Dereck Lively II is the key to fixing the Mavericks' struggling defense

The Dallas Mavericks' defense was tested in their first game on Wednesday. The Houston Rockets ran through the team's man-to-man defense, scoring easy buckets in the second quarter while Dallas struggled to score. It was a concerning performance with many flaws. Dallas can't ignore their struggles as they look to have a bounce-back year after losing 56 games last season.

Yet, the Mavericks have a solution to their defensive flaws that were evident on opening night. Dereck Lively has all the intangibles to help address some of the team's biggest problems that allowed Houston to score 128 points.

Mavericks' defense fell apart against the Rockets

Dallas allowed Houston to secure 17 offensive rebounds and score 22 second-chance points. Plus, the Rockets were able to move the ball effectively, as they shot 44 percent from the 3-point line. The Mavericks' defense had no answer for slowing down Kevin Durant and company.

One of the main issues was the Mavs' defensive scheme. The team opened up the game with a man-to-man defense that worked in the first quarter, but later struggled in the second. Dallas players failed to keep up with their assignments. Dusty May and his staff later switched to a zone defense, but Houston still managed to fight its way through.

Other defensive problems included poor communication. Dallas looked confused at times, as they struggled to coordinate their schemes. This led to the Rockets getting easy shots around the basket and in transition because the Mavs had no help inside whenever someone got blown by.

The defensive performance mentioned above wasn't expected, as preseason expectations were that Dallas could form a strong defense.

Dereck Lively can help address Dallas' biggest defensive weaknesses

One solution to the Mavs' unforeseen defensive issues is Lively, the team's best center when healthy. The Dallas center has the skill set to help the team's defense improve. He played a major role in the Mavericks having a stout defense in their run to the 2024 NBA Finals.

His vocal presence separates him from other big men on the roster. Lively is an established communicator off the ball; he can easily warn defenders about cutters and direct teammates into their proper positions. The neat part is that D-Live does all of this while still being in position to protect the rim.

The 7-foot-1 center is a major asset inside. He can easily use his big frame to fight off opponents coming at the rim. This is especially helpful when Lively's teammates get beat off the dribble, as his presence guarantees the team has a stable rim protector in the paint. He's always ready to slide over and block a shot when needed, and his presence on the court makes opponents think twice before attacking the basket.

Lively will give the Mavericks' defense the weapon they need

Outside of his rim protection, the former Duke Blue Devil is far more versatile than he gets credit for. He switches off players quickly and defends in space, allowing him to play drop or switch when defending the pick-and-roll.

His presence would have helped Dallas on Wednesday. The Mavs' performance showcased the need for playmakers, and Lively could have been the perfect solution to help open up the offense while anchoring the defense on the other end.

He has been one of Dallas' most impactful defensive players since he was drafted in 2023, and we could see the team's defense look much different when he returns. The Mavericks' paint defense is much stronger when Lively is healthy, and we could see many of the problems from Wednesday's game disappear once the young center is back in the lineup.

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