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: