ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Jason Kidd, Shooting guard Antoine Wright, Small forward Josh Howard, Power forward Dirk Nowitzki, Center Erick Dampier. Bench -- Guard Jason Terry, Forward Brandon Bass, Guard J.J. Barea, Forward James Singleton, G Matt Carroll, Center Ryan Hollins, Guard/Forward Devean George.
PLAYER NOTES: --F Dirk Nowitzki finished one of his rockiest road trips in memory. He shot just 41.6 percent (30-of-72) in the four games, which the Mavs split.
Also, for really the first time in his career, he's dealing with an abundance of questions about possibly being traded, as the Mavs' championship window is perceived to be closing fast.
Could that be becoming a distraction for the face of the Mavs' franchise (outside of owner Mark Cuban, of course)?
"The funny thing is that I never said anything. It's always the media that brings it up so I've got no choice but to respond to it. It kind of makes me look like I keep wanting to talk about trades, but I keep getting asked."
--G Gerald Green continues to say all the right things, but internally he must be wondering if he'll get another chance with coach Rick Carlisle and the Mavs.
He's played in just 23 of 43 games, but he hasn't seen any time since Jan. 14, which capped a mini-four-game run of action when Josh Howard was out with a sprained left wrist.
The Mavs billed Green as a development player and even asked Jerry Stackhouse to take a reduced role to allow Green more minutes. These days Green mostly suits up for practice and is inactive on game day.
--G J.J. Barea's smashing success early in the season seems to be running out of gas. After playing more than 20 minutes in 16 consecutive games and 21 of 24, the diminutive point guard hasn't logged more than 14 minutes in five straight games.
He also hasn't scored in double figures for 13 consecutive games, going back to Dec. 28 at the Los Angeles Clippers.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G-F Jerry Stackhouse (right heel) is out indefinitely.
