6 Dallas Mavericks players who must play better to beat the Clippers

2. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has only played in Games 1 and 2 of this series against the LA Clippers, and although he won't return tonight, the Mavs need him to be better in whatever minutes he does get for the rest of the series.

So far, Hardaway Jr. is averaging 3.0 points per game while playing 11.0 minutes per game. Hardaway Jr. played 16 minutes in Game 1 before spraining his ankle in Game 2. With the struggles of Dante Exum and all of the role players struggling as shooters for the most part, the Mavs could call upon Hardaway Jr. for some shooting and minutes off the bench once he returns.

Before the regular season ended, Hardaway Jr. was struggling as a shooter and he couldn't seem to get back on track. Any time that he would have a good game, he could never seem to string together a consecutive productive game after that.

Hardaway Jr. won't be expected to come in and be the Mavs' third scorer right when he returns from injury, but he has to shoot better than he was at the end of the regular season.

Dallas' role players are always getting open looks due to the attention that Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic command on offense, and the Mavs need Hardaway Jr. to be effective in his minutes.