Power Rankings: All is not lost for Dirk-less Mavs

Updated March 25

The Dallas Mavericks face the woebegone Clippers twice in less than a week. So they have that going for them.

Now that we have covered some good news, this is the cold reality staring Avery Johnson, Jason Kidd and the Mavs right in the eyes:

Dirk Nowitzki was averaging 25.5 points in February and March before his injury. (AP)

• Two weeks, and perhaps the rest of the regular season, without reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who has been fantastic since the All-Star break but has a high ankle sprain and sprained knee.

• The possibility of slipping behind Golden State and Denver and right out of the Western Conference playoffs.

• Two matchups with the Warriors and one with the Nuggets between now and April 2.

For inspiration, the Mavs don't even have to look outside Texas. The Houston Rockets stretched a winning streak from 12 to 22 games after losing Yao Ming, the focal point of their offense, to a season-ending stress fracture. Coach Rick Adelman quickly adjusted the game plan, Tracy McGrady led the way and the supporting cast stepped up.

The stakes, of course, are higher now for the Mavericks than they were then for the Rockets. Losing a winning streak isn't the same as missing the postseason. And the schedule won't be kind: With 12 games left, Dallas has the Lakers, Suns, Jazz and Hornets on tap.

Still ...

"I think this is a great challenge," Kidd said of Nowitzki's absence. "We feel that we still have a lot of the pieces to be successful."

If the glass-half-full approach is indeed worthwhile in this case, here are some factors to keep an eye on.

It's Kidd's show: Dallas has barely been above .500 since acquiring Kidd. But the team is truly his now and if he's allowed to cut loose, it could be difficult to stop him from dashing coast to coast for layups, running the break with Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard and spotting Jason Terry for open jumpers.

Kidd has experience as the tireless motor for successful teams. Witness his consecutive runs to the Finals with New Jersey earlier this decade. Kidd just turned 35 on Sunday, but we're still talking about one of the best conditioned, most competitive players in the NBA.

The four J's: Jason, Josh, Jerry and Jet aren't exactly bad players. By subtracting Nowitzki, the Mavs don't suddenly become the Heat.

Poll Will the Mavericks make the playoffs?   54%  No     46%  Yes     Total Votes: 20042

The schedule: Not Dallas' this time. Golden State's and Denver's.

Golden State and Denver won't have leisurely strolls to the postseason. They face off twice; a sweep by either team bodes well for the Mavericks. The Spurs, Hornets and Suns also appear on the Warriors' remaining schedule. The Nuggets still have to meet the Suns twice more, as well as one game apiece with the Jazz and Rockets.

Defense: Dallas, thanks in large part to Johnson's influence, allows just 95.4 points per game. Its opponents shoot .442; only Boston, Houston and Detroit are better in that category.

Defense is a dirty word to the Warriors and Nuggets, which is one reason why, even though their offenses are potent, they can be had on any given night. Golden State gives up a league-worst 108.2 points per game and allows its opponents to shoot .465 from the field. Denver's numbers are 105.6 and .455.

Of course, the Mavs would be the first to tell you that hoping your closest competitors screw up isn't a game plan. If, after a week, it seems that's really all they have going for them, then they will have realized the worst part of playing without Nowitzki.

