Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd wants Maxi Kleber to do more

The Dallas Mavericks are going to need Maxi Kleber in the playoffs. He is the team’s best rim protector after the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and the 6’10 big man can defend on the perimeter with the size and strength to hold his own in the paint. Kleber is one of the team’s best defenders and getting stops will be key in the postseason.

For Maxi to stay on the floor, he is going to need to break out of his shooting slump. Over the last 14 games, he is shooting just 28.6 percent from the field and has made just seven of his 48 3-point tries. Kleber has been strictly a spot-up shooter for most of this season, and the shots are not falling.

Head coach Jason Kidd has an outside-the-box idea to get Kleber going ahead of the postseason. Here is a look at what the Hall of Fame point guard said on March 28, and why it could be an important part of the team’s postseason success.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd wants Maxi Kleber to do more

Coach Kidd has done a fantastic job helping the Mavs thrive in their roles this season. Dorian Finney-Smith was improved his game, including attacking more off the dribble. Jalen Brunson has become a full-time starter next to Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks superstar is playing the best basketball of his career. Kidd wants Kleber doing more too.

Fans have seen him do more throughout his career. Kleber used to attack the occasional closeout and make a pass out of the high post, but those things have disappeared from his game. The 6’10 big man has been strictly a spot-up shooter this season. Can Kidd get him doing more over the final two weeks of the regular season? Will it be enough to at least break him out of his funk? It will be interesting to watch.

The Dallas Mavericks are going to need Maxi Kleber to play a key role in their playoff rotation, but he must knock down open shots to stay on the floor. Can head coach Jason Kidd get him out of his funk and thrive in the postseason? The Mavs are shooting for homecourt in the first round over the final seven regular-season games to make every contest a must-watch. Keep an eye on Kleber’s play and enjoy.