After a long, tiring wait, Anthony Davis can finally take a sigh of relief now within the Dallas Mavericks.
After experiencing the highly anticipated return of Daniel Gafford against the Brooklyn Nets, Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks enjoyed the huge on-court comeback of another key big man.
Dereck Lively, who has been inactive since mid-January, finally played to help the Mavericks to a 120-118 clutch victory against the Atlanta Hawks on April 2.
The sophomore center had four points, five boards, and a block in 16 minutes of play as he shrugged off the rust following a long recovery from ankle injury.
Months ago, Davis let it be known that he desires nothing but to have another big man at his side.
This wish made headlines while was still a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Since their title run in 2020, Davis found himself singlehandedly anchoring the Lakeshow’s interior as their man in the middle.
His unexpected landing in Dallas as part of the blockbuster Luka Doncic deal ultimately served as a blessing in disguise for Davis as this finally fulfilled his wish to get paired with a center. And he couldn’t ask for a better team to be a part of as the Mavericks present Lively II and Gafford as his newest frontcourt partners.
Playing for the first time this season with both Mavericks centers, Davis instantly savored the benefit of playing at the power forward spot, his natural position since entering the league in 2012.
“It makes my job easier,” Davis said after a 34-point, 15-rebound performance while hitting the game-winning floater on the Mavs’ win against the Hawks. “As far as defensively, I’m able to roam and just kind of be like the free safety, just kind of help everybody on the floor.
“Offensively, since we had [Gafford and Lively II] back, I was a lot faster with those guys. It was a lot easier for me, less stress as far as guarding every pick and roll, being in every pick and roll.
“It was good to have one of those guys with me on the floor with me at all times.”
Davis played multiple instances of being at the four alongside Lively II and Gafford. The superstar big man started the game with the 21-year-old, while the veteran center mainly served as a backup for them who finished strongly with 11 points and 6 rebounds across 20 minutes of play.
As the Mavericks begin to finally get healthy and get their enforcers back from injuries, Davis is excited to build momentum with his fellow big men.
After missing significant time following an abductor injury on debut, Davis is confident to end the regular season strongly as he and the Mavs (38-39) are sitting at the ninth spot of the Western Conference, on the cusp of entering the Play-In Tournament.
“We know how dominant we can be when we are healthy and available,” Davis said, specifically of his pairings with Lively II and Gafford. “It’s just about us going out there and enforcing our dominance.”
