Dallas Needs 'Maverick' 'Tude to Win West

After a self-defeating showing in the 2006 NBA Finals, a head coach firing in Avery Johnson, the acquisition of the eternal Jason Kidd and the publicized, controversial drivel that has been spewed forth from All-Star forward/guard Josh Howard, the Dallas Mavericks are on the road to redemption. But they're going to need some help for some key members of the team to make that push.

Point blank, Dirk Nowitzki, the 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player and perennial All-Star, lost his confidence over the course of the past two years. The remedy? An Olympic showing with home country Deutschland, better known as Germany, and some time away in Western Europe to clear his mind. Jason Kidd, who was traded for former point guard Devin Harris, was an All-Star in the same month that he was traded in February 2008, but was immediately said to be washed by various media outlets--common sense would come to the conclusion that Kidd was trying to adjust to Johnson's controlling offensive schemes, so Kidd will most likely be the free-styling, freewheeling version of himself that most people recognize. Centers DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier either didn't play when they should have and vice versa; new coach Rick Carlisle will most likely figure that the defensive prowess of Diop, a former top-10 pick, will be better fit in the starting center position. Jason Terry will still be reliable in his leadership and ballsy shooting from the two-guard spot, but Howard is another story.

After having made headlines various times within the past 12 months for a variety of legal and social no-nos, Howard will need really pipe up and play ball, so as to not be a distraction for the team in their desire to win the West. Much of Howard's smooth game also came from his ability to be almost invisible in some instances, but having made the name for himself as he has, he will have to put up or shut up, and playing small forward in the Western Conference isn't an easy thing to do.

Things are bright for the Mavs from the bench, though. Three good players come to mind when concerning the backups are Jose Juan Barea, Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. All three bring various forms of positives that lend to winning results. For Barea, quickness and shooting come to mind; for Stackhouse, versatility, leadership and scoring; Bass with defense and post presence. The trio will be do nicely, and Devean George can also contribute with additional defense. New addition Shawne Williams from the Indiana Pacers has a great chance to prove himself, but being a knucklehead from the get-go will automatically disqualify him from making a mark. Gerald Green, a former high school phenom and McDonald's and NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner, has been another chance to prove his worth in his home state of Texas, and may be an X-factor on the court with his explosiveness and three-point shooting; ditto for New Jersey Nets castoff Antoine Wright, another young Texas native from the same 2005 draft class as Green.

The West is tough, and while the Mavericks have a very good chance to redeem themselves after two consecutive first-round playoff exits, Dallas will need to make every game they play count.