March 17, 2009

Dallas Needs the Show

After a road trip that saw the best and the worst of Dallas, one journalist declared what Mavericks fans, players, coaches and management already knew to be true.

Dallas has got to get Josh back in the lineup.

With impressive victories over Portland and Phoenix, Dallas started their West Coast road trip at 2-0. Unfortunately, that momentum came to a halt this weekend as they lost back-to-back games and an opportunity to gain ground in the Western Conference playoff standings.

Josh scoring past San Antonio's Tim Duncan on March 4 (Getty Images).

If the season ended today, Dallas would be the No. 8 seed and play the top-seeded Lakers. The Mavs still have 15 more games with nine of them at American Airlines Center.

Dave McMenamin of NBA.com examined life without the Show:

If the Mavericks hope to make their potential first-round matchup with the Lakers a series, instead of merely a formality along Los Angeles' quest for a championship, they will need Josh Howard.

Because it's no J-Ho, no chance for the Mavs.

Howard, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound combo player is the Mavs' answer to Lamar Odom. His versatility allows him to play any position from shooting guard to power forward and possesses an inherent knack for the ball and an edge that make Dallas a different team.

"He's a problem," Kobe Bryant said about Howard's affect on the Lakers' defense, although taken out of context you might think he was commenting on Howard's off-court antics. "He's another guy that you
have to really focus on -- especially on that block and the mid-post. You have to really pay attention to him. His offensive rebound capabilities, getting possessions back for his team, he's a problem."

The Mavericks haven't made any official statements regarding Howard's status, other than owner Mark Cuban recently praising his forward's toughness. Thoughts among people around the team seem to point to Howard shutting it down for the rest of March.

Including Sunday, Howard has missed the Mavs' last five games and he said his left ankle would "blow up" after every game before he went out.

The injury is also blowing up Dallas' hopes of advancing in the playoffs.

The Mavs have missed Howard for 22 games this year, including all three meetings with the Lakers. First it was his wrist on Nov. 11. Then it was his ankle on Nov. 28. The same ankle is sore again four months later.

"It's tough on our team because his talent level is, first, to replace," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've had other guys step up and help us win games in his absence. We're going to have to continue to do that as long as he's out. But it's not been an easy situation for Josh, either. He goes through the ups and downs of being in and then out. It's been very frustrating for him. But he's kept his spirits up and when he's been available to play, he's helped us a lot."

After Jason Terry came off the bench to put up 29 points and four steals in the Mavs' 107-100 loss, Terry had the temerity to suggest "we like our chances" if his team ended up playing L.A. in the first round.

Terry is having a terrific season and would win Sixth Man of the Year if it was split by conferences (overall, the award belongs to the Knicks' Nate Robinson this year), but there really isn't anything for the Mavs to like about opening the postseason against the Lakers.

Right down the line, the Lakers have the head-to-head advantage. Bryant dominating Antoine Wright? Check. Derek Fisher bodying Jose Juan Barea? Check. Odom slinking past Erick Dampier? Check. Trevor Ariza harassing the soon-to-be 36-year-old Jason Kidd? Check. Pau Gasol playing the 14-feet worth of European forwards battle with Dirk Nowitzki to a draw? Check.

"We match up well," Bryant said after tallying 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists. "We're very versatile at the four and five position, which is key because you have to chase Dirk around. He's a tough matchup for anybody and we feel like we match up well with him."

Sunday's score might indicate Dallas is close to L.A.'s level, but really, if it wasn't for 16 sloppy turnovers and Los Angeles falling into the trap of hoisting too many 3-pointers when Dallas went with a zone defense, the Lakers would have won by 15 or 20.

The only way the Mavericks can actually have a chance of a level playing field with the Lakers is having Howard back.

Bag Howard all you want for [the off the court incidents] that plagued him last summer, but the Mavs are considerably better when Howard plays up to his potential and that's been the case for a while. Dallas is 13-3 this season when Howard puts in 20 points or more. In 2005-06, when the Mavs made their run to the Finals, they were 23-0 when Howard went for 20-plus. In 2006-07 when the Mavericks had the best record in the league at 67-15, Howard was an All-Star.

INJURY UPDATE
According to team officials, Josh simply has a sore left ankle, which would denote that his availability status is on a day-to-day basis.

After Sunday's loss to the Lakers, however, No. 5 hinted that the ankle injury might be worse than the Mavs are reporting.

"I'm trying to get back for the playoffs," Josh said, when asked directly when he thought he would return.

Dallas still has 15 regular-season games remaining and Josh said he did not know how many, if any, of those games he would be able to play.

"I can't really answer that because I still have one more doctors' appointment when I get back to Dallas," he said.

Josh has missed five games thus far. This is the second extended absence due to his bothersome left ankle.

GEORGE OUT FOR SEASON
Saturday, Dallas suffered another injury to their rotation. Devean George will need arthroscopic knee surgery, effectively ending his season.

NEXT UP
The Mavs are heading back home to host the Detroit Pistons (33-32) on Tuesday.

No. 5 will not be available. Earlier this season, the Show posted 25 points, five rebounds, and two steals against the Pistons.

RELATED STORIES
Dallas Mavericks lose it late to Lakers, 107-100 (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 16, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...
Mavs need Howard in lineup for any chance at survival (NBA.com, Mar. 16, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/03/15/031509.mavs.l...
Mavericks mum on Howard's ankle (O.C. Register, Mar. 15, 2009)
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Dirk irked by Dallas Mavericks' 119-110 loss to Warriors (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 14, 2009)
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Dallas Mavericks' George will need knee surgery, likely out for season (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 14, 2009)
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