Mavericks are destroying the only true silver lining from the Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks seem to be trending in the right direction. The team has gone 2-1 in their last three games, defeating the Detroit Pistons on Friday and the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. Anthony Davis made his long-awaited return on Monday. He played a solid game, scoring 12 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes. His ability to do the little things, like space the floor and assist his teammates, made all the difference.

One major factor was Davis's ability to stay healthy. He had been out for the past month and a half with an adductor strain. Davis played his first game with Dallas on February 8 before reinjuring himself. He played 31 minutes in this game with the team. Coach Jason Kidd took a more conservative approach on Monday. He ensured Davis was able to ease his way back into the game. This must continue if the Mavs hope to keep him on the court.

The Mavs acquired Davis and Max Christie in the infamous Luka Doncic trade. Davis was expected to be the star of the city and take Dallas on a deep playoff run, but injuries made things difficult. Christie, on the other hand, balled out during his first week with Dallas. He scored 15 or more points in his first seven games with the team. Mavs fans thought he was on his way to stardom, and his rise looked like it was going to help remove some of the pain from fans' hearts following the Doncic trade.

The Mavericks must get Max Christie more involved

Christie saw a regression in his points per game during his final three games in February, and the dreams of him being the savior of the Doncic trade slowly faded as he came back down to reality. He scored a quiet two points against the Golden State Warriors on February 23. Christie went 0-3 from the 3-point line and shot 20 percent overall, as he attempted five shots.

He scored 10 points in the following game, but shot 30.8 percent from the field. One major difference was his shot opportunities, as he attempted 13 field goals. Christie scored eight points and shot 37.5 percent overall in the next game. He finished the game with eight shot attempts.

See the pattern? Whenever Christie shoots below 10 field goals, he sometimes struggles to find a rhythm. He has shown to be a great shot creator, and the Mavs must find ways to get him more involved. Last month, Christie clearly showed he is a reliable scorer. For example, Christie had one of his best games against the Miami Heat on February 13. He shot the ball 19 times and converted 42.1 percent of his attempts. Christie also scored 19 points and had three steals.

Now, he doesn't need to shoot the ball 19 times a game, but the team should emphasize that he must increase his shots. The Mavs' most recent loss is a prime example of Christie's struggles. Christie scored six points against the New York Knicks, shooting the ball five times. This is a major difference from Monday, when he had nine field goal attempts and scored 10 points.

Christie is too good of a shot creator to not be calling his own number more, and the Mavericks are going to need more out of him moving forward. They need to get him in more actions as the ball handler and allow him to cook, as this will only help his confidence moving forward.

It's no question Christie has struggled to replicate his success from his first seven games with the team. This could be why the team has struggled to give him more opportunities. However, maybe increasing his shot attempts might be an option. The Mavs desperately need more scorers as many players continue to return from injuries.

So, why not give Christie a chance? The team will need help to make the Play-In tournament. Getting Davis back is already a step in the right direction. It's possible that helping Christie revert to his old ways could also be a major factor. Coach Jason Kidd, work your magic and help the team find its groove.