3 ways that the Dallas Mavericks can get back on track

1. Play defense

The Mavericks playing defense is easier said than done, but it must happen down the stretch. Dallas is 25th in the NBA for defensive rating over the last 15 games and can't seem to guard anyone.

Dallas was seventh in defensive rating last season, and their decline is a clear problem within the team this year. They also lost arguably their best perimeter defender at the trade deadline in Dorian Finney-Smith and haven't found their go-to stopper since.

The Mavericks probably won't be making any roster moves ahead of the playoffs, so they will be rolling with what they have. Everyone will have to buy into playing solid team defense and giving 100 percent effort at all times.

The Maverick's roster just doesn't have as much talent defensively as last season, but one player that they acquired from the buyout market has been a pleasant surprise defensively.

That player is Justin Holiday.

Holiday is averaging 1.14 steals and 0.86 blocks per game since joining the Mavericks and could be a player that gets plugged into lineups during the playoffs. Holiday is also a 39 percent 3-point shooter in his short tenure with the Mavs and could be an essential 3-and-D glue guy in the postseason.

The Mavericks also struggle with rim protection, and the only player to average over a block a game is Christain Wood.

Stay tuned to see if Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks can get back on track as the season winds down. If Dallas can just be one percent better at these things, fans could see a drastic change in their level of play going into the playoffs.