Dereck Lively only attempted two three-pointers last year for the Dallas Mavericks in the regular season, failing to make one. He knocked down the first three of his professional career on his only attempt in the playoffs, which happened to come in the NBA Finals.
It was a big shot for the rookie that gave Dallas the lead in game 4 of the series (the only game they won) against the Boston Celtics. Lively received the pass on a drive and dish from Luka Doncic, and the center pulled up without hesitation and drained the corner three.
“I have been working on that for a long time, slowing building on it and slowly building on the confidence. As soon as I got it, it was going right up,” said Lively.
Making his first career three on the biggest stage will give Lively the confidence to take and make that shot down the road. If he can become a threat for distance, it will give the Mavericks that much more to work with on the offensive side of the ball.
“Whatever shots come to me, I am going to take. I am not going to be out there searching for three because I have many teammates on my team that I would rather have shoot the ball more than me. I am going to try to set them up in places where they can get open threes, but of course, I am going to take the threes that come to me in my open spots so I can feel the way the game is going. Some games, it might be one or two, some games, it might be more,” said Lively.
With Klay Thompson now on the roster, Dallas adds another element to its game that it did not have last season. If they have another unexpected shooter at the center position in Lively, then Doncic and Kyrie Irving will have the ultimate green light to drive the lane and attack the basket.
“It is not going out there and chucking every shot that comes to me because that is just not my game,” said Lively. Even one attempt per game could help tremendously in keeping the defense honest.
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