Dallas Mavericks grades for the first 30 percent of the season

Dallas Mavericks grades after 30 percent of the season: Maxi Kleber

Kleber remains a key piece for the Mavericks. He got off to a slow shooting start, and the team was struggling, but he has found his stroke in recent games as their record has improved. Head coach Jason Kidd likes to pair Kleber with Christian Wood, and he trusts the 6’10 big man to be the center in his closing lineups.

Kleber’s scoring and rebounding are slightly down from last season, but he is shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range and blocking 1.0 shot per game. His blend of perimeter defending, floor spacing, and rim protection makes him a key piece to the team’s success.

Grade: B-minus

Kleber has brought the defense all season, but his offensive game has been up and down. With nearly one-third of the year in the books, Kleber earns a B-minus grade for his contributions with the hope that his rebounding improves moving forward.

Dallas Mavericks grades after 30 percent of the season: Davis Bertans

Bertans missed the beginning of the season as he recovered from a knee injury, but he has played in ten of the 13 games since he returned on Nov. 16. The 6’10 forward is an elite 3-point shooter, and that matters on a team so reliant on outside shooting.

Grade: B

Bertans is shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range after his first ten games played. He is just one of five from 2-point range, but the veteran is knocking down threes, and that is all the Mavs need from him.