Caron Butler is giving the Mavericks the offensive boost they needed. He has played in 18 games (all starts) with the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 35.1 minutes, 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Butler is a team player who is also a solid defensive player making the Mavericks a happy bunch. Look out for the Mavericks in the playoffs this season as Butler gives them another go-to player when he’s hot.

Backup shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson is really stinking it up this season for the Mavericks since coming over in the big Caron Butler trade. Stevenson has played in 11 games (2 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 12.2 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game on 32.4% shooting from the floor. The Mavericks should consider just nailing Stevenson’s butt to the bench as he is not helping matters much on the court.

Backup forward Tim Thomas has left the Mavericks to care for his wife who is ill. He won’t likely be back the rest of the year. Thomas 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. This might hurt the Mavericks bench a tad as Thomas played well for them this season. But, I don’t blame him for leaving the team as there are a lot of things more important than basketball.

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.

Shooting guard Jason Terry will have surgery tomorrow to repair a fractured orbital bone (eye socket) that will cause him to miss the next 10-14 days. Terry has played in 62 games (12 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 33.9 minutes, 17.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. It will be impossible for the Mavericks to replace Terry. Jose Juan Barea and Rodrigue Beaubois will likely both see a bump in minutes with Terry out of action. Barea has played in 61 games (18 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 20.2 minutes, 7.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Rookie Rodrigue Beaubois has played in 37 games (13 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 11.2 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Complicating matters further is the fact that the Mavericks would like to give Jason Kidd some time off to keep fresh for the playoffs but they might not be able to do that with Terry out of action.

The Mavericks got outrebounded 49-30 but they still held off the pesky T-Wolves last night. Jason Terry led the way for the Mavericks last night with 26 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Dirk Nowitzki also had a decent game with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Shawn Marion (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Rodrigue Beaubois (17 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes) both helped out the Mavs in this tough victory at home. The Mavericks are now 41-21 on the year.

The Mavericks finished strong last night outscoring the Bobcats 46-31 in the second half of the game to pull away. Dirk Nowitzki led the way as usual last night for the Mavericks with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Caron Butler (22 points) and Jason Terry (20 points) also pitched in offensively for the Mavs last night in Charlotte. The Mavericks turned up the D last night holding the Bobcats to 39.7% from the floor and that is the biggest reason for the win last night. The Mavericks are now 40-21 as they won their 8th game in a row last night.