Mavericks' painfully honest Daniel Gafford reality check finally gets through

Don't look now, but the Dallas Mavericks continue to head toward a downward spiral. The team has now lost three games in a row and eight of its last 10. On Wednesday, its most recent loss came against the New Orleans Pelicans when the referees missed an easy goaltending call that would have gave Dallas a chance to win.

It's clear, the Mavs need Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving back. Irving returned to action on Tuesday, as he had 11 points and four steals. He struggled in his first game back, shooting 22 percent from the field. Irving failed to find a rhythm, as he got some open looks, but couldn't knock them down. He would miss Wednesday's game with the same bulging disk that kept him out previously. Doncic on the other hand, has no confirmed return date, but it's expected he could return by early February. Both players are pivotal to the team's success, and Dallas needs them back at full strength.

To make matters worse, Dereck Lively II left Tuesday's game with a sprained right ankle. The good news is that the x-rays came back negative, although there is no timetable for his return. Lively's health issues though, have been a concern for Dallas this season. He has missed eight games already with various injuries, and he remains one of the most important players on the team.

Gafford answers his own calling, has career night against Pelicans

With Lively II out, this means that Daniel Gafford is the next man up. Gafford struggled in Tuesday's blowout loss. He finished the game with 13 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Gafford also had a negative plus/minus rating, finishing -6. Defensively, he struggled to contain center Nikola Jokic, as he recorded a triple-double, and DeAndre Jordan dominated him inside as well. The Nuggets also outrebounded Dallas by 21 boards. Denver recorded 40 defensive rebounds and 42 points inside the paint, as the Mavs failed to contain the paint.

Gafford took full responsibility for the Denver loss. He explained that he lacked "physicality" and needed to "be better." Gafford further detailed that he must bring more energy, as he is someone who usually sparks his teammates due to his infectious energy. Something seemed off about Gafford in both games against Denver, and as shown during his postgame media availability, he was extremely critical of his performance.

Gafford took his own advice to heart on Wednesday. He led all Mavs in scoring, recording a career-high 27 points on a near-perfect 92 percent shooting. He also recorded a double-double, as he had 12 rebounds. Gafford too had two blocks. He played a physical game, fighting for boards and being aggressive on the glass.

Offensively, Gafford did well scoring inside and finishing tough plays. He wasn't afraid to use his body to make things easier for the team. His aggressive style helped him make his first 12 shots.

He was aggressive from the start, and that is something we didn't see out of him in the baseball series against Denver. Gafford had 16 points and eight rebounds at halftime. Gafford's dynamic play helped Dallas bounce back from an early first-quarter deficit. His ability to follow his own advice speaks volumes to the type of player he is. Gafford can overcome a bad game and slowly turn it into a dynamic performance.

Gafford's high level of production proves to work in favor of the Mavs. Dallas traded for Gafford last season, as he gave the team a much-needed big man to pair with Lively II. Simply put, it was highway robbery in Dallas' favor.

The Mavs will need Gafford to continue performing at a high level, as Lively II injury could spark an increase in minutes. Gafford must continue answering the call for Dallas, as his production could be the cornerstone for a Mavs' turnaround.

Gafford has proven he is one of the top backup centers in the NBA. His high level of success proves his value to the team. Gafford has already shown his impact in his ability to bounce back nicely. He will need to play at a high level consistently if Dallas hopes to weather the storm without Lively II.