Back To The Bench

Jason Terry (right) is saying all the right things after being taken out of the starting lineup for the first time this season. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Five games into the season, the Dallas Mavericks have made a change to their starting lineup - and not because Rodrigue Beaubois foot is healed.

The Mavericks second leading scorer behind only Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry found himself on the bench at the start of Monday's game against the Boston Celtics in favor of guard DeShawn Stevenson - who had logged a total of two minutes all season.

"It’s tough, especially when you’ve had success," Terry said. "I’ve had a good run these past five games and then been thrust back off the bench. It’s an adjustment."

Some may forget that it was Terry starting at 2-guard when the Dallas Mavericks made it all the way to the NBA Finals just four years ago.

Through the first five games of the season, Jason Terry averaged 19.2 points point per game for the Mavericks. Combine that with the fact that he leads Dallas is plus/minus at +56, and one starts to wonder why head coach Rick Carlisle made this decision. A knee-jerk reaction from the poor defensive performance at home against the Denver Nuggets Saturday night? Let's see what Carlisle had to say after the Celtic game:

"I thought that he would be a good matchup on Allen to start the game," Carlisle said. "He’s been playing well in practice, he keeps himself ready. He hit two three’s in the first half. The guy’s a pro."

When asked if this would be the starting lineup for the duration, Carlisle said the team is taking a wait and see approach.

In defense of Carlisle, the move did seem to work. Dallas rarely got beat off the dribble from the perimeter with Stevenson in the game and it seemed to light a fire under Terry and the rest of the team on the defensive end of the floor.

Terry still played 34 minutes (compared to 14 for Stevenson) and scored 17 points. His replacement played a part as well, hitting a couple of open 3's and blocking two shots. Stevenson's primary cover, Ray Allen, was held to his lowest scoring total of the season (11) on 4 of 11 shooting.

JET had to expect this at some point and time, whether it was when Beaubois returned or otherwise. It seems as though he just didn't expect to get the hook this quickly, especially after such a great start to the season.

Through one game, at least, the move seems to have worked out for everybody.

"Give Rick a lot of credit for making the switch," Terry said. ..."For the betterment of this team, I'm here to do it."