by Daniel Sayers
reporter

   Yours, mine and ours—the Dallas Mavericks continue to inch their way to a championship. I think it’s time to start letting the rest of the nation know what we are about.
   The Mavs have the second best record in the NBA. They beat the Detroit Pistons, the team with the best record in the NBA, by 40 points earlier in the season when the Pistons were still undefeated.
   The Mavs have shown up as a new team under second-year coach Avery Johnson, “The Little General.” With a new defensive mind-set, the Mavericks have looked better this season than any before and still are averaging 100 points per game.
   Five players average double digits per game and play half court offense this season, even though The General wants them to run. And run they can.
   The team is now the fourth lowest in the league in assists—not a typical Mavs offense especially when ole’ Steve Nash was here. But even when offense lacks, Dirk Nowitzki does not. Seventh in the league in scoring, he is the most consistent guy in the league night in and night out.
   Nowitzki is having a quiet MVP season again, and it’s okay if he does not get his dues because we’re winning.
   But the main story is the Mavs’ defense, ranked third in the NBA in blocks and eighth in steals. The Mavs have had very little success keeping the opposing teams under 100 points.
But the Mavs are currently on a nine-game winning streak, looking for the Spurs to make one little slip up so they can take the lead in the West.
   Jerry Stackhouse, one of the team’s best players, has seen a limited role in his 18 games this year. Hopefully, as the season progresses, so will his minutes.
   Currently, Stack is playing 23.6 minutes per game and averaging 13.3 points per game, numbers that are considerably down for a typical Stackhouse season. He has not started a game this year making him the only one out of the top Mavs not to do so. His rebounding has been low but should increase as the year goes on. He is known as a good rebounder although right now he is averaging a measly 2.4 boards per game. Hopefully, he will become more involved as the season goes on, and the Mavs will gain strength with him.
   Several players have made an impact this season. Newcomer DeSagna Diop has been a significant force down low early in the season, and Mavs big man Erik Dampier, now coming off the bench, is contributing more.
   Josh Howard has not taken off this season as predicted. But that could be a result of his injuries throughout the season.
   Devin Harris and Jason (Jet) Terry are running the point position from two different angles. Terry, the starter, is handling the perimeter shooting game and game management duties. Harris is the young run and gun-slicer, bringing the fast-paced offensive sets.
   The Mavericks are legit contenders again this year and are even getting the No. 2 spot in a lot of power ranking systems throughout the country. The Mavericks are ready.
   As long as Nowitzki is playing, the Mavs have a chance against anybody. So bring on the Pistons, Spurs, Heat and Lakers.
   The Mavs will be waiting.