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After losing their first four
games of the 2006-07 season, many NBA analysts believed the
Dallas Mavericks didn’t have
what it takes to reach the finals
for a second consecutive season. Head coach Avery Johnson
had other things in mind however.
Winning 13 out of their last 14 games, the Mavericks are
the hottest team in the NBA right now. One of the only teams
in the league that can beat you just as easily with their
bench as they can with their starting five, Dallas is a force
to be reckoned with.
Playing the kind of basketball that is rarely seen anymore
with players like Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson screaming
to be in every game for at least 40 minutes, Johnson has used
his entire bench and has 11 players on his team that he has
played in a variety of different situations, proving he has
the utmost amount of confidence in them.
The Dallas Mavs' Bench
Sometimes as a player, seeing that your coach is comfortable
with you on the court, regardless of the situation can inspire
you and take your game to the next level. Such is the case
with Dirk Nowitzki, who despite playing three less minutes
a game this year, is still averaging over 20 points a game
and is pace to have more rebounds and assists than he did
last year. Believe it or not, Nowitzki’s shooting percentage
is also higher than it’s ever been in his career despite
playing fewer minutes. When your star player is putting up
some of the best numbers of his career, playing less minutes,
other players can get more playing time and will want to make
sure they don’t let their team down.
One of the players getting a chance to get more minutes with
Nowitzki on the bench a few more minutes a game is former
Indiana Pacer Austin Croshere, whose hard working and gritty
attitude has personified the overall play of the Mavericks
bench. Bringing the same attitude to Dallas that made him
a fan favorite with the Pacers, Croshere, while not scoring
as much as Dallas would like, has been a solid addition to
the Mavericks bench and has provided the solid leadership
they were looking for when they signed him.
Mavericks' Diop
Another player playing great basketball off the bench for
Dallas is DeSagana Diop, who has been so amazing on defense
this year that many believe he could develop into a solid
starting center eventually. Averaging five rebounds and two
blocks a game this season off the bench, Diop has given Johnson
the opportunity to rest Erick Dampier, which has the possibility
of being a huge factor in the Mavericks success down the stretch.
With Dampier healthy come playoff time, the Mavs will be able
to hold their own defensively in the low post with most of
the teams in the league, something that they’ve had
problems with in years past.
Also considering the stellar play of Jason Terry, who has
started to turn his ego down a notch and finally understands
that his attitude problems are a detriment to the team, the
Mavericks have one of the most balanced teams in the NBA.
Add in the dependable play of Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard
and Devin Harris and it’s easy to see that the Mavericks
are a team that can dominate with depth, speed and offensive
ability.
Playing in the highly competitive South West division, the
Mavericks may have to continue to get the production they’ve
been getting from their bench in order to make the finals
again, but with a 13-5 record through their first 18 games
of the season, that’s a bridge they’ll prefer
to cross much later in the season.
By Patrick Hickey Jr.
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