Spencer Dinwiddie is the key to the Mavericks playoff success

The Dallas Mavericks made the surprising decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis just before the deadline. They discussed a deal with the Raptors before trading KP and protected second-round pick to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Fans were shocked, and the return seemed light given the struggles of both Dinwiddie and Bertans in Washington.

The Mavs have won five of seven since making the deal, and they have four wins in five games with Dinwiddie in the lineup. The 6’5 guard has caught fire since joining the Mavericks as he averaged 14.0 points on 59.6 percent shooting from the field in just 27.0 minutes per game. His scoring and playmaking abilities have been impressive off the bench as Dallas has outscored the opposition by 30 points in his 135.2 minutes.

Dinwiddie is providing a spark, and he fills a hole in their roster. The Mavs defensive improvements are real, but they needed another creator to take the pressure off Luka Doncic. Dinwiddie is doing it and making Dallas impossible to stop. Here is a closer look at why the newest Mavericks guard is the key to the team’s playoff success.

Why Spencer Dinwiddie is the key to the Dallas Mavericks playoff success

Fans know Luka Doncic is going to play his best basketball in the postseason. He averages 33.5 points, 9.5 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on 49.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 percent on his threes through 13 career playoff games. The Clippers could not slow him down in either series, but the Mavs relied so heavily on Luka that the superstar wore down late in games.

Dallas targeted a ball-handler and playmaker in return for Kristaps Porzingis to help ease that burden. Here are three reasons why Spencer Dinwiddie is key to the Mavericks playoff success.

Spencer Dinwiddie gives the Dallas Mavericks someone who can attack off the dribble

The Mavs love to get downhill and attack. First-year head coach Jason Kidd has implemented new ways for Luka Doncic to accomplish this. The 23-year-old superstar loves to run pick and rolls to get into the paint, but they have added in some handoffs to free him from his defender.

Kidd has also put Jalen Brunson into the starting five to give Luka another playmaker on the floor. The Mavs traded for Dinwiddie to give them two ball-handlers on the court at all times. The newest guard won’t shoot nearly 60 percent from the field, but he does improve the team’s ball movement and playmaking.

Brunson struggled against the Clippers' length in last year’s postseason. He continued to get into the paint, but could not create the same separation he did during the regular season. JB will be looking to prove he can be effective in the playoffs this year, and Dinwiddie gives the Mavs a second ball-handler with more sizer. He is 6’5 and has the craft to shoot over any defender. See him create a paint bucket against Rudy Gobert below.

Spencer Dinwiddie talked about enjoying his time in Dallas thus far, and how coach Kidd and the team have made it easy to fit in. They want the 6’5 guard to be aggressive, and he has been difficult to stop through five games.

Spencer Dinwiddie allows Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic to rest and peak in the fourth

Luka is one of the best clutch shot-makers in the league. He is never afraid of the moment and has a history of sinking the most difficult attempts. The Mavericks have struggled in clutch situations this season winning just 12 of 26 contests before the trade as classified by NBA Stats. They were 20th in field goal percentage and 29th in offensive rating at just 96.5.

Since acquiring Dinwiddie, Dallas has won four of their six clutch games and rank eighth in offensive rating at 122.2. The 6’5 guard has kept the second unit offense rolling and allows Luka to get a break. The Mavs have made runs without Doncic on the floor in each of their last two games, which is a luxury Dallas did not have last postseason.

The Mavericks superstar played 40.1 minutes per game in last year's playoff series against the LA Clippers. His team outscored the opposition by seven in his 281 minutes in the series, but Dallas was outscored by 43 points in Luka’s 55 minutes on the bench. Former head coach Rick Carlisle could not take him out of the game.

Spencer Dinwiddie needs to keep things rolling in the playoffs so Luka can rest. Doncic's numbers slipped in the fourth as the 23-year-old ran out of gas. Getting him down to 35-38 minutes will allow Doncic to peak in the fourth and lift the Dallas Mavericks to playoff victories.

Spencer Dinwiddie allows the Dallas Mavericks to play small

Teams go smaller and attempt to create matchup problems in the playoffs. The Mavs had no answers when the Clippers downsized last year with three wing shooters surrounding Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Dallas had to decide what to do with Kristaps Porzingis and how to best attack the mismatches the Clippers created.

Spencer Dinwiddie allows the Mavericks to embrace small ball. Rebounding and rim protection are always the worries when downsizing, but Dallas has the personnel to combat both issues. Maxi Kleber can defend on the perimeter like a guard and protect the rim at 6’10. Dinwiddie is 6’5 and gives them another lengthy perimeter defender to pair with Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Reggie Bullock to give the Mavs' small lineup plenty of size.

Dinwiddie has been a seamless fit in his first five games with the Dallas Mavericks. He is attacking on the offensive end of the floor and making plays while providing size and length on defense. The 28-year-old will not keep up his current shooting, but he will remain a key piece for the Mavs.

It could be Dinwiddie that decides the team’s playoff fate this season, and Dallas is dangerous with another playmaker next to Luka Doncic. Stay tuned to see what the Mavericks can accomplish in the postseason.