Mavericks must make this starting lineup tweak to escape struggles without Doncic

Don't look now, but the Dallas Mavericks are on a three-game losing streak. This marks the second time Dallas has gone on a significant losing skid this season, as back in November the team suffered a four-game losing streak. During that time, the Mavs struggled to close out games, with all four of their losses coming by three points or less.

The biggest issue currently is injuries. In Dallas' most recent loss against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, they lost 110-99. During the game, the Mavs lost P.J. Washington before halftime due to a right knee sprain. This comes as a blow, as Washington is the team's silent MVP and is turning into the most important player on the team outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

This makes things much more difficult, as the Mavs' roster is already thin. Before the regular season began, Dallas lost Dante Exum to a wrist injury that required surgery. It's possible Exum could return soon with his three-month timetable nearing. Doncic recently rejoined Exum on the injury list, as he is expected to be out until at least the end of the month with a calf strain. Doncic's absence has been a hurdle for Dallas, with the team struggling to find a consistent scorer to pair with Irving.

It's clear that Dallas is struggling to find answers without Doncic. The team was 6-2 this season when he was out before the calf injury, but they haven't been able to find the same success this time around. The Mavs have gone 1-3 since Doncic's injury on Christmas, and something has to change so they can stay in a good position until he returns.

Mavericks need to start Grimes over Dinwiddie to get back on track

The issue has been finding consistency in the starting lineup. Since Doncic's injury, Dallas has started Spencer Dinwiddie in his place. Dinwiddie has fared well over the past four games. He scored 15 points against the Phoenix Suns and 17 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. Dinwiddie had a breakout game against the Sacramento Kings, as he scored 30 points on 50 percent shooting from the 3-point line.

However, Dinwiddie fell back to earth on Wednesday, as he scored eight points in 24 minutes. He missed his only two free throws and had three turnovers. His inconsistency has been a problem this season, as Dinwiddie tends to go on cold streaks sometimes. For example, on Christmas, he went 0-7 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. The next game he scored 15 points and shot 41.7 percent overall.

His defense is also a liability at times compared to some of his teammates. Dinwiddie has a 114.6 defensive rating for his career. His defense has gotten better over the last few years, but he isn't the on-ball stopper that the Mavs need next to Irving in the current starting unit. Dallas holds a 1-4 record with him in the starting group and now is the time to make a switch.

One possible solution is swapping Dinwiddie's spot in the starting unit for Quentin Grimes. Grimes is the perfect candidate to take Doncic's starting place until he returns. He is an excellent two-way player who works exceptionally hard on both ends. Dallas is 5-5 with Grimes in the starting group this season, and adding him to this starting unit in place of Dinwiddie could be the shake up the Mavs need to start winning some games.

Grimes is having one of the best seasons of his career this year. He is currently averaging 9.3 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent overall and 42.1 from the 3-point line. Last month, he averaged 11.4 points and shot 46.3 percent overall. Against Houston on Wednesday night, he scored 17 points. Grimes could score from all over and he wasn't afraid to attack the basket.

Defensively, he does a great job making things difficult for his opponent. Grimes can use his active hands to disrupt passing lanes and easily pocket the opposition. He also is great at navigating through screens and isn't scared to use his body to fight for rebounds. His physicality is something the Mavs have been lacking, as Grimes is the one player unafraid to guard the other team's best player.

Grimes is easily one of the most underrated signings from this offseason, and it's time for Jason Kidd to start him. He is the much better fit in the starting lineup considering how many players are out for Dallas, and this could be the change that helps them get back on track.

While Grimes is a possible solution, the question Dallas must answer is: How can Grimes and the rest of the team get back to winning?

Quentin Grimes and the Dallas Mavericks will look to get back to their winning ways against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.