Who is the Dallas Mavericks X-Factor heading into the Western Conference Semifinals? Dallas is fresh off of an opening playoff series against the Utah Jazz that saw them overcome a Luka Doncic early through the first couple of games and still hold strong. The Mavs then cruised to a series win once Luka returned.

But Doncic is the superstar of this team, not the X-Factor. So that begs the question once more, who will be the Mavs' X-Factor in the Western Conference Semifinals?

Jalen Brunson?

The easy answer is Jalen Brunson. After all, the guard averaged over 27 points per game on 48 percent field goal shooting in the first round. His 4.2 assists per game were impressive as well. But bestowing the label to Brunson would be the easy way out. It would be like calling Kyle Lowry the X-Factor for Miami or Klay Thompson an X-Factor for the Warriors. Brunson is an emerging star who other teams are very aware of.

So we have established that the X-Factor can't be Luka Doncic or Jalen Brunson.

So who is it then?

Will the Real Mavs' X-Factor Please Step Forward

Maxi Kleber emerged as Jason Kidd's primary big man option in Game 6 against the Jazz. He played over 23 minutes despite not starting while the starting center, Dwight Powell, played just over 10 minutes. Kleber ended up becoming one of the more important players throughout the series as well. 

But it will not matter how many points he scores. Sure, if Kleber can produce 10 points or so the Mavs will obviously not complain. But he could average less than four points a game and still be vital to the Mavericks success.

The reason Kleber's importance rises against the Suns is because Phoenix has Deandre Ayton on their roster. Utah featured Rudy Gobert in the post who is more known for his defensive and rebounding ability. But Ayton is an imposing big man who possesses plenty of scoring prowess.

Dallas will realistically need strong efforts from both Kleber and Powell. But Maxi Kleber appears to be in the good graces of head coach Jason Kidd right now.

In the end, Dallas is going to need huge offensive performances from Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson to upset the Suns. But if Kleber can contain Ayton on defense it will go a long way towards Dallas escaping with a series victory.