Dereck Lively。圖/路透社
獨行俠今年選秀會選進Dereck Lively，替中鋒戰力上大大升級戰力，不過他今天因為感冒問題，首度在NBA場上缺陣，賽後總教練Jason Kidd、隊上球星Luka Doncic都談到了Lively缺賽對球隊的影響。
“We missed him a lot. There was no one in the paint tonight. That shows how he important he is to our team.” - Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd on Dereck Lively II’s absence#MFFL pic.twitter.com/pZTN4KYWoD
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) November 9, 2023
Kidd說：「我們非常想念他，我們禁區已經沒有人了，這顯示出他對於我們球隊有多重要。」
Doncic也同樣表達了他的想念，Doncic說：「很明顯在場的記者、我、我們隊上的球員都知道他對我們有多重要，這僅僅只是他的新秀賽季而已，可以看出他的天花板相當高。所以當然我們在他缺席的任何一場比賽都非常想念他。」
Luka Doncic on missing Dereck Lively II tonight: “Obviously you guys, me and our team knows how important he is for us and it’s only his rookie season. So the ceiling for him is so big, so of course we’ll miss him any game he will miss.” pic.twitter.com/XxZH5X77ci
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) November 9, 2023
事實上，今天Lively缺陣，去年在球隊打先發的Dwight Powell有出賽，這季同樣新加入的Richaun Holmes也有打這場比賽，不過Kidd仍然說出沒有Lively在球隊，對球隊來講相當的重要，對一名新秀來講是非常的看重。
這個賽季Lively場均可以拿下9分、7.7籃板，每場比賽都送出一次火鍋以上，球隊還特地找來2011奪冠功臣Tyson Chandler在球隊培養他。
Dereck Lively II has had an immediate impact on this Mavs squad. Incredible considering many’s assumption that he was a project based on his college production
— NBA University (@NBA_University) November 8, 2023
Providing big energy, vertical spacing, rim pro, some sneaky passing instincts, & projects to be a high-end starter pic.twitter.com/i1Ewp55NqB
