Mavericks' newest injury forces Anthony Davis into uncomfortable reality

The Dallas Mavericks' injury luck has been some of the worst in NBA history this season, as seemingly every time someone gets healthy, a different player goes down. This trend has continued almost the entire season, and it hasn't let up even with less than a month to go.

While Anthony Davis made his return to the floor earlier this week after missing over a month with an adductor strain, P.J. Washington has missed the last two games with an ankle sprain. This injury has been nagging for weeks, as he has missed 14 of the last 21 games, and their frontcourt keeps taking blows. The team is already without Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and their big bodies down low unfortunately keep going down.

Kai Jones was the latest player to fall victim to the injury curse, as he went down with a left hip contusion in Dallas' game against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night after climbing the ladder to throw down an alley-oop slam. Jones converted the bucket, but he landed right on his back and did not return.

Anthony Davis will no longer get to play his preferred position

Jones has been excellent for Dallas this season, as he has averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 84.2 percent from the field and starting in five of the six games he's played in, but if he misses significant time, then Davis' role is going to significantly change.

Davis's natural position is power forward, but with Jones out, he is going to have to play much more center. He was vocal about wanting to play the four in Los Angeles before they traded him, and now he is back to playing center.

This is not something that Davis is necessarily against, as he understands the team's circumstances and is willing to do whatever it takes to win, but it's unquestionable that he prefers playing power forward.

"He has the advantage, no matter what four," Jason Kidd said about Davis playing power forward before last night's game. "He always has the advantage."

If Jones misses time, the only healthy center on the roster will be Dwight Powell, and while he could see his minutes increase to help make up for the loss of Jones, Davis will likely still spend plenty of time at the five regardless. This will undoubtedly help spread the floor considering his ability to knock down open threes, but he won't have a mismatch every time down the floor like he does when a power forward is defending him.

Fans will have a better idea of how Kidd plans to shake up the rotation with Jones potentially out tomorrow against the Chicago Bulls, but not all hope is lost even if Jones misses some games. Lively II and Gafford are trending in the right direction when it comes to returning to the floor this season.

Lively II and or Gafford being able to play this season would make them dangerous heading into the Play-In Tournament, as they would be able to start Davis at the four once again with Washington at the three. Even though Kyrie Irving won't return this season, Dallas' defense is poised to be elite if they can get healthy over the next few weeks.

Davis as one of the team's defensive anchors with Lively II or Gafford should give opposing teams nightmares, and he'll be ready for action regardless of what position he's playing.