Blockbuster Trade Has Mavericks Playing Big

Mavericks Rolling Since Blockbuster Trade. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)


The Dallas Mavericks (40-21) have played nine games since the All-Star break and have gone from fourth in the Western Conference standings to second thanks to eight straight victories and an 8-1 record. An inspired defense has been the key during the streak as Dallas has allowed an average of 92 points a game after going 4-6 and allowing 107.6 in the 10 games before the trade.

The three pieces Dallas got in the trade with the Washington Wizards (Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson) have all made significant impacts on both ends of the court.


Haywood, who is third in the NBA in blocks, has been the consistent force inside that the Mavericks always wanted Erick Dampier to be. Haywood has three double-doubles during the winning streak and has averaged 11.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.75 blocks during the eight-game run. Caron Butler, who was the ultimate prize of the trade, has had at least one steal in every game with Dallas while averaging 16 points and five rebounds. Even Stevenson, who was really just a throw-in, has played well defensively, starting twice when Butler was injured.

Not to be lost in the shuffle is the way Mavericks’ mainstays have played since the trade.

Mavericks’ leader and perennial All-Star Dirk Nowitzki has played up to his All-NBA standard in the last two weeks as the trade has seemed to light a fire under the 11-year veteran. Nowitzki, who is coming off his 12 Western Conference Player of the Week award, has averaged 28 points and eight rebounds since the trade. Nowitzki has scored at least 30 points in three of the last four games and hasn’t scored less than 23 points in a game since the All-Star break.

Another Mavericks’ veteran who has played out-of-his-head since the trade is also the oldest player on the team, Jason Kidd. Along with his first triple double of the season (and first 15,15,15 games since he did it 14 years ago), Kidd has provided leadership and on-the-court savvy that the Mavericks have needed with so little practice time for the newcomers. At 36 years-old, the 15-year veteran is playing some of his best basketball as of late, averaging 13.5 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

Although Dallas has won eight straight games, the opportunity to extend the streak much longer is a strong possibility. In the Mavericks next seven games, their opponents have a combined 136-283 record (.325 winning percentage), and only the Chicago Bulls (twice) have a winning record. Add that to the fact that Dallas has the second easiest schedule in the NBA for the last 21 games of the season (opponents have a .456 winning percentage), and the Mavericks have a real possibility of holding on to the two-seed and possibly catching the Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the West.

"They've always been talented, they've always put a good basketball team out there," said Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odoms, whose team lost to the Mavs in game number five of the streak. "I think [the trade] has given them energy."

Mavericks’ players and fans hope this trade is what gets Dallas over the hump in the West.

"I think it does help them," said Charlie Vann, local sports-fan. "I think [the players] feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. Personality conflics are gone and Butler is working well in the lineup."

"It seems as though all the bad energy is gone," said Vann.

The Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, 7:30 p.m., in Dallas.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)