661.47

[MFFL]

Lively still in the top 4 of the ESPN rookie list

https://archive.is/hQBkT#selection-17531.6-17531.18

[Chicagojk]

I had pretty high expectations with Lively, but he has blown away my expectations.

His touch around the rim is way beyond what I thought he would be. I thought we would be in year 2-3 before he showed any touch inside. No need to worry about the three at this point. Focus on what you are good at. Maybe it will come down the line. One small nitpick, fast break ally oops are a little underwhelming. I am sure it is mostly a timing thing.

His rebounding has been what I was expecting. Some great eye opening stuff with some frustrating moments. Despite averaging almost 8 boards a game, I think there are 5-7 extra rebounds he may eventually get. I feel like he is good locating the high rebounds where he can locate the ball and go up and get it. When the ball comes off low or at a weird angle, I think this is really where he struggles. Both getting into the right position and locating the ball.

The area I was expecting a little more was his rim protection. I don't know if it is the rest of the defense, but I thought you would see more really bad rejections similar to what Kessler does. I actually thought this is where he would have the least concerns with. He does stay out of foul trouble and his length does cause some problems, but hopefully in time we see more of a deterrent of people going to the rim.

All in all, I think we should all be very happy.

[MFFL]

The Athletic list is in and Lively is #4

https://archive.is/XWxIa

[GATA]

Love him. One thing he needs to work on is his hands

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Love him.  One thing he needs to work on is his hands

Don't forget to trade Kyrie!

[MFFL]

Dereck Lively II becomes first Mavericks player to earn Rising Stars game nod since Luka Doncic

https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-...OcHoOkNZis

[MFFL]

Lively #3 rookie on latest ESPN ranking

https://archive.is/dQ67t#selection-14043.0-14043.63

[MFFL]

Its a shame that Lively won't make any All-Rookie teams - the max number of games he can play this year is 63

[KillerLeft]

Its a shame that Lively won't make any All-Rookie teams - the max number of games he can play this year is 63

That IS a shame. And, surprising for me. I guess I didn’t feel like he had missed that much time throughout the season, and knowing that makes where they are now even more impressive.

[SleepingHero]

Its a shame that Lively won't make any All-Rookie teams - the max number of games he can play this year is 63

Are rookie awards also beholden to the 65 game requirement? 

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nb...er/562235/

This article says all rookie awards, DPOY, and 6MOY aren't affected by the 65 game rule

[MFFL]

Are rookie awards also beholden to the 65 game requirement? 

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nb...er/562235/

This article says all rookie awards, DPOY, and 6MOY aren't affected by the 65 game rule

That's great! Do you know if the rookie teams are position-less?

Otherwise Wemby and Holgren would be first team center and PF, which would kick Lively to the second team.