A few weeks ago, an unconcerned Jason Terry told me that his struggling Mavs just “need to have five or six guys playing well at the same time.  We’ve got the same players, the same work ethic. We just need five guys getting hot at the same time. That’s all.’’

And in Wednesday’s critical 111-86 win over the rival Warriors, Dallas soothed its ailments with that simple home remedy – made easier, of course, with Dirk Nowitzki also having overcome what ailed him.

     "There was already a sense of urgency. ... And then seeing Dirk out there, it was very inspiring," said Jet, who matched a season-high with 31 points. "We were very surprised to see him (in the starting lineup). But once we saw him out there joking and laughing and smiling, I knew he'd be OK."

     About that “surprise’’: I sense the Mavs are being coy here. Reports throughout the day on Wednesday seemed less than reassuring regarding Dirk’s return. Dirk said this ankle problem remains troublesome enough that he wouldn’t have played “if this game was in November. … (but) this was a must-win.’’

     But there were indications that Avery and the team was playin’ possum on his mentor Nellie and the Warriors, providing them as little info as possible, all the time knowing that Dirk would at least test the ankle.

     “Yeah,’’ Avery laughed when asked about the seeming trickery. “Nellie taught me that.’’

      Whatever players knew over the course of the day, Dirk’s tipoff presence had a tangible impact.

     “Just seeing Dirk out there gave us a lot of life,” Josh Howard said. “His presence is big on this team and we came out and played hard for him. He showed a lot of energy when he was on the court and that carried over to everyone.”

     Playing Well Guy No. 2 was Howard, who has been doing exactly what the doctor ordered during Dirk’s absence. Over the last five games, J-Ho is averaging 30.2 points per, including a slashing 28-point effort (on 14-of-25 shooting) here. Oh, and five assists and seven rebounds, too – the sort of performance that makes Josh as capable of explosiveness as any player on Golden State’s heralded “explosive’’ roster.

Playing Well Guy No. 3 was Jason Kidd, who tied his season-high with 17 assists and earned a double-double with 11 rebounds. It was classic J-Kidd, controlling the tone of the game without needing to score (he did have five points.) Give Kidd credit for pushing Dallas to 28 fast-break points in the first half alone, single-handedly gassing the an opponent known for its running game. And give him credit for that “contagious’’ unselfishness, as Dallas recorded a season-best 35 assists.

     Playing Well Guy No. 4 was Erick Dampier. He scored just four points, but he challenged Warriors shots while blocking three of them, and also grabbed 11 rebounds to key Dallas’ season-high total of 56. I l know we keep saying this, but the Mavs really need to just give Damp his minutes (that means 27+, not 12) and live with the results.

     Playing Well Guy No. 5? Scan the boxscore and re-discover Eddie Jones! With Jerry Stackhouse out, the Mavs had minutes available and EJ got 20 of them. He grabbed five rebounds and scored 12 points, including a pair of 3’s, reaching double-figures for just the third time this season. Jones’ old legs actually showed some burst as he attacked the rim. Eddie running the floor! Eddie finishing on the break! Eddie dunking on the business end of an alley-oop!

     And Playing Well Guy No. 6? Jason Terry, of course.

     Jet scored those 31 points as he continued to try to shoot his way out of a nasty slump.  Terry launched 21 shots and made 11 of them as he demonstrated his quickness on the break and his spot-up shooting ability with Kidd as his running mate. There was more, though; some of Jet’s recent problems have seemed to be mental lapses and such. Not here. Terry played with a high intensity, and it paid off in an all-around floor game that featured six rebounds and five assists.

     Meanwhile, the Mavs held the league’s highest scoring team to 25 points below its average while putting their own guys – their Six Guys Playing Well Guys – in position to succeed. Example: Dirk’s controlled minutes, and the limitations he put on himself. “I wasn’t moving great out there,’’ he said. “Just catch-and-shooting, some posting up, letting the other guys do the work.’’
     This qualifies as another of those games-of-the-year for the Mavs. At 47-28, they are in seventh place in the Western Conference, they own the tiebreaker over the Warriors and they nudged Golden State down to ninth place. That’s a productive night.

     “This is a tough loss,’’ said GS’s Baron Davis. “It’s a double-loss.’’

     (Fish sidebar: I’ll admit it. Watching the potential demise of the Warriors, last year a thorn in the Mavs’ side – no, not a thorn in their side, make that an ice pick in their hearts – is a special joy.  Hearing them mope is music to my ears.  I know, GS isn’t dead yet; but if Fate has a sense of fair play, the Nappy-Headed Schmoes’ window will close before it ever really opened. Fate certainly has a sense of symmetry: The score of this game, Dallas 111, Golden State 86. The score of last year’s playoff-ouster, Golden State 111, Dallas 86.) 
     That 0-10 albatross is also nudged out of the picture. Dallas had been winless in the Kidd Era against winning teams, and now might have enough of an increase in confidence to believe that they are ready to challenge two more contenders, the Lakers on Friday and the Suns on Sunday, on the road.
     “If we want to do something in the playoffs,” Nowitzki said, “we have to do it together.”

     Together. With five or six guys playing well at the same time. That’s all.

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment