I contemplated writing on many topics this week. There was the Jamaal Tinsley and his off-court problems again. The Miami Heat released Penny Hardaway ending his second run with Shaq. And I thought about commenting on Kobe Bryant saying he was happy that he wasn't traded this offseason.

Despite all of these compelling stories, the Dallas Mavericks might be the most interesting of them all. The Mavericks started the season 9-2 with wins over Houston twice, Golden State and a double-digit victory against the Spurs.  

Over the next 12 games, however, they managed just five wins. They lost to a Duncan-less San Antonio sqaud on Dec. 5, and suffered a double-digit loss to the Denver Nuggets the next night.

I know every team struggles at some point each season. The Mavericks are a veteran team. Many of the current players have been there since the Don Nelson coaching era. Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry are the veteran leaders who guide this team night in and night out.

Speaking of Coach Nelson, we can't forget how his Golden State Warriors took Dallas out in one of the most surprising upsets of the new millennium. He used his knowledge of his former team and equipped the Warriors with the tools to take out the top-seeded Mavericks.  

I admit, I am not a big fan of Dallas. I love head coach Avery Johnson. He is a tough competitor now just as he was in his playing days for San Antonio. On the other hand, I'm not sold on Dirk Nowitzki at all. He is a good player I will give him that. But I think he gets more credit than he deserves.

I understand the European style of play is different than here in America. For a guy who has been in the NBA since being drafted in 1998 I would expect more from him. He isn't as physical as he could be, and he gets easily frustrated when other players take it to him.

When I look at other power forwards in the game like Duncan and Kevin Garnett they are in that traditional mold of a physical player. Those guys can still step out and hit the mid-range jumper if needed. I'll admit that no big man can hit the three like Nowitzki, and that is where his value soars.  

Nowitzki won his first MVP last year although I think it should have went to Steve Nash again. When Nash gets injured, Phoenix suffers.

If Dirk was to get injured, Dallas has enough weapons to play on like it doesn't matter. Right now Howard leads the team scoring 22.2 points per game. Howard has been their highest scorer 11 times so far this season compared to Nowitzki's six.

The Mavericks mettle will be tested in the next four games. They have New Orleans, Houston, Orlando and Phoenix. Three of those four come at home. We will see if the defending MVP can help his team out of their funk as we enter the Christmas Holidays.  

Top 5

1. Boston

2. San Antonio

3. Phoenix

4. Detroit

5. Orlando 

The Magic almost didn't make the cut this week. They are on a three-game losing streak to teams they have no business losing to. Boston is winning 90 percent of their games. Need I say more?

Bottom 5

26. Miami

27. Seattle

28. New York

29. Memphis

30. Minnesota

Looks like I can't pick on the Bulls this week. But I found a good replacement in the Knicks who have lost four in a row which surprises no one.

My Grizzlies are disappointing at 6-15 and riding a five-game slide. Most of their losses are to good teams by close margins. They have a young core of talent that will be successful in the future.