Mavericks Practice Observations: Dereck Lively II and Klay Thompson Build Chemistry in Handoffs, and Key Takeaways
Dereck Lively II and Klay Thompson work on handoff drills as Mavericks refine chemistry ahead of preseason finale. Key practice insights and updates on player statuses.
DALLAS — After their 110-96 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles, the Dallas Mavericks returned to their facility for practice on Wednesday, offering several intriguing observations during the open viewing portion.
It’s unlikely that Luka Dončić or Maxi Kleber will play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, marking the end of the Mavericks’ preseason schedule. Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that Dončić participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, but his status remains uncertain.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but he did the whole practice and did really, really well,” Kidd said after Tuesday’s practice. “Most likely, he probably won’t participate tomorrow. A lot of positives for him to go through practice, but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
During Wednesday’s practice, Dončić mostly took catch-and-shoot jumpers, building on his two extensive workouts on Monday at Intuit Dome before the game against the Clippers.
Kleber continued his recovery from a left ankle sprain with non-contact work, focusing on conditioning and jump shots. The Mavericks remain focused on ensuring his regular season availability, and he is unlikely to face the Bucks.
Despite Dončić and Kleber likely sitting out the entire preseason, Kidd is optimistic about the Mavericks’ progress and saw many positives during Wednesday’s practice.
“No, it’s not a big deal. It is what it is,” Kidd noted. “He practiced today, and we move forward from what he did today. A lot of positives for him to go through the whole practice. He looked good. To your point, he hasn’t forgotten how to play basketball. His ability to make plays for others and for himself looked good, and we were all happy to see him out there. Klay and Kyrie did the whole practice. They were great. So, a lot of good stuff today.”
In addition to Kleber’s limited activity, the Mavericks were without Kessler Edwards, who did not practice due to a left ankle sprain, and Danté Exum, who remains sidelined after wrist surgery.
Lively and Klay Work on Handoffs
The Mavericks are continuing to adjust after adding Klay Thompson to the roster this offseason. While the team has yet to see Thompson play alongside Dončić and Kyrie Irving against external competition, his integration remains a priority.
As the Mavericks continue to adjust to Thompson’s integration, P.J. Washington shared insights on Thompson’s progress and his excitement for how the pieces will fit when Dončić plays.
“I think he’s been doing great,” Washington said. “Obviously, it’s been tough not playing with Luka and Kyrie, but just trying to learn our plays, learn spots, and get into spacing. I think it’ll come for him. As soon as those guys get back out there, it’s gonna be a lot easier for everybody.”
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Dallas spent a lot of time on building Thompson’s handoff connection with Dereck Lively II to ensure the sharpshooter gets the ball how he wants it so he can get into the shot with a rhythm, or be in a favorable position to make a play. While Lively was at his Raising Canes event, Dallas Hoops Journal asked him about working with Thompson on their handoff connection.
“It’s about figuring out his rhythm—what he likes. If he likes going off his right foot, if he likes going off his left leg, how he likes to have a little kick into it,” Lively explained. “Just understanding his rhythm, giving him a little bit of space by setting a hard screen. That’s going to make my job easier because the big man ends up in our group so many times. So, it’s just about putting power in the paint, and whoever rotates down low is either getting dunked on or I’m passing it out to the corner. We’re going to put them in a bind. We’re just playing the style we know.”
Against traditional defensive coverage where the big defender engages Thompson after receiving the handoff, the Mavericks want Lively to focus on getting the on-ball defender behind him by holding the screen contact. This applies maximum pressure on the big defender to decide whether to stay committed to Thompson to prevent a pull-up jumper and risk giving up a pass to Lively on the rim dive or backpedal not to allow Lively to get behind—giving Thompson space to shoot.
Lively’s comment about wanting to understand Thompson’s preferences isn’t just a good-sounding thought from a teammate. On the court, he was adamant about ironing out how Thompson wants the ball when the hit occurs, whether he wants it dropped in front of him to catch it as he turns, or to get it traditionally.
When Thompson commands the big defender to step up on the handoff, he has a dynamic finisher to dump the ball to on the roll. As long as Lively can effectively use contact during the exchange by forcing the on-ball defender to trail, the big defender’s decision becomes a matter of picking their poison. Thompson is savvy about making it even more challenging by faking a pull-up and passing.
The Mavericks worked on Lively’s technique when needing to dribble toward Thompson before making the exchange by strongly encouraging him to make shoulder contact. This tends to be a great gauge for the recipient’s angle while turning the corner, making it challenging for the on-ball defender to recover.
The value of Chandler’s wisdom and dedication in the Mavericks’ practice facility on a daily basis is evident. This can be seen in the clip below, featuring Chandler explaining to Thompson how the team is teaching Lively to approach screen contact. The goal is to use his shoulder strategically without leaning into the defender to avoid committing an offensive foul.
Since Thompson often draws two defenders when receiving a handoff, the Mavericks worked on how they want to approach Get action with Lively. The idea is for Thompson to toss the ball back to Lively to come back for another handoff. This requires the two defenders involved in the action to work a lot, creating more opportunities for breakdowns while trying to recover.
It’ll take some time before Lively and Thompson are firing on all cylinders in the dribble handoff game. However, it would naturally factor as an important element of a half-court offense since the defense becomes vulnerable in the middle of the floor in a hurry if they let Thompson have space to shoot, commit two defenders to the ball, or lose track of Lively after the exchange.
Lively Worked on Short Roll Passes and Free Throws
The Mavericks worked on making the corner pass on the short roll with Lively, along with continued focus on his free throw shooting. Lively is already an effective short-roll player, but regardless, getting reps never hurts. Executing a well-timed, accurate pass to the shooting pocket of a weak-side spacer is valuable for an offense.
Thompson Got Up a Lot of Extra Shots
After everyone else was off the court, Thompson got extra shots up. While he’s struggled to shoot in preseason play, it’s been a common theme for the former Golden State Warriors star to put in extra work after practice. Given he’s shooting 16.7% overall and 27.3% from deep through two preseason games, a strong preseason finale against the Bucks could help build some rhythm for the regular season.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s Development
There were some intriguing elements to the work coaches did with Olivier-Maxence Prosper. As he works to become a reliable spot-up threat, the Mavericks worked on having him shoot against fly-by contests by using a shot fake and getting into the shot, whether without dribbling or using a side-step before reloading.
The Mavericks also had Prosper work on his motion shooting ability, particularly while receiving a handoff. He’s looked more fluid on the practice court in situations like this—squaring up to the rim and shooting with more of a rhythm.
What’s Next?
As the Mavericks prepare for their preseason finale against the Bucks, their focus is to build chemistry and fine-tune rotations. Though the absence of Dončić means it won’t be the full “dress rehearsal” the team hoped for, it still provides a chance to evaluate lineups and scenarios that could prove valuable during the regular season.
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