Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II appears to be positioning himself as a new Boston sports antagonist alongside teammate Kyrie Irving. Following the Mavericks’ first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden, Lively downplayed the infamous Boston crowd’s intensity, stating he found it underwhelming.
Dereck Lively Comments
In a media session on Tuesday, Lively shared his thoughts on the atmosphere at TD Garden:
- “I honestly didn’t think it was that loud,” Lively said, referring to the home of the Celtics.
- “There’s a bunch of rumours about how Boston can be so loud, so nasty. I thought it was going to be worse.”
Lively’s remarks echoed similar sentiments from Irving after Game 1, when Irving remarked that he “thought it would be louder.” This prompted an even more vocal reaction from the Boston crowd in Game 2, with loud boos and “Kyrie Sucks” chants when his quote was displayed on the Jumbotron.
Boston Crowd Reaction
While Game 1 saw a dominant performance by the Celtics, leading by as many as 29 points, which naturally subdued the crowd, Game 2 was a different story. The intensity and noise levels ramped up considerably in the more competitive matchup, especially during key moments such as:
- Payton Pritchard’s halfcourt buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.
- Derrick White’s crucial late-game block, potentially saved the game for the Celtics,
Dereck Lively Expectations for Game 3
Lively is hopeful that the home crowd at American Airlines Center will provide a more formidable home-court advantage for the Mavericks:
- “They’re going to be loud,” Lively said of the Dallas crowd.
However, with Dallas down 0-2 in the series, the pressure is on Lively and his teammates to perform. Lively’s own performance has been lacklustre, totalling just four points, four turnovers, and six fouls over the first two games.
Dereck Lively on atmosphere in Games 1 and 2: “I honestly didn’t think it was that loud. There’s a bunch of rumors about how Boston’s gonna be so loud, so nasty, and I thought it was gonna be worse” pic.twitter.com/aDWvIipZyM
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 11, 2024
Analysis
Lively’s comments could serve as bulletin board material for Celtics fans, motivating them to create an even more hostile environment should the series return to Boston. Additionally, it highlights the psychological warfare that often accompanies high-stakes playoff series. For the Mavericks, generating a strong home-court presence will be crucial if they hope to avoid an 0-3 hole in the Finals.
In the high-pressure world of the NBA Finals, every edge counts, whether it comes from crowd noise, player performance, or mental games. As the series progresses, it will be interesting to see if Lively’s words come back to haunt him or if the Mavericks can rally behind their home crowd’s support.
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