3 Mavericks that could be axed from the playoff rotation

The Dallas Mavericks are fighting to make the playoffs this season. They have struggled to find their footing after trading for Kyrie Irving, and Dallas is right in the middle of the crowded Western Conference. Just three games separate fifth and 12th with less than a month remaining. Every game matters as Dallas could end up in the playoffs or miss the postseason entirely.

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd has been experimenting with lineups and rotations since the blockbuster trade. Fans have seen him try different starting combinations and even make some head-scratching decisions as the coaching staff figures out how to maximize their rotation.

Kidd played a nine-man rotation during last year’s run to the conference finals, but he could switch things up and shorten it further this season. The Hall of Famer does not have many trusted options as the Mavericks lack depth after the trade. Here are three players that could drop out of the team’s playoff rotation this year.

Dallas Mavericks who could be axed from playoff rotation: 3. Josh Green

Green is the Mavericks' third most important player behind their superstar duo, but fans have already seen head coach Jason Kidd use Justin Holiday over him. Over the last nine games, he is averaging just 26.3 minutes each night, despite shooting over 41 percent from 3-point range and giving the Mavs a spark with his energy.

Depending on the matchup, it could come down to Green versus Holiday for minutes in a given game. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are going to get massive run in the playoffs. Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber will make the cut because of their defense. Coach Kidd won’t go away from Tim Hardaway Jr, but the rest of the rotation feels in flux. If the opponent is playing two traditional big men, Dallas could have to decide between Holiday and Green.

Both should be in the team’s playoff rotation. If Kidd plays nine, it should be Doncic, Irving, Bullock, and Green who get the majority of the minutes with Maxi Kleber playing 25-ish as the preferred center. THJ, Holiday, Dwight Powell, and Christian Wood should round out the rotation, but coach Kidd could have other ideas.

Josh Green was played off the floor in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Utah Jazz left him wide open, and the 22-year-old could not hit enough shots to stay in the game. Will that happen again this year? His 3-point shooting has improved tremendously, and Josh Green should play 30-plus minutes every night in the playoffs, but will coach Kidd keep him on the floor? It is a position to watch closely.