Mavs Game Observations: Preseason vs Grizzlies
Despite no stars, a very 'lively' game
Throughout the season, I’ll be doing game previews and game observations—similar to what I did for all games last season on Twitter. I’ll aim to keep the same short, note-taking format (even more so for preseason games) to cover the main storylines heading into and coming out of each game. The goal for game observations is for you to have the key storylines from the previous night's game in your inbox first thing in the morning.
One other housekeeping note: going forward, you’ll be able to find all game previews and observations in the dedicated 2024-25 Game Coverage section of the digginbasketball website.
Here are my observations from the first preseason game, a 121-116 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies.
1-Dereck Lively II was the best player on the floor
Lively didn’t start and played only 14 first-half minutes (more on that in the next point), but those limited minutes were incredibly impactful.
He (and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to a lesser extent) changed the game in both the first and second quarters with energy, length, hustle, and several defensive stops. The second-year big man finished the game with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, along with 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists, making him the most impactful player on the floor.
If this is the first sign of what to expect from Lively in his second year, Mavs fans should be very excited. Here’s a breakdown of all five of his buckets:
Going coast-to-coast (?) and finishing with an and-one on a spin move (first clip in the video)
Sealing Marcus Smart (a great guard post defender) and finishing over him with a right-hand hook shot (second clip)
Running the floor for two dunks in transition
Scoring another and-one on a putback after grabbing an offensive rebound
The first two plays, in particular, stood out as game highlights, showcasing Lively’s ballhandling and post-up skills. If these become a consistent part of his arsenal, it’s a game-changer for the Mavericks.
2-An entertaining and competitive game that showcased Mavs depth
Dallas was without four starters (Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and P.J. Washington) and two key reserves (Maxi Kleber and Dante Exum), yet they still played a highly competitive game against a Memphis team missing only Jaren Jackson Jr. from their starting five. Jason Kidd experimented with Spencer Dinwiddie, Jaden Hardy, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall, and Daniel Gafford in the starting five, with Lively and Prosper as the first two subs off the bench. Being able to field a 7-man unit like this, despite missing six key rotation players, is a testament to the team’s depth.
The game was surprisingly competitive for a preseason opener. Despite struggling to generate good halfcourt offense (see next point) without their two primary creators against an aggressive Grizzlies defense, Dallas out-hustled their opponent (the Mavs recorded 19 steals, 12 of which came in the first half) — impressive against a Memphis squad known for its grit and grind mentality. Kidd rested Gafford, Lively, and Dinwiddie in the second half, but the score was tied 60-60 at halftime before those changes.
3-Another Hardy up and down game
First, the positives: Hardy finished as the game’s top scorer, putting up 21 points and adding 8 assists. He continued to demonstrate his reliability as a three-point shooter, knocking down 6 of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc. If this were an audition for the primary ball-handler spot off the bench, Hardy would certainly have the edge over Dinwiddie, who played a more reserved, preseason-mode type of game.
Now the downside: Hardy mentioned his improved decision-making post-game, but it’s still very much a work in progress on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he competed and notched three steals, but also committed two bad fouls on three-point attempts due to poor closeouts.
Hardy also made some questionable on-ball decisions, whether in isolation drives or as the primary ball handler in pick-and-roll situations. The start of the second half, when he was the main playmaker, was rough: Hardy had four on-ball turnovers in the first six minutes. During the game he had two shots blocked when driving into traffic. If you’ve read my Hardy 2024-25 Player Card, you know his mid-range and pull-up game is where he struggles the most. That continued to be the case in this game, as Hardy went 6 of 10 from three, but 0 of 6 inside the arc.
Bonus short notes:
Marshall was another one with an up-and-down game, and there will be nights where his driving and mid-range game will turn heads—in both good and bad ways. Without Luka Kyrie, and Klay his usage and on-ball reps were (too) high.
Grimes is still looking for his three-point shot, going 0 of 3 from beyond the arc. The good news is he’s still taking them at a high clip.
O-Max made an impact with his hustle in the first half but struggled as an on-ball creator in the second.
Jazian Gortman made a strong case for a two-way spot, scoring 19 points and hitting 4 of 7 from three.
Scottie Pippen Jr. isn’t a well-known name among fans but is a favorite in the analytics community. Watching him defend and pressure the ball is always fun.