Mavs need Howard in lineup for any chance at survival

LOS ANGELES -- If the Mavericks hope to make their potential first-round matchup with the Lakers a series, instead of merely a formality along the Laker's trip toward another championship, they will need Josh Howard.

Because with no J-Ho, there's no chance for the Mavs.

Howard is the Mavs' answer to Lamar Odom, a 6-foot-7 combo player whose versatility allows him to play any position from shooting guard to power forward. And he possesses an inherent knack for the ball and a feistiness that make Dallas a different team.

"He's a problem," Kobe Bryant said about Howard's effect on the Lakers' defense, although taken out of context, you might think he was commenting on Howard's off-court antics. "He's another guy that you have to really focus on -- especially on that block and the mid-post. You have to really pay attention to him. His offensive rebounding capabilities, getting possessions back for his team, he's a problem."

The Mavericks haven't made any official statements regarding Howard's status, other than owner Mark Cuban recently praising his forward's toughness. Thoughts among people around the team seem to point to Howard shutting it down for the rest of March.

Including Sunday, Howard has missed the Mavs' last five games. He said his left ankle would "blow up" after every game before he went out.

The injury is also blowing up Dallas' hopes of advancing in the playoffs.

The Mavs have missed Howard for 22 games this year, including all three meetings with the Lakers. First it was his wrist on Nov. 11. Then it was his ankle on Nov. 28. The same ankle is sore again four months later.

"It's tough on our team because his talent level is, first, to replace," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've had other guys step up and help us win games in his absence. We're going to have to continue to do that as long as he's out. But it's not been an easy situation for Josh, either. He goes through the ups and downs of being in and then out. It's been very frustrating for him. But he's kept his spirits up and when he's been available to play, he's helped us a lot."

After Jason Terry came off the bench to put up 29 points and four steals in the Mavs' 107-100 loss (Highlights | Box Score | Recap), Terry had the temerity to suggest "we like our chances" if his team ended up playing L.A. in the first round.

Terry is having a terrific season and would win Sixth Man of the Year if it was split by conferences (overall, the award belongs to the Knicks' Nate Robinson), but there really isn't anything for the Mavs to like about opening the postseason against the Lakers.

Right down the line, the Lakers have the head-to-head advantage. Bryant dominating Antoine Wright? Check. Derek Fisher bodying Jose Juan Barea? Check. Odom slinking past Erick Dampier? Check. Trevor Ariza harassing the soon-to-be 36-year-old Jason Kidd? Check. Pau Gasol battling Dirk Nowitzki to a draw? Check.

"We match up well," Bryant said after tallying 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists. "We're very versatile at the four and five position, which is key because you have to chase Dirk around. He's a tough matchup for anybody and we feel like we match up well with him."

Sunday's score might indicate Dallas is close to L.A.'s level, but really, if it wasn't for 16 sloppy turnovers and Los Angeles falling into the trap of hoisting too many 3-pointers when Dallas went with a zone defense, the Lakers would have won by 15 or 20.

The only way the Mavericks can actually have a chance of a level playing field with the Lakers is having Howard back.

Bag Howard all you want for the drag racing, marijuana use and national anthem disrespect that plagued him last summer, but the Mavs are considerably better when he plays up to his potential. Dallas is 13-3 this season when Howard puts in 20 points or more. In 2005-06, when the Mavs made their run to the Finals, they were 23-0 when Howard went for 20-plus. In 2006-07 when the Mavericks had the best record in the league at 67-15, Howard was an All-Star.

About the only advantage the Mavericks have right now is Terry and their bench. The Lakers' "Bench Mob" turned "Minute Men" have been the "Missing Men" recently. The swap between Ariza and Luke Walton in the starting lineup should help, however. Ariza has obviously responded, scoring a career-high 26 points and dropping in three 3-pointers against Dallas. The Lakers have lacked that extra deep threat since shipping Vladimir Radmanovic to Charlotte. Ariza's shooting not only opened up the floor for Bryant and Gasol (25 points on 12-for-13 shooting), but his early jumpers set up the head fake that hoodwinked Nowitzki and allowed him to prance into the lane and give the Lakers the 96-95 lead with 4:32 to go.

Walton, who combined for just four points and two rebounds in his last two starts before suggesting the lineup change to Lakers coach Phil Jackson on the team plane before L.A. played Houston last week, has benefited from the move as well. He scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in his first three games as a sub.

Even with a healthy Howard back and a bench that outscored the Lakers' second unit 53-12 on Sunday, the Lakers still have somebody that will make both of those Dallas advantages disappear: Andrew Bynum.

When Bynum comes back, Odom or Ariza returns to the bench, galvanizing the substitutions once again. Meaning that, no matter how you slice it, when it comes to Los Angeles, Dallas just can't win.