Dallas Drive.

By Migs Cortez


Dirk Nowitzki is up to his old tricks again.

With their victory against the gritty Utah Jazz today, the Mavericks moved to 15-4, good for second in the tough Western Conference. In 19 games this season, Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 24.9 points and 7.8 caroms per outing, while shooting an out of this world 54.9 percent from the field. While Dirk stands at 7,1", he is primarily a perimeter player, and this fact only serves to support the awesomeness of his ridiculously high shooting clip.

He hasn't built his team's hot start alone, however. This year, the Mavericks look to be stacked from top to bottom. Shawn Marion and Tyson Chandler have provided defensive teeth, while finding the fountain of youth on the offensive end. Chandler, in particular, has shot a career high clip for free throws (80.2%), which has made opponents wary about fouling him. He's also led the Mavericks in rebounds, grabbing 9.4 per contest. Jason Terry's been his usual consistent self, doing what he's being paid millions to do at a decent rate (15.4 points per game, at 45% from the floor and 85% from the charity stripe). While initially stricken by injury, Caron Butler's slowly found the toughness that made him an all-star. Dallas has been winning games with defense. While only averaging 97.7 points per outing (19th in the NBA), they also have a 98.6 defensive efficiency rating, good for 4th in the league behind Miami, the Lakers, Boston, and Orlando.

If defense wins titles, then this should be the Mavericks' season. They are healthy, and are deep at nearly every position. If they can somehow shake off the stigma of seemingly folding when the lights are on the brightest, and if, well, they can avoid the Lakers until the Western Finals, then, Dirk may have something to brag about when he meets his best buddy Steve Nash for their annual summer barbecue.

Can Cuban's kids make believers out of us? I sure think so.

-MC-