D’Angelo Russell’s strangest skill is holding the Mavericks hostage

While offense was hard to come by once again for the Dallas Mavericks in a 113-111 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Dallas' defense is clearly finding their footing, as the Mavericks had a chance to tie this game at the horn until a Brandon Williams layup was waved off due to an offensive foul with 0.7 seconds left in the game.

However, Williams' shooting was rough in this contest, as Dallas needed all the help they could get from backup point guard D'Angelo Russell to stay in this game, and Russell proved to be a bellwether for Dallas' success once again. The Mavericks don't even come close to staying in this game if it weren't for Russell's third-quarter shot-making, as he scored at all three levels en route to 14 points off 6-7 shooting in the third quarter alone.

For anyone following the Mavericks this season, it's been clear that Russell has been one of the most polarizing players on the roster, a trend that has followed him throughout his career, but one that has become more prominent than ever this season in Dallas and last year with the Brooklyn Nets. Russell's unpredictability has become the strangest part of his game, as he goes on wild individual scoring runs one night and shoots the Mavericks out of games the next.

Mavericks' rise or fall depending on D'Angelo Russell's shooting

Russell is certainly a microwave-type of scorer when he gets going, as he hit some shots in the in-between game that kept the Mavericks in the game versus New York, and he had his second-best 3-point shooting game of the season, going 4-7 from beyond the arc. However, Russell's overall shooting has been horrific through 16 games, and he'd probably be completely out of Jason Kidd's rotation if it weren't for a few hot shooting games.

Russell's decision-making when playmaking seems to follow suit with his shot-making sometimes, which doesn't bode well considering how much he's been cold to start the season. In comparison to Williams, for instance, both players have had a relatively tough time putting the ball in the basket in the last handful of games, but Russell doesn't do nearly as many of the little things to impact winning compared to Williams.

Williams is a better passer, better defender, and plays with far more speed and hustle compared to Russell, so with both players struggling from downtown in the aggregate, it's clear who should be starting most nights, as Kidd can always opt to close with Russell if he's having one of his heaters like he did versus New York on Wednesday.

Don't get it twisted, Russell is fun to watch when he has it going, as he plays with a level of smoothness that is seldom seen with guards across the league. But when teams start daring him to hit from outside due to his poor shooting, it crowds the paint and makes it tougher for Russell to get through the teeth of the defense to manipulate driving lanes, which has been the case far too often this season.

The Mavericks don't stay in this game without Russell, as aforementioned, nor do they even have a chance in their loss to the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City a few weeks ago if he doesn't light it up from outside. Despite this, the Mavericks have had to find other ways to compensate for shot creation for Russell more often than not this season, as Dallas' offense has often ridden the tide of his polarizing play.