Mavericks’ ‘uncomfortable’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren plan for Thunder playoff clash

Dereck Lively II will play a big role in defending Holmgren along with Daniel Gafford. With Maxi Kleber out, Lively and Gafford will play especially important roles in the post.

“You know, he’s a great player,” Lively said of Holmgren. “He picks and pops, he can roll, he can finish, he can shoot. There’s a lot of things overall he can do well… Try to be able to get him off of his spots, try to make him uncomfortable.”

“He’s (Holmgren) been great… You look at his frame, he’s one of the top shot-blockers in the league,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said. “He can put it on the floor, loves the game of basketball, competes. Had a heck of a season this year. We have to be conscious of him when he’s on the floor, at the rim because he finds a way to block shots and so we have to account for him.”

Holmgren is a terrific rookie. However, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best players in the entire NBA.

“Try to be able to show him a crowd… Try to get him off of his spots, try to make it uncomfortable as I said,” Lively said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “He’s a great player… He’s gonna make tough shots, he’s gonna make crazy shots.”

Jason Kidd added that Gilgeous-Alexander is an “MVP candidate” who “could easily win” the award.

Dereck Lively II prepared for second career playoff series

Lively played in his first ever NBA playoff series against the Clippers. So what did he learn from the experience?

“Trust the routine,” Lively said of what he learned from his first NBA playoff series. “You know, there’s gonna be a lot of different things going on in your life. There’s gonna be a lot of things going on off the floor… But all you can do is just trust your routine that you been building all season.”

Lively is extremely well-spoken. It is sometimes easy to forget that he is only 20 years old. Holmgren, meanwhile, is just 22 years old. Lively later discussed going up against another young center with no shortage of potential.

“It’s amazing,” Lively said. “He’s (Holmgren) a great player, he’s a great person. You know he just has this competitive bone in him that just makes everybody want to step up and check him. Being able to know he’s going to go out there, he’s going to shoot a three, he’s going to yell in your face… He’s gonna block a shot, he’s gonna dunk. It makes you that much more excited what’s gonna happen.

“You know he’s gonna be a great player. But you gotta be able to make yourself be able to step up even higher.”