Mavericks’ silent MVP is the secret to their success, and it’s not Luka or Kyrie

The Dallas Mavericks' roster has experienced various changes in the past week. It all started on Christmas Day when All-Star Luka Doncic suffered a calf strain. The injury has sidelined Doncic for at least 30 days, as that is likely the next time he will be re-evaluated. This makes things more difficult for the team with Kyrie Irving forced to take the reins.

To make matters worse, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall were suspended on Friday after an altercation with Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. Washington already served his suspension on Saturday, while Marshall is expected to return on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The suspension though forced Dallas to be short-handed on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Mavs struggled heavily against Portland, even with Irving finishing with 46 points. The team struggled to contain their opposition inside. Portland outrebounded Dallas by 10 boards and scored 58 points inside the paint. Center Deandre Ayton had his way with the Mavs, scoring a double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Mavericks always crumble without P.J. Washington in the lineup

Dallas has also been without Dereck Lively II, as he has missed the past two games with a left hip bruise. His absence adds to the roster struggles. This is quietly starting to become a problem with Lively II. He missed 27 games last season and has missed a few games this season as well with various injuries.

However, the biggest struggle has been when the team is without Washington. Dallas acquired Washington last season when they sent Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets. He played a key role in helping the Mavs advance to the NBA Finals. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, he averaged 17.7 points per game and shot 46.9 percent from the 3-point line. Washington's clutch free throws helped Dallas advance to the next round in Game 6 when his team needed him most.

This season, Washington continues to prove his worth. Dallas struggles heavily whenever he is out of the lineup. For example, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 10, Dallas failed to capitalize without Washington. Washington missed the game due to a mystery illness that was passed around the team for multiple weeks.

The Mavs' defense struggled to contain the Thunder's offense without Washington. Dallas allowed Oklahoma to shoot 45.5 percent from the field, as they scored 38 points inside the paint. Thunder Forward Jalen Williams, the player Washington would have likely spent time guarding, scored 18 points and had seven rebounds.

See, the thing about Washington is he is one of the top defenders in the league. He is one of the few players who can guard all five positions. Not to mention, Washington plays a key role in the team's defensive metrics. He ranks in the top categories in defensive statistics for Dallas, as he is the team's third-leading rebounder, second-leader in steals, and third-leader in blocks per game.

Offensively, he is one of the team's top leading scorers. Washington is the Mavs' fourth-leading scorer, tied with Daniel Gafford averaging 12.2 points per game. He is also shooting 39.4 percent from the 3-point line. Washington highly elevates the team's offense and is an excellent catch-and-shot forward, as he has taken a huge step in that department after some rough shooting last season.

Simply put, he gets it done on both ends of the court. Dallas has a 19-6 record with Washington this season. They also produce a 111.1 defensive rating and 46.4 rebounds per game with him on the court. However, without Washington, the Mavs always struggle. They have a 1-6 record without him and produce a horrific 119 defensive rating whenever he is out. Washington is deeply missed when out, as he elevates the team to new heights when he is in the lineup. He is undoubtedly the most important player on the team outside of Doncic and Irving, and who knows where the Mavs would be without him.

Earlier this month, Doncic spoke about Washington's impact. He reiterated how Washington is one of the many leaders on the team. He explained how Washington is "always positive," and that he "probably guards the best player every night." Doncic also stated that the team has "all the trust in the world with him."

Dallas will be excited to welcome Washington back to the lineup on Monday when they take on the Sacramento Kings on the road. He will give Irving some much-needed support as the Mavs look to get back on track.