NBA Mavericks in good shape for next half

Teams like the Lakers, Cleveland and Philadelphia are counting on their superstars.
By BRIAN MAHONEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Being one of the best in the West might not be good enough for Dallas.
Finish second in their conference, and the Mavericks likely open the second round in San Antonio. Win the West and Dallas still probably gets the defending champions in the conference semifinals -- but might have to go through Kobe Bryant just to get there.
In case anyone forgot, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters of a game against the Mavs this season.
"You can get an eight seed and it'd be the best seed you ever had, and get a one seed and be dreading the matchup, so it doesn't really matter," Mavericks guard Jason Terry said.
At least the Mavericks have secure playoff position. Despite their individual brilliance in the first half, Bryant and Allen Iverson have no such guarantees.
The races for the West and scoring titles will be among the biggest story lines when the NBA returns from the All-Star break to start the second half of the season tonight.
Possible pitfalls
For some, such as the Pistons or All-Star game MVP LeBron James, the focus is on building on strong first halves and avoiding the kinds of late-season struggles that cost James a playoff spot last year. But for others, there's plenty of work to do.
The Mavericks (41-11) have the best record in the West, but they are only a game ahead of San Antonio. Because both teams play in the Southwest Division, the team that finishes second can earn no better than the No. 4 seed.
Neither wants to be the team that has to open the second round in the other's arena.
"That's a tough situation, but it is how it is set up and people are going to have to play for it," Spurs All-Star Tim Duncan said.
Lurking as a potential first-round opponent for one of them are the Lakers. Seeing Bryant would be particularly scary for the Mavs, who have allowed him to average 43 points against them in three games, including that 62-point night.
Bryant is averaging 35 points, with Iverson at 33.2 and James at 31.2. The NBA hasn't had three players average 30 or more points since 1982.
Hasn't translated
That hasn't translated to nearly enough wins for Bryant or Iverson. Three teams are within 21/2 games of Los Angeles for eighth in the West, while Philadelphia is just two games ahead of Chicago for the East's last playoff spot.
"I want to win a ring," Iverson said. "I want to have the opportunity to get back to the Finals, but I just have to take it one day at a time, and understand that it can happen -- and I always believe that. Once I stop believing the goal can be accomplished, there is no need to keep dressing up every night. All that matters is us getting into the playoffs, because then, anything can happen."
James appears ready to get his chance. A late-season collapse kept Cleveland out of the playoffs last year, but with a better supporting cast surrounding one of the NBA's most talented players, a repeat seems unlikely.