3 Interesting storylines to watch in Mavericks Summer League game vs. 76ers

1. Dereck Lively II’s offense

Throughout his one year at Duke, Dereck Lively II had a solid season, but it wasn’t the typical performance many would expect to see from a lottery pick in the draft.

His stats don’t jump off the page, as he averaged just 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per contest. The reason he was drafted as high as he was is because of his elite athleticism and defense.

Lively put up 2.4 blocks per game in his limited playing time, which translates to 4.7 blocks per 40 minutes. With how poor the Dallas Mavericks’ defense was last season, particularly at the center spot, his defense will be crucial.

But in order to become the go-to starter for Dallas, Lively will also need to develop an offensive game. Luckily for him, that will only require him to do a few key things.

One, Lively needs to be able to run the pick-n-roll. Two, he should be able to get buckets off offensive rebounds, scoring against opposing centers after grabbing a board. And three, cutting to the rim effectively and catching lobs.

With Luka Doncic playing next to him, this should be a breeze, but Summer League should give him the chance to test this out with some non-superstar playmakers.

Look for Lively to form connections with guys like Jaden Hardy and McKinley Wright IV as he attempts to find his footing on the offensive end of the court.