The Dallas Mavericks wrapped up their first week of training camp Friday at Simon Fraser University, closing out three days of work in Vancouver before heading back to Texas for Monday\u2019s preseason opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
Head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> praised the team\u2019s effort, communication, and competitiveness through the first week.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat. The energy, the communication, everything was at a high. The competition was at a high and it was fun. This was a fun week,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n Anthony Davis in Domantas Sabonis-Like Role<\/p>\n Anthony Davis<\/a>, who averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 51 games last season and earned his 10th All-Star selection, has been central to the early work in Jay Triano<\/a>\u2019s new offense.<\/p>\n Kidd said Davis\u2019 ability to facilitate from multiple spots makes him an ideal hub in the system.<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t always have to be down low\u2014he can be outside on the perimeter, but he can be in all five spots,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cI love the way Coach J has taught the offense. The positions are interchangeable. Everything\u2019s read-and-react. In the first week, guys have picked it up and it\u2019s been great.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kidd emphasized that Davis\u2019 versatility in dribble handoffs (DHO) will be a major component of Dallas\u2019 attack.<\/p>\n \u201cHis ability to shoot and then play-make. In the DHO\u2019s, he can play on the perimeter in the pick-and-roll, mid-range to three-point line\u2014he can shoot it,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cAlso, playing off the dribble, he can drive it. The more we put him in those situations where teams just can\u2019t load up on him in the post, I think that\u2019ll help our offense.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis said the approach is rooted in movement and spacing, similar to how Triano used Domantas Sabonis<\/a> in Sacramento.<\/p>\n \u201cBall movement. Getting to our spots and creating lanes for our guys,\u201d Davis said. \u201cWith Jay Triano coming over and kind of how they used Sabonis as the hub, kind of the same thing. And guys just playing off of that.\u201d<\/p>\n On defense, Davis is setting the tone after being reminded Dallas ranked last in rebounding post-trade last season.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know this until they told us yesterday, first day of camp, that we were 30th in rebounding,\u201d Davis said. \u201cSo there\u2019s been a lot of focus on not watching the ball as it goes to the rim, but turning and finding a body and boxing out, and then going to locate the ball. We are a really good defensive team, but defense\u2014you have to try. It\u2019s a mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason Kidd Highlights Communication and Veteran Leadership<\/p>\n Kidd noted the group has been more vocal than in years past, with leadership coming from multiple players.<\/p>\n \u201cThis group talks a little bit more, and that\u2019s good. I don\u2019t have to pull it out of them,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThe communication was good, guys are in, and the competition\u2014everybody\u2019s pushing each other. It\u2019s good to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Naji Marshall<\/a>, who averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 69 games last season, stood out to Kidd as one of the most consistent performers.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was consistent all week on both sides of the ball,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cA lot of good things for Naji. I thought he was one of the guys that stood out this week.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kidd also singled out D\u2019Angelo Russell, who averaged 12.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 58 games last season, for his voice and shooting.<\/p>\n \u201cHis voice. He\u2019s a vet. He\u2019s been in this league,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHis shooting\u2014he\u2019s shooting the lights out, shooting the ball at a high rate. His playmaking has been superb. That\u2019s what we need from him.\u201d<\/p>\n The coach added that P.J. Washington<\/a> returned to practice Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he was great,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cIt was good just having him back. We had the big group out there with Ryan running the point with Cooper, D-Lo, AD, and PJ. They beat up on the white team today.\u201d<\/p>\n Dereck Lively II Focused on Health and Leadership<\/p>\n Third-year center Dereck Lively II,<\/a> who averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 36 games last season, said he feels strong coming off ankle surgery and is working on conditioning.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat, man. I feel strong,\u201d Lively said. \u201cI just have to make sure my wind stays where it needs to be so I can talk where I need to and still run the floor. I\u2019m making sure I\u2019m in the best shape possible so I can help my teammates win.\u201d<\/p>\n He also joked about his height, saying he may now be closer to 7-foot-3.<\/p>\n \u201cI just feel like I wasn\u2019t 7\u20192\u201d last year\u2014I was 7\u20191\u201d. So I grew one inch,\u201d Lively said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m definitely closer to 7\u20193\u201d now.\u201d<\/p>\n Lively stressed that Dallas\u2019 defensive length should be a major asset.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can be a great defensive team,\u201d he said. \u201cAll this length, and everyone\u2019s got the best interest in one another\u2014covering each other\u2019s backs, always being in the right rotations. If one of us fails, we all fail. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n