3 Duds, 2 studs from Mavericks' painful Game 3 loss to Celtics

4. Stud - Dereck Lively II

One player though that performed well Wednesday was Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II. The Dallas center had his best game of the series, as he poured in a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

He was a menace on the defensive side, fighting for loose balls and being aggressive down low. Lively II also finished the game with two steals. One main statistic was his shooting; he went 5-6 from the field.

This was a big difference from his first two games in the finals. Lively II combined for four points and 12 rebounds in Games 1 and 2.

His development has been a huge step for the Mavs. Dallas traded for the rookie on draft night. Lively II was expected to be a future development but adapted quickly for the Mavericks.

The Mavs rookie has been working on adding another skill to his game. Lively II has been practicing his 3-point shot. The 7-foot-1 center believes he could become a shooter within the coming years, and the reps and form back that up.

It's no wonder he was voted onto the All-Rookie Second Team. His continued development will be crucial for the team's future success.

The Mavs will need their rookie to play up to par in Game 4 if they hope to make history.