Dallas Mavericks: Grading Each Player's Playoff Performance so Far

After game 3 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, nearly everyone is ready to count the Mavericks out. They are down 0-3, which is a deficit no one has ever come back from. They are the reigning champs, and there's always a chance they could do it. However, these chances are slim, especially with how they've been playing lately.

While some players typically stand out, like Jason Terry, they seem to be mere shadows of themselves in this series. 

Here are the grades for players who have played in all three games for the Mavs.

Shawn Marion, Grade: B

If there's anyone on the Mavs who has been trying to win, it's Marion. His play has been a small bright spot in an otherwise abysmal roster during the playoffs. Marion is averaging six more points during the playoffs than during the regular season. He's also pulling down more rebounds at 8.7. While Marion was only able to get six points in game three against the Thunder, he was able to get 10 rebounds, which is nearly a quarter of the team's average.

He's been a much needed defensive presence. The problem is that he's old and can't keep up with the Thunder's young, fast players. He is certainly trying to make up for it in other ways though, like getting rebounds, while it seems like his teammates are resorting to jump shots.

Dirk Nowitzki, Grade: B-

It's hard to believe that just last year people were including Dirk in the GOAT talks. While he's a phenomenal player, and typically consistent, that isn't the case in these playoffs. He is, however, the team's leading scorer, averaging 24.3 points in this series and 6.7 rebounds. The problem is that as the series goes on, Dirk has seemed less excited.

The fire and determination that he had last season during their championship run is gone. This was evident last night when the big man missed two free throws. In the last month of the regular season he missed four total. This showed that his mind was elsewhere, or at least not completely in the game.

His value can not be denied though, because he's a big reason the Mavs have even been able to stay in the game.

Jason Terry, Grade: C+

Jason Terry is possibly the most likable character on the Mavericks. He's got a can-do attitude that never quits, but lately his skills haven't been able to live up to that. The first two games, he was a spitfire that helped keep his team in the game, averaging 16.5 points. His runs helped motivate the team back into the game.

However, his shooting percentage has consistently gone down since game one, shooting 30 percent last night for 11 points. He's also too slow to be any kind of defensive presence. While J.J. Barea was able to pester people and knock down unexpected threes, Terry does not possess that ability. 

Vince Carter, Grade: C+

The veteran Carter is no doubt getting worse as time goes on, and that's no different in this series. During the regular season, he averaged 10.4 points, but in the playoffs he's averaged nine. He has, however, significantly improved when it comes to helping his team get rebounds. He's getting six per game, five of which are defensive, which is nearly double his regular season average.

Carter realizes that he's not young anymore, and so he's become a presence in the paint to take the Thunder's possessions. Carter told the Chicago Tribune, "I just want to be an outlet for this team and just remain in the game whether I'm making it or missing it." This is a good attitude to have because lately, he's missing his shots but he's stepped his D up.

Delonte West, Grade: B-

Delonte West is having a postseason that's nearly identical to his regular season. However, that wasn't a great regular season so his grade isn't too high, but it's still above average. West has averaged 9.0 points so far and was 9.6 in the regular season. He's getting exactly the same 2.3 rebounds per game and about half the assists.The problem with these numbers is that he's getting about 23 minutes, which means he should be producing more.

His upside is that on a team of old players, West is fairly young, having only been in the league for seven years. He's also got experience in making a playoff run. But it seems like even he is starting to lose hope. West made some charging moves to the basket in a desperate attempt to get something going Thursday night, but these were fruitless.

Jason Kidd, Grade: C-

Jason Kidd is a 17 year NBA veteran, and it's showed in the playoffs, and not in a good way. When a man scores nine points, and has to take 14 or more shots to do it, something is wrong. He's not getting enough assists to be an effective facilitator. He's shooting an abysmal 22 percent in the post-season and getting only 5.3 assists. This means Kidd is taking more shots, that are low percentage shots, rather than working to give the ball to someone else and create open shots.

Kidd said, "You're going to make some shots and you're going to miss some. You've got to be confident when the ball comes in late (on the 24-second shot clock) and have the confidence that you're going to make the shot." While that's some talk for the cameras, the fact remains that Kidd is hurting the team more than helping. However, he has been getting 5.5 rebounds per game which is more than his regular season average. This still doesn't make up for the lack of shot production.

Brendan Haywood, Grade: D

Brendan Haywood has been nearly invisible in this series, possibly because the Mavericks have been looking to shoot more than pass to the paint. Haywood is getting about 12 minutes, shooting 27 percent, and getting three rebounds per game. This is all much worse than his regular season numbers where he was shooting 52 percent and getting double the amount of rebounds.

It's no wonder that his playing time has been nearly cut in half. The Thunder's big men have completely taken Haywood out of the series. 

Ian Mahinmi, Grade: C

Ian Mahinmi is one of the youngest players on the Mavericks and is therefore extremely valuable. He's been averaging about 18 minutes, more than Haywood, and his stats are all better as well. He's shooting 60 percent for about six points a game and grabbing 4.3 rebounds.

While he isn't a huge presence in the paint, he's a solid person the Mavs can feel comfortable going to. Mahinmi's play has been good overall for this team in this series, but that's average at best. He can definitely improve, and with stronger play they may be able to create some fire in the next game.

Brandan Wright, Grade: D

Wright has gotten very limited playing time this series, which is reflected in his stats, but he's the last Mav who's played in all three games, so he gets a grade. Wright has been brought in for about seven minutes a game and in that time has generated nearly no offense or defense. He's gotten three points in the whole post-season, one coming off a free throw (he missed the second FT). He's also gotten no assists and is only averaging 1.7 rebounds.

Being a young player, he should be fast enough to keep up with this Oklahoma team, but he's just not. He also lacks the fire that can help take his team through the post-season.