*Brad Townsend of* The Dallas Morning News *writes:*
>Three weeks after spraining his right knee and nine days after the death of his mother, 20-year-old Dereck Lively II not only made his NBA playoff debut Sunday but did so amid the bright and heightened pomp of Crypto.com Arena.
>The Mavericks rookie had moments of nervousness, including when his first shot, a layup, failed to touch the rim, but under the circumstances, Lively’s 19-minute Game 1 performance against the Clippers certainly was far more impressive than that of his team in the 12-point loss.
>Especially when one considers what Lively said following the Mavericks’ Monday practice in Crypto.com Arena, speaking to reporters for the first time about the emotional toll of losing his mother, Kathy Drysdale, after her 11-year battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
>“This is the only place where I can come and smile.”
>Lively in fact seemed upbeat as he sat in a courtside chair, enveloped by the sounds of squeaking sneakers, teammate chatter and the thump of basketballs.
>Don’t refer to them as teammates in 7-1 Lively’s presence, though, given his connection with them and others in the Mavericks organization.
Lot of things wrong with our debut into the playoffs but Lively wasn’t one of them. Kid went out and did his best. He’s not a physical match for Zubac yet, but he didn’t play nervous and had his usual game.
2 Comments
*Brad Townsend of* The Dallas Morning News *writes:*
>Three weeks after spraining his right knee and nine days after the death of his mother, 20-year-old Dereck Lively II not only made his NBA playoff debut Sunday but did so amid the bright and heightened pomp of Crypto.com Arena.
>The Mavericks rookie had moments of nervousness, including when his first shot, a layup, failed to touch the rim, but under the circumstances, Lively’s 19-minute Game 1 performance against the Clippers certainly was far more impressive than that of his team in the 12-point loss.
>Especially when one considers what Lively said following the Mavericks’ Monday practice in Crypto.com Arena, speaking to reporters for the first time about the emotional toll of losing his mother, Kathy Drysdale, after her 11-year battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
>“This is the only place where I can come and smile.”
>Lively in fact seemed upbeat as he sat in a courtside chair, enveloped by the sounds of squeaking sneakers, teammate chatter and the thump of basketballs.
>Don’t refer to them as teammates in 7-1 Lively’s presence, though, given his connection with them and others in the Mavericks organization.
>“They’re my family,” he said.
[Read more.](https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2024/04/22/dallas-mavericks-dereck-lively-ii-and-an-emotional-playoff-debut-after-his-mothers-death/)
Lot of things wrong with our debut into the playoffs but Lively wasn’t one of them. Kid went out and did his best. He’s not a physical match for Zubac yet, but he didn’t play nervous and had his usual game.
Wishing the best for the guy moving forward.