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Just to keep you from worrying whether an eight-day layoff will affect the Mavs going into tonight's opener like it did Colorado in the World Series, consider the following instead:

The Mavs' redemption for an unforgivable exit hinges on the growth of Josh Howard and Devin Harris.

Dirk Nowitzki? He'll put up another MVP-caliber season but won't repeat.

Jason Terry will contend for the Sixth Man Award in a brilliant case of typecasting.

Eddie Jones? Brandon Bass? Trenton Hassell? Better additions than the Devean George/Greg Buckner/Anthony Johnson trio, primarily because the new group, with the exception of Jones, is younger and more athletic.

But bringing Terry and the rest off the bench probably isn't the kind of improvement you had in mind. You wanted a low-post threat, a seasoned leader at point guard, a back-alley streak of toughness.

Or in other words, you had a couple of the same requests that Avery Johnson seemed to voice after a 67-win season melted down in the first round.

For better or worse, the Mavs didn't really address any of the needs, at least not immediately.

The points have been debated so often around here, you wonder if maybe we're a little too close to the subject.

As an outsider-looking-in last season, Eddie Jones thought the Mavs would win it all. He thought they had the rebounding, selflessness and defense, as well as "a great basketball mind" pulling it all together.

So, if the Mavs had so much in their favor, why did the Warriors make history against them?

"Sometimes, as much as we hate to admit it," Jones said, "a team just has your number."

Of course, that's not exactly a revolutionary theory. The Mavs have performed poorly against Golden State for years.

But isn't the match-up explanation a cop-out, too? Isn't a collapse that rivaled the Finals flameout an indication of a greater problem?

"This team won 67 games," Jones said, shaking his head. "What do you really need to change?"

Fortunately, he had a ready answer.

"The only thing you need to change," he said, "is to grow and finish."

Maybe Jones' prescription sounds simplistic, but it fairly describes Howard and Harris.

A pro sports culture primer: When a club makes no major personnel moves in the off-season, it's saying either we believe in the guys we have as they are, or we believe in their room to grow.

Question: Who on this team do you see improving much this season?

Certainly not Nowitzki. He might demonstrate a little better low-post game, and he might be fresher come playoff time if Johnson significantly cuts his minutes. But if you're expecting him to suddenly channel Larry Bird, you'll be sorely disappointed.

You can and should ask pro athletes to work on their games, but you can't ask them to be something they're not.

Nowitzki has grudgingly accepted more of a leadership position since Steve Nash left town, but he's clearly uncomfortable in the role. ESPN's Reggie Miller says a stronger mental approach is all that's missing from Nowitzki's game. He also said his performance against the Warriors, when he "somewhat disappeared," will weigh heavily on Nowitzki this season.

But what if Howard takes his coaching from Mario Elie and becomes a factor in the fourth quarter?

BRAD LOPER / DMN

The Dallas Mavericks enter the season with an impressive trio of (from left) Josh Howard, Devin Harris and Dirk Nowitzki.

What if Johnson backs off and allows Harris the freedom to become the floor leader he should be?

No one else has been capable of removing the pressure on Nowitzki. Terry's contribution has been a willingness to shoot, which is not to be underestimated on a club that at times is a little too unselfish. But he's not really a leader. Jerry Stackhouse's gritty play gives the Mavs any edge they have, but it's hard to lead from the second seat on the bench.

Howard and Harris should rank as the second- and third-best players on the team if they continue to develop, which would give them credibility with teammates.

Can they take advantage of the opportunity? For all his other assets, Howard may not have it in him to lead, either. But Harris might. He understands what Johnson is asking of him, anyway.

Johnson is asking his point guard to take command, which would make life easier for the head coach, assistants, Mark Cuban, the front office, scouts, long-suffering Mavs fans, former Mavs fans, elevator operators, burger flippers, beer vendors, Humble Billy Hayes, Mavs dancers, fat dancers and pretty much anyone else who works for Cuban, including a certain blond 7-footer. Other than that, no pressure, fellas. Ready or not, here we go.