This week's Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Celtics · Trends	1
	The Celtics completed the best turnaround in the history of the NBA by winning 42 more games than last year. Now we'll find out if they can bring home the title as well.
	2	Lakers · Trends	5
	Kobe Bryant deserves the MVP after leading the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. The only question remaining for the Lakers is the health of center Andrew Bynum.
	3	Spurs · Trends	4
	Manu Ginobili was able to play in the season finale against Utah, and San Antonio got Brent Barry back. Until the Spurs are eliminated they will be a favorite to win the title.
	4	Pistons · Trends	3
	Detroit is on a crash course with Boston for the Eastern Conference finals. If the Pistons bench is as good as advertised, it could happen.
	5	Hornets · Trends	2
	New Orleans finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but the Hornets are still the third-best team in the conference behind the Lakers and Spurs. Chris Paul will lose the MVP award to Kobe Bryant.
	6	Jazz · Trends	6
	The Jazz only need to win one game on the road in the first round since they have the best home record in the NBA. Mehmet Okur closed the season with five double-doubles in his final six games.
	7	Suns · Trends	7
	The Suns are 18-11 since trading for Shaquille O'Neal, including 2-0 against San Antonio. The Suns won the season series from the Spurs for the first time since 2002-03.
	8	Rockets · Trends	8
	The Rockets could be without starting point guard Rafer Alston (hamstring) for the first round. That will mean more minutes for Bobby Jackson, but not having a solid point guard rotation is tough against Utah's Deron Williams.
	9	Magic · Trends	9
	Hedo Turkoglu should win the NBA's Most Improved Player award. His play has overshadowed Rashard Lewis, and the Magic have a great trio along with Dwight Howard.
	10	Mavericks · Trends	10
	The Mavericks are 16-13 since trading for Jason Kidd, including 1-1 against the Hornets. Kidd has a size advantage against Chris Paul, but Paul is much quicker. That matchup will be fun to watch.
	11	Cavaliers · Trends	15
	LeBron James put the Cavs on his back last year, and they reached the finals. Now James has a bad back, so can he do it again? He will need help from his supporting cast, which has been brutal down the stretch.
	12	Nuggets · Trends	12
	Carmelo Anthony's arrest could be a distraction, but the Nuggets might have to average 130 points to beat the Lakers in the first round. The Nuggets have no one to defend Kobe Bryant.
	13	Wizards · Trends	13
	Since Gilbert Arenas returned from his knee injury April 2, the trio of Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison has only played three games together. Is that enough to build chemistry for the playoffs?
	14	Warriors · Trends	11
	So you're in a close game which could determine your playoff fate and you bench your best player in Baron Davis for the second half? Good move Don Nelson. Enjoy your offseason.
	15	Raptors · Trends	17
	The Raptors haven't found a way to use the league's best three-point shooter in Jason Kapono. But Rasho Nesterovic -- yes, that Rasho Nesterovic -- closed the season by scoring in double figures in 17 of his final 18 games.
	16	76ers · Trends	14
	The Sixers ended the season on a four-game losing streak, but they are 22-14 since February 1, including two wins against Detroit. The Sixers tied the season series with the Pistons at two.
	17	Hawks · Trends	16
	The Hawks are 0-3 against the Celtics this season with the average margin of victory at 14.1 points. In 33 games with Atlanta, Mike Bibby is averaging 14.1 points.
	18	Trail Blazers · Trends	18
	Portland can start counting down the days until Greg Oden takes the court. He will form a nice tandem with Brandon Roy, who improved his points, rebounds and assists this year.
	19	Nets · Trends	21
	The Nets have to make a decision on coach Lawrence Frank, but New Jersey should be able to make a run in the playoffs next year with Devin Harris at point guard and swingmen Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.
	20	Kings · Trends	19
	Kevin Martin (knee), Ron Artest (thumb) and Brad Miller (elbow) were unable to finish the season, but the Kings found out they have a strong bench with Francisco Garcia and John Salmons.
	21	Pacers · Trends	20
	The Pacers missed the playoffs and now must decide what to do with Jermaine O'Neal, who averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in eight games in April. He's a shell of his former self, and the future is Danny Granger, who needs to be the star.
	22	Clippers · Trends	26
	The Clippers found this season they have a budding star in rookie forward Al Thornton and a solid post presence in Chris Kaman. If Elton Brand and Corey Maggette return next season, a trip to the playoffs is a possibility.
	23	Bulls · Trends	22
	The Bulls have to decide on a coach and the future of Luol Deng and Ben Gordon. The only good thing for Chicago this year was the extra playing time for Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, which should help in their development.
	24	Bobcats · Trends	23
	The Jason Richardson deal was one of the few things that went right for Michael Jordan this year. He finished the year with 21.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists and proved not to be a headache.
	25	Bucks · Trends	24
	Center Andrew Bogut had a breakout year with 14.4 points and 9.8 rebounds. If he can carry it into next year, the Bucks should make a playoff run with Michael Redd and Mo Williams. Scott Skiles also may take over as coach.
	26	Grizzlies · Trends	25
	The Grizzlies established some good guards in Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and Mike Conley. Now all they need is a post player. And no, Darko Milicic and Kwame Brown don't count.
	27	Timberwolves · Trends	27
	Randy Foye finished the season by averaging 18.4 points and 5.2 assists in 10 April games. He's trying to show management that Derrick Rose isn't needed.
	28	SuperSonics · Trends	29
	If the Sonics leave Seattle as expected, at least the fans got to see the rookie of the year in Kevin Durant. His summer goal is to gain weight and learn how to rebound since the 6-foot-9 forward only averaged 4.3 boards this season.
	29	Knicks · Trends	28
	Isiah Thomas is out as the coach. All Knicks fans can rejoice. Now the question is if new team president Donnie Walsh can turn them into a winner. We'll see.
	30	Heat · Trends	30
	The Heat beat the Hawks 113-99 in the season finale to match the 1988-89 expansion team for the worst record in franchise history. Miami should have a quick turnaround with a lottery pick to go with Dwyane Wade, but Pat Riley's future as coach remains undecided.