Kidd's controversial Klay Thompson move exposes he's brutally failing the Mavericks

Things are starting to go south for the Dallas Mavericks. The team has lost three of its last four games and has struggled to move up in the standings. Their only true victory came against a struggling Charlotte Hornets squad. Dallas had an opportunity to move out of play-in territory on Saturday, but their 132-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks didn't help its cause.

One reason for their struggles could be the play and health of P.J. Washington. He returned on Saturday after missing Thursday's game with an ankle sprain. Washington struggled in his return, shooting 28 percent and scoring four points in under 15 minutes. He ended up leaving the game Saturday with a right ankle soreness. Washington's health and performance will be crucial for the team's future playoff success.

Max Christie's shooting struggles didn't help, either. Christie became an instant fan-favorite after scoring games of 15, 23, and 19 points. Fans loved his aggressive style and ability to defend effectively for the team. However, Christie had an off night against the Bucks. He scored five points after being placed in the starting lineup and shot 25 percent from long range.

Klay Thompson, on the other hand, shot well from the 3-point line. He converted 44 percent of his long-range attempts and was aggressive in his shot selection. Thompson finished the game with 16 points and five assists. He was the team's third-leading scorer behind Kyrie Irving and Moses Brown.

Kidd unfairly criticizes Thompson's defense out of nowhere

This was the third game in a row Thompson scored 15 or more points. He balled out in February, averaging 15.1 points per game and shooting 41.8 percent from the 3-point line. He has been getting comfortable being the team's second leading option. Thompson isn't afraid to shoot the ball, and he showcased this on Saturday.

The problem was that Thompson played just 28 minutes and 34 seconds on Saturday. It's possible he could have played more had Kidd kept him in during the final stretch of the third quarter, and he only played two minutes and 43 seconds in that quarter. Kidd subbed out Thompson for defensive purposes. His logic had fans scratching their heads, as they believed his substitution made no sense.

Kidd stated that the team was trying to get stops, and defensively, he seemingly believed Thompson hindered their defensive scheme. He discussed how the Mavs' main focus was to prevent the Bucks' scoring chances. Simply, Thompson was wrongfully the scapegoat as to why the Bucks outscored Dallas 30-16 in the third quarter.

Kidd's comments are confusing as to why Thompson saw limited action in the third quarter. If you recall, Thompson had one of his best defensive performances against the Hornets on Thursday. He did a superb job holding the opposing team from scoring. It was his defensive heroics that kept his Hornets' assignments from scoring. Thompson finished the game with a 96.7 defensive rating and two crucial blocks.

To make things worse, Thompson's substitution struggled to stop the bleeding. Spencer Dinwiddie played a majority of Thompson's minutes. Offensively, he struggled to find rhythm behind the arc, going 0-3 from the 3-point line. Conversely, Dinwiddie failed to help contain the Bucks' offense. His negative -12 plus/minus also demonstrated his frequent struggles in the game, and he is not a better defender than Thompson.

Thompson's limited action is just another blunder for Kidd. Three months ago, Kidd praised Thompson's championship pedigree. He explained how Thompson's past success was key to the team's playoff chances. Saturday's response though, showcases how Kidd just needed an excuse to expose the team's struggles and threw his veteran leader under the bus. Thompson could have been used to help give Dallas more shooting, and he didn't even get much of a chance.

The Mavs are full of injuries. The team's trio of Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis are out. Their absences have taken a toll. Dallas was outrebounded by 19 boards Saturday and struggled inside, as the Bucks scored 42 points inside the paint. So, blaming Thompson is a bit far-fetched.

Dallas must keep playing Thompson if they hope to make it through the next few weeks. His experience is key for Dallas to make a playoff run. Thompson has proven plenty of times to be a valuable defensive asset. Until the Mavs' big men return, coach Kidd should find another way to help the team's defense.