Mavs' unique Dinwiddie plan is working beautifully with or without Doncic and Irving

The Dallas Mavericks were put in a tough spot on Thursday night that wasn't expected after having a couple of days of rest.

Against their playoff foe and rival, the LA Clippers, the Mavericks fell way short in a game without both of their respective superstars, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Jason Kidd also didn't give Mavs fans much hope when asked about Doncic's latest injury, as he didn't give an update on his heel contusion before the game.

While it's unknown how long those two will be sidelined for, the Mavs have found an improved growth in one area.

At one point, someone who originally seemed like he could be an afterthought this season has ended up becoming one of the more important pieces on the Mavs roster.

Dinwiddie is thriving in every role Kidd throws his way

At the beginning of the season, Spencer Dinwiddie didn't seem relevant enough, and his struggles were extremely concerning.

Now, it's like he's taken a complete turn in the opposite direction and has been an elite role player. His ability to be a spot starter and step up when Doncic or Irving (or both of them) are out is a luxury that Kidd may utilize more often, and him starting on Thursday night and producing as much as he did was a huge step in the right direction considering how he started the year.

At the beginning of the season, Dinwiddie wasn't getting much time, solely because he wasn't producing enough on offense. This was a stain from a poor preseason he had back in October, and it carried over into the beginning of the regular season.

All of a sudden, he gave Mavs fans a Thanksgiving gift and gave these fans hope that he could once be the guy who he once was in his first stint in Dallas just a few years ago.

Kidd actually said that Dinwiddie playing as much as he had been in November and December wasn't the original plan, but because of Dante Exum being out, Dinwiddie has had to step up. He's stepped up so much, that he's put Kidd into a tough spot where he cannot bench Dinwiddie because of his offensive efficiency.

Dinwiddie has found new ways to get involved in other ways than shooting. He finished with 19 points on the night without making a single three, and he showed that he is more than just a shooter.

Against the Clippers, he found a way to maneuver through defenders to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. He is quietly elite at drawing fouls, and he is seemingly always at the free-throw line.

He shot 7-9 from from the line, but it wasn't just his shooting that drew eyes against the Clippers. His playmaking also continues to dazzle as he dished out seven assists, and his growth in that area has been excellent this season.

Dinwiddie was awarded with 37 minutes in the game, a team-high for the night. Once again, this shows the quick improvement that Dinwiddie has shown early this season. This also further proves Kidd's point that Dinwiddie in the lineup like this wasn't part of his original plan. He used to be only getting minutes in the low teens.

Dinwiddie is a great player to have in the starting lineup, but it will be a tough decision for Kidd down the stretch once Exum gets back in 2025. He has already said he will accept any role that Kidd gives him, and that is one of the toughest parts about being a player like him. He could go from playing big minutes one night to not being in the rotation on a different night, and he understands that.

All Dinwiddie has to do is do his job on a nightly basis and play the unique role that the Mavs assigned him. His spot with Dallas is safe for now as he will need to continue his high offensive playmaking to keep his valuable spot in the rotation.

His ability to play alongside Doncic and Irving is one of the best parts of his game, but he can also step up and ball out without them as well.