4 Studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' blowout win over Bucks in preseason finale

1. Stud - Klay Thompson

The Klay Thompson experience has begun in Dallas, and Thursday night's game was his best showing yet. After missing his first couple of shots and forcing some shots, Thompson got rolling in the second quarter.

Thompson finished with 11 points on 3-7 shooting from downtown in the first half, and he got his confidence going after hitting back-to-back shots. The first shot was a wide-open three off the catch and the second one was a mid-range jumper after his pump fake made the defender fly by him.

Thompson has typically started these games rough, but once he sees one go in, he is lethal. His confidence went way up after seeing a couple of jumpers fall, but his play outside of his shooting was solid as well.

Thompson continues to work hard on defense, and he is sliding his feet on that end better than expected. He isn't going to be someone who will be used as a primary defender on ball handlers, but he can hold his own on slower guards and wings.

Thompson's passing has also been great to start the season, and he is growing chemistry when playing with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Playing with those two bigs is one of the reasons he signed with the Mavs, and Dallas can use him as a ball handler or screener in different actions.

He has been a willing passer in transition as well, and he typically makes the right read when getting downhill. His playmaking has been one of the more underrated parts about his game since joining the Mavs, and this should help unlock plenty of different ways that the Mavs can use him.