If the Dallas Mavericks win and no one watches, does it count?

No defense for Dirk

The answer: Yes. Despite the eyes of Dallas-Fort Worth being on the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Mavericks started their season with a 101-86 win over the Charlotte Bobcats at the American Airlines Center.

In perfect autumn form, the Mavericks started the game with a 13-0 run and was up by 16 before the Bobcats mounted a comeback to actually take a lead before the end of the second quarter.

This is a problem. Well, there are two problems that may or may not be related.

Problem No. 1
The Mavericks can't blow anyone out.

Problem No. 2
The Mavericks bench isn't that that good.

Therefore, the problem is cylical. Even if the starters play well and build a 20-point lead, there's empirical proof that the bench of the Mavericks can't come in and keep that lead.

Therefore, the blowout -- an opportunity to rest said starters, many of which are old or oft-injured -- is lost. Thus, the Rick Carlisle -- amid fainting -- is forced to play his starters big minutes.

This isn't isolated to game No. 1 of the 2010-11 season. It was epidemic a year ago. Too many close games and to many 35-40 minute games from Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.

We got a glimpse of what Carlisle is doing with the roster. He started Jason Terry at two-guard and Tyson Chandler at center. It allows him to bring Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood off the bench.

Love Chandler starting. He's younger and more athletic. He fits better with Kidd. Plus, he fills up a box score (8 points, 8 boards, 2 blocks, 1 steal).

I think Terry is fine starting now, but when Roddy Beaubois returns, Terry needs to return as the sixth man. He's kind of a hybrid point-shooting guard that can spell Beaubois or Kidd. It also sets J.J. Barea back to No. 9 off the bench, where he belongs.

Beaubois is simply too dynamic to not start. You want an injection of fun and energy, start that dude.

Notes:

1. Our $54 million man, Brendan Haywood: 20 minutes - 2 points - 3 rebounds - 2 fouls.

2. Our 4-0, 98-pound man, J.J. Barea: 20 minutes - 4 rebounds. Who's working harder here?

3. The Mavs bench has zero stoppers. The flood gates opened for the Bobcats when the starters left. Marion was a -24. Barea, -19. Yikes.

4. Nowitzki, brilliant: 11-13 - 13 boards - 28 points.

5. Jason Kidd with 18 assists. If the starters keep that pace, he'll rack up big assists all year.