ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Jason Kidd, Shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse, Small forward Josh Howard, Power forward Dirk Nowitzki, Center Erick Dampier. Bench -- Guard Jason Terry, Guard J.J. Barea, Guard/forward Gerald Green, Forward Brandon Bass, Center DeSagana Diop.
PLAYER NOTES: --C DeSagana Diop dished out a career-high-tying four assists on Saturday against Minnesota, but he says don't expect that from him on most nights.
"I don't know the next time you're going to see that," Diop said of his setups.
What Diop hopes he continues to see is big minutes. He played 28 against Minnesota, pulling down six rebounds with three blocked shots.
--G Jason Kidd says his job is to make the game easier for everyone. He's succeeding with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, but to be successful, the point guard says he must get others involved in the offense.
In the season opener, Nowitzki and Howard combined for 64 of 102 points. Kidd spread the wealth around a little more Saturday with seven assists. Jason Terry scored 19 points.
"When Josh is going good, we've got to ride him," Kidd said. "But we've got to get other guys touching the ball, too. Dirk's easy. He understands the game. But the other guys, like Jason and Antoine (Wright) and Stack (Jerry Stackhouse), we've got to get those guys going, too, because we're going to need those guys at some point in the game to make shots."
--F Dirk Nowitzki says he's been in rhythm with Jason Kidd really since last season.
He's been the Mavs' leading scorer in both games and has made 18 of 39 from the field, three of six from 3-point range and 18 of 20 from the free-throw line.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G/F Devean George (left hand) will miss at least two games with an injury that has no specific diagnosis. He could be ready for Monday's home game against Cleveland.
