'A good win'

Tell me the Dallas Mavericks go into Denver and get a 1-point win and I would call that "a good win."

Tell me the Mavericks shot 46 percent, outrebounded the Nuggets, hit seven three pointers and got the requisite double-double from Dirk Nowitzki and I would be mildly shocked the Nuggets were shooting for the win with the ball in Carmelo Anthony's hands.

Throw in the details that the Nuggets were without Nene, Chris Andersen and Kenyon Martin and I would further be shocked.

The Mavs "escaped" Denver with a 1-point win last night, 102-101. Sure, Shawn Marion was in Anthony's face for that final shot and it was "good" defense, but he got a good shot off and it rimmed in and out.

A win is a win on the road, I guess, but the Mavericks shouldn't be proud by beating a small, undermanned Denver team with a lackluster night from Anthony.

The Nuggets lead for most of the game, they were relying on Gary Forbes to provide inside presence and were somehow still battling on the boards. And they also shot 46 percent from the field. That final shot goes in and we're scratching our heads thi morning as to how that one got away.

And it could've easily have gone in.

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Although the Nuggets were undermanned, the Mavericks are apparently playing with five potential guys every night.

Another game and another poor performance from the bench. They could milk just 15 minutes from the "$55 Million Man" Brendan Haywood who gave them four rebounds, two points, two turnovers and a block. J.J. Barea is a disaster. Shawn Marion is the only consistent presence on the bench giving eight points, six rebounds and a couple of blocks.

They keep saying this team is deep. They're not. Good teams will eventually sniff this out and exploit. Or by February Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki will be so worn out, it won't matter.

By the way, Haywood's numbers: 20 minutes, 3.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 fouls per game.