Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II is finally getting the respect he deserves

With the Dallas Mavericks being only 13 games away from the NBA Playoffs, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd must do everything possible to maximize the Mavericks' rotation before the playoffs start. Up until recently, the Mavericks have experimented with a vast array of different starting lineups and five-man lineups this season.

The most recent additions to Dallas' starting five are Derrick Jones Jr. and Daniel Gafford, both of which have given the Mavericks a healthy blend of length, athleticism, and rim protection on the defensive end.

Despite the harsh criticism that Jason Kidd's coaching and rotations have drawn from Mavericks fans this season, these defensive adjustments that Kidd has made over this recent stretch seem to be paying dividends for the Mavericks as Dallas is ranked eighth in the NBA in defensive rating over their last seven-game stretch.

Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II is finally getting the respect he deserves

When adjustments are made in the rotation, some players benefit whilst others suffer a reduction in playing time. Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II has been asked to come off the bench and play less minutes in place of Daniel Gafford recently, but the 20-year-old rookie has taken an extremely mature approach to this process and has thrived in his role.

In Lively II's last five games, all of which have come off the bench in a role that only has him playing 18.6 minutes per game over this recent stretch, he's averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Lively II was also a huge component in Dallas' physical approach toward guarding Nikola Jokic last Sunday, as the rookie has made leaps and bounds in terms of his defensive discipline and strength since the start of the season.

Lively II is one of the only rookies from the lottery of last year's draft that will have a significant role for his team come playoff time, and it seems like ESPN is finally understanding just how crucial Lively II has been for Dallas not just recently, but all season. ESPN ranked Lively II third in their recent rookie power rankings, placing the Philadelphia native only behind young stars Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama in the rookie-of-the-year race.

When you take into consideration that Lively II battled through a bit of a rookie wall recently as well as some minor injuries, it's extremely impressive that he's catalyzed talk on the national stage about him being a top-three rookie with his play off the bench as of late, as it's a huge tribute toward his work ethic and mature demeanor.

Lively II and the Mavericks will face off against the Utah Jazz tonight, so make sure to stay tuned to us as Dallas continues to push to get out of the play-in tournament.