The Dallas Mavericks are playing some great basketball lately and have now won 12 straight games.  Their winning streak has given them the second best record in the Western Conference and they are now only 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers.  There isn’t one guy who you can attribute the Mavericks’ recent success to, as all five starters have been playing some solid basketball.  Dirk Nowitzki, of course, is their leader averaging 28.3 points during the winning streak.  It is the role players who have really been stepping it up and they are the difference makers for the Mavs lately.  Guys like Caron Butler and Shawn Marion have really been playing well.  Butler averages 16.8 points per game on the season, but in the past six games he is averaging 18.2 points.  Marion is averaging only 11.5 points per game this season, but in his past four games he is averaging 18.5 points.  Then there is Jason Kidd who has been having some monster assist games, dropping 10 dimes per game during the current winning streak.  The rookie Rodrigue Beaubois has been playing great recently, averaging 16.3 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in the four games he has played this month.  If the Mavericks continue their stellar play in the playoffs, they just might be the surprise of the year and make a run at the NBA Title.

32-year old shooting guard Jason Terry is one player the Mavericks can count on. He played in 59 games (12 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 33.9 minutes, 16.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Terry does whatever the Mavericks need him to as he has gotten some starts lately. He is solid as a starter but he is a really lethal weapon off the bench giving the Mavs instant offense. He will be a huge key in the playoffs for the Mavericks who have there sites on knocking out the Lakers and Nuggets.

The Mavericks are really happy with Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood so far. Butler has started 4 games for the Mavericks and he is averaging 37.8 minutes, 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is only shooting 38.1% from the floor so far but look for that to improve soon as he is learning a new position (shooting guard). Brendan Haywood has been a beast in the paint so far for the Mavericks. Haywood has played in 4 games (3 starts) for the Mavericks so far and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 10.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. The Mavericks need Haywood to keep up the good work because he gives the team toughness, rebounding and defense.

Forward Tim Thomas has played well whenever the Mavericks have called on him. He has played in 18 games (1 start) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 15.8 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Thomas is a good outside shooter who really gives the Mavericks another weapon off the bench. But, he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy this year.

Shawn Marion is averaging the least amount of minutes (31) and shots (10) per game since his rookie season in 1999-’00, but he has still been a very strong and consistent player for the 30-15 Dallas Mavericks this season.  He shoots for a good percentage (51%) and is one of the Mavericks’ best defenders.  On the season, Marion is averaging 11.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks.  Despite being in the league for 10 years now, the 31-year-old Marion has not lost much of his athleticism and is one of Dallas’ best play-makers.  He is good complementary player to Dirk Nowitzki as well as Jason Kidd.  Kidd still likes to get out on the break and dish it off to a good fast break finisher, something Marion has always been great at and still is.  Marion is one of those players who does not have to score a ton to make a big impact on the game, but he still can be relied on to give the Mavs some extra scoring on offense when they need it.  Marion will be a big asset for the Mavs in the playoffs.