Mavs’ Dereck Lively II Speaks After Win vs. Pelicans: Jan. 15, 2024

Mavs’ Dereck Lively II Speaks After Win vs. Pelicans: Jan. 15, 2024

How feel be back it was great know it was terrible just sitting on the sideline you know throughout that injury just working it back working my body back feels good to be out there with with my family you know being able to just move the ball around trust each

Other it just feels great to build that chemistry again was it like watching uh Tim and Kyrie do what they did man give him the ball find the high hand being able to just have players like that on the floor it makes it that much easier to play offense and that

Much better whenever we get a transition going or anything like that just got to find an open man just find a high hand how to feel to be active on the boards the way you were you know that’s my job do the Dirty Work and clean it up

So I know that I know my team missed me so my first game back that was definitely a star in my head being able to just try to bring Second Chance opportunities or to try to be able to just find the open shot and that’s what

We did you know I feel like we did a great job moving the ball around we did a a great job bringing physicality and bringing energy and and terms of your movement how did you feel out there I definitely feel I feel good you know I’m

Not at the my Peak movement not my Peak but I can definitely say that I’m I’m definitely not going to be a a a hazard out there you know you don’t have to worry about me I’m going be able to back everybody up move my feet talk straight

Up and just Trover the rim not that he wants to make a steady diet of it but Jason said he was kind of happy to see you have to deal with a little bit of foul trouble and kind of learn what you can do and what you can’t do

Well how’s that process going for you you know this definitely isn’t the start of that process either you know there’s been a couple of times where I’ve been in fou trouble during the close closing that game and he’s let me in and let me finish it out you know it’s being able

To have that trust with the coaches with my teammates to know that since I’m in F trouble I need a little bit more help where I might not be able to show as much but that just got to change the coverage a little bit and being able to

Have that IQ just really makes us a better team you obviously haven’t been able to play with maxi much uh what what do you think about about that parent particularly on the def I love it you know it gives me some help too being able to know that I have another person

To back me up if I can’t get down the floor in a fast break he’s there he’s got it he got a great block today and you know he’s always talking he brings a lot more energy we always need that and I definitely say we missed him so it’s

Great to have nasty back what does it mean to you when you hear your teammates and coaches just talking about how important you are and keeping you in the lineup you’re an essential piece so early uh it’s an amazing feeling but you know doesn’t mean that you got to be

Satisfied for just hearing that you know just because I feel like a an important piece doesn’t mean I can take my foot off the gas you know it makes me just want to get in the gym and work harder because just what I’ve done so far if

They like that that just means I can keep growing and keep showing more how do you feel going up against a guy like Zion Williamson you know it’s not our first time it’s not our first time playing again playing against him you know he’s a big body he’s be able to get

An angle get around get around people get around guys and get to the rim that’s what he’s good at so since we know that he’s he’s that’s his strength we’re going to try to play him to his weaknesses you know there was definitely some times that there was some miscommunication on coverages and

Miscommunications on stance but that happens in the game of basetball we’re not all perfect reported one halfway through this regular season you’ve survived quite a few injuries got the record is still respectable at least how do you feel about this team right now what have you learned about it I love this team

You know we have a great chemistry we have a great trust Factor when it comes to everybody in the floor it’s a next man up mentality whenever someone gets hurt and if anybody is uh lagging behind in the court everybody’s picking them up to make sure that they that that person

Is doing their job because everybody expected to do that you know everybody knows their role and plays their role perfectly I love it you’ve been able to connect with Kyrie quite a bit uh out of dribble hand offs when he’s getting top locked and you know he’s kind of

Countering that getting on the cut uh what has helped you to build that connection with him countering what defenses have thrown at him uh really just got to if they do a you got to do B you know being able to know that if they’re top blocking him he’s going to

Cut back door try to post up or try to get a back door look or he’s going to come back up to try to get another screen so that he can get the ball and it’s just trying to just we we’ve been building that chemistry the whole season

So just being able to know that whenever he gets the ball I know his eyes I know his eye movement I know he wants to go and what spots he’s trying to get to so whenever he’s he’s out there playing with the ball I know he’s just going to

Let him be because he’s going to get around his man so I got to be able to back it up whenever he either misses a shot or he gets stuck so he I can get him out of it appreciate y yeah

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II spoke to reporters after the victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 15, 2024.

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