Jason Kidd is unlocking Quentin Grimes in ways the Knicks never dared

After defeating the LA Clippers on the second game of a home-and-home series, the Dallas Mavericks have improved to 18-10. Getting off to a hot start was important not only for potential playoff seeding but also for Dallas' recent stretch of wins, which has allowed them to prove to the rest of the league that they can compete with the best teams.

While the Mavericks have sent a message to the league throughout the season, they also proved they have one of the deepest rosters in the league after their 113-97 victory over the Clippers. With Luka Doncic sidelined by injury, eight Mavericks finished the game in double digits to help extend the Mavericks' slew of impressive wins this year.

While it was a team effort on Saturday night, one Maverick rose above the rest and proved to Jason Kidd that he could be one of the team's leading scorers off the bench throughout the year. Quentin Grimes has had an impressive stint with the Mavs so far this season, but Saturday's performance proved to fans that Grimes was always meant to be a Maverick.

Quentin Grimes is proving he belongs in Dallas

It's no secret that Grimes is having one of his best seasons as a pro. After getting traded away from the New York Knicks at the trade deadline last season, Grimes' career was looking dim on a struggling Detroit Pistons squad. The Knicks had pretty much given up on him, and Tom Thibodeau's trust in him was nearly gone by the time that he was moved to the Pistons.

Not only was the four-year pro struggling to see the floor in Detroit and battling injuries, but in six games for the Pistons the former Houston Cougar shot a career-worst 14.3 percent from behind the arc. Despite having solid upside as a role player, Detroit traded Grimes to Dallas in the summer which has proven to be one of the most underrated offseason moves.

In Detroit and New York, Grimes' offensive role was subject to standing in a corner and waiting for drive and kicks to shoot wide-open threes. He didn't have the chance to handle the ball much and showcase his game entirely, and while his stint in New York was solid, they were holding him back. While this isn't a bad role for a young player to be in, Grimes was capable of much more and Jason Kidd realized this at the right time.

In Dallas, Grimes is having one of his best seasons and it's all due to his role on the team. Oftentimes, Grimes is asked to come off the bench where he can help run the second unit with his underrated ball handling and scoring capabilities.

Grimes is also a wiry defender who is often asked to guard the opposing team's best players in the second unit which has become a calling card for Grimes throughout his career. He takes pride in guarding the best players in the NBA, and Kidd trusts him to be a disruptor on that end.

While Grimes brings a lot of energy on both ends of the floor, the coaching staff has instilled confidence in Grimes to go out and do what he does best on a nightly basis.

"Just go out there and play with a lot of energy," Grimes said. "Whenever a coach gives you that trust, it's also an added boost to your confidence."

Since joining Dallas, Grimes has had multiple career stretches including a few 20-point games, which helped the Mavericks win big games at the time. Against the Clippers, Grimes led all scorers with 20 points off the bench where he exploded in the fourth quarter scoring nine straight points.

Grimes still has a lot to prove in Dallas, but he has earned the trust of Kidd and the coaching staff to be one of the top options off the bench in the biggest moments.