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Erick Dampier Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images FAST FACTS Record: 52-30 (5th in West) Points Scored: 105.2 (1st in NBA) Points Allowed: 100.8 (28th) Coach: Don Nelson (eighth season with the Mavericks) 2004 Schedule | 2004 Draft Picks | 2003 Stats xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP With 2003-04 statistics ERICK DAMPIER POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% FT% C 48 12.3 12.0 0.8 1.85 0.45 53.5 65.4 DIRK NOWITZKI POS. PVR PPG RPG APG BPG SPG FG% 3FG% PF 7 21.8 8.7 2.7 1.35 1.19 46.2 34.1 MARQUIS DANIELS POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% SG 71 8.5 2.6 2.1 0.95 49.4 30.6 76.9 JASON TERRY POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% PG 44 16.8 4.1 5.4 1.53 41.7 34.7 82.7 MICHAEL FINLEY POS. PVR PPG RPG APG SPG FG% 3FG% FT% SF 35 18.6 4.5 2.9 1.17 44.3 40.5 85.0  BENCH PVR 2003-04 Stats G-F JERRY STACKHOUSE 135 13.9 ppg 3.6 rpg 4.0 apg 0.92 spg 39.9 FG% G-F JOSH HOWARD 194 8.6 ppg 5.5 rpg 0.81 bpg 1.03 spg 43.0 FG% F ALAN HENDERSON 207 4.0 ppg 3.5 rpg 0.3 apg 0.33 bpg 47.6 FG% G DEVIN HARRIS (R) 268 19.5 ppg 4.3 rpg 4.4 apg 45.9 FG% 43.3 3FG% C SHAWN BRADLEY 276 3.3 ppg 2.6 rpg 1.12 bpg 0.50 spg 47.3 FG%

A skilled big man joins the lineup, but a little man's exit creates a huge void

For years critics have harped on the Mavericks' failure to acquire a dominant big man who could help them succeed at grind-it-out playoff basketball. The seven-player sign-and-trade with Golden State for Erick Dampier may quiet that chorus. "Dampier is the best center I've had since Bob Lanier," says coach Don Nelson. (Maybe the critics have a point: Nellie has spent 18 seasons on the bench since last joining forces with Lanier in Milwaukee.)

The 6'11", 265-pound Dampier has his naysayers as well. They wonder if he was only motivated to average career highs in points (12.3) and rebounds (12.0) last year because his contract was up. (Dallas will pay him $60 million over six years.) But Dampier insists that his numbers had more to do with increased playing time and the presence of veteran teammates who knew how best to exploit his skills -- trends that should continue in Dallas. Says All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, "He's very physical down there, he's always available and he's going to finish [the play] for you."

Nellie believes the addition of Dampier will especially help Nowitzki, who had to play some center last season because of a glut at the four spot (since eased by the trades of Antawn Jamison and Antoine Walker). But will the Mavs, who lost free-agent point guard Steve Nash to Phoenix, be better? While Nelson expects his team to have more turnovers, he is excited about having an improved man-to-man defense. "We have five guys who have a 7'5" reach or more," Nelson says. "We have four shot blockers who can play center, so we'll always have coverage of the rim, which allows us to move out a little more, be a bit more aggressive. I think we'll stub our toes early, but by midseason or a little after we'll probably be a really good playoff team."

-- Ian Thomsen