5 Mavericks players who must play better down the stretch to boost playoff chances

After last night's home loss against the Indiana Pacers, the Dallas Mavericks are 34-28.

This was a much-needed win for Dallas, as they had lost four of the previous five games, and they must find a way to gain some consistency as the playoffs quickly approach.

One of the Mavs' biggest struggles during their rough patch was defense, and they must return to playing the elite defense that they were playing right after they acquired Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.

5 Mavericks players who must play better down the stretch to boost playoff chances

Some of Dallas' matchups could have led to the improved numbers on defense, but it was clear the Mavs were playing worse defense during the rough stretch than when Gafford and Washington arrived in Dallas.

It will be an uphill battle for the Mavs to grab a top six seed, but nothing is impossible.

Here are five Dallas Mavericks players who must play better to boost their playoff chances.

5. Josh Green

Josh Green has become an every-night starter next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the Dallas Mavericks, but he has struggled tremendously as of late.

Before last night's game against the Indiana Pacers, Green had scored in single digits for six of the eight previous games. That was coming after he had scored in double digits for five straight games.

Green's inconsistency has come back once again, and this has been a problem for the entirety of his career. He has seemingly always had a hard time stringing together multiple good performances, and this must change before the playoffs.

The Mavs need him to be a difference-maker every night and make his impact felt in the starting lineup. He has been the weak link in the starting five as of late, and with no plans for Jason Kidd to mix up this lineup, Green must return to being effective on both ends of the floor.

Even his defense has struggled lately, and that is extremely uncustomary of him.

4. Maxi Kleber

Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber remains crucial to their rotation as he is the only player who can effectively play small-ball center, but he has been struggling lately.

In the last five games before the game against the Indiana Pacers, Kleber averaged 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 36.8 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from downtown.

Kleber remains a crucial piece for the Mavs on defense, and a lot of the stuff he does on the floor doesn't come up on the stat sheet, but he must play better offensively to consistently make an impact for this team. His threes have looked shaky recently, and that is the only way he has been involved in the offense.

His block numbers are also way down since being a great shot blocker right after returning from his toe injury, and the Mavs need for him to return to having some energy and making plays as a defender. Dallas is a different team when Kleber is flying around the floor defensively, and they need that from him.

He will likely be the Mavs' center in crunch time down the stretch, and he needs to be a threat on both ends of the floor to be effective in that role. His rebounding numbers have also been down, and if he is playing small-ball five, he needs to give all he has on the glass.

3. Derrick Jones Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks made one of the best veteran minimum signings in the NBA over the offseason when they signed Derrick Jones Jr. to a one-year deal, but after his scorching hot start as a shooter, his numbers have declined a bit.

This season, Jones Jr. is averaging 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from downtown. This remains Jones Jr.'s best 3-point shooting season of his career, but the Mavs need a little bit more out of him to help boost their playoff chances.

Jones Jr. is no longer the starting small forward, but he is still receiving consistent playing time. He was averaging 17.5 minutes per game before Dallas' Tuesday night matchup with the Indiana Pacers and played for 26 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Jones Jr. finished with 21 points in this game while shooting 5-5 from downtown, and the Mavs need more games like this from him off the bench. They don't need him to do this every game, but having him be a consistent and reliable shooter down the stretch is important.

Jones Jr. also hasn't looked as confident as a driver lately, and having that confidence return would be an added plus.

2. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has been going through his roughest stretch since being on the Mavs lately, and they need him to be better for the team to have a chance at contending for a title this season, especially if Jason Kidd insists on playing him.

This season for Dallas, Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 41 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from downtown. Just like Derrick Jones Jr., Hardway Jr. started great from downtown this season, but has fizzed out since.

Hardaway Jr. seems to be taking worse shots than usual, his defense has been poor, and he has been causing Dallas' offense to be worse. He typically doesn't move the ball when he is on the floor, and if he continues shooting bad shots even when he's missing, the Mavs' offense stalls.

Hardaway Jr.'s shooting has always been something that helps make or break the Mavs' games, and it would be a massive advantage for the Mavs if he can get back to being a consistent shooter. He has always been streaky, but his streakiness has turned to poor play recently.

Hardaway Jr. still has a chance to turn things around this season since he is in the rotation, but if his struggles never improve he could be someone who doesn't have much of a role during the final stretch of the season.

1. Dante Exum

Dallas Mavericks veteran guard Dante Exum was a phenomenal player for Dallas over the first half of the season and even had a stretch when he was a dominant starter. Exum was someone who Dallas could rely upon on both ends of the floor.

Exum has battled several injuries this season and has not looked like himself since returning. This season for Dallas, Exum is averaging 8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 56.2 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from downtown. These are phenomenal shooting numbers, but Exum has had a slow start since returning from injury.

It's clear that the Mavs want to ease him back into things before ramping up his minutes again, but Exum returning to his top form is important for Dallas. The Mavs opted to not sign a backup point guard after missing out on Spencer Dinwiddie, and now that Jaden Hardy isn't really in the rotation, the Mavs need Exum to fully embrace his role off the bench and be a creator.

Exum's job will also become easier if those around him can knock down shots, and his threat as a 3-point shooter remains as strong as ever.

For all the latest on Dante Exum and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.