Looking ahead to G-State after beating H-town

Four games down and look who’s coming down the pike…the Golden State Warriors. Focus, naturally, shifted today to the team that knocked the Mavericks out of the playoffs last season.

“We all still have a bitter taste in our mouths, knowing we had a great season last year and they ended our season pretty hard,” Dirk Nowitzki said after practice. “But we understand that whatever we do now it doesn’t take back what happened in May.”

The Mavs (3-1) and Warriors aren’t the teams they were just six months ago. Golden State, which began the day 0-3, is without suspended guard Stephen Jackson and traded away Jason Richardson.

Dallas knows it can’t erase the past. Its focus is on improving with each game, and Monday’s 107-98 victory over Houston at American Airlines Center offers a prime example of progress.

The Mavs knocked off a fellow Western Conference contender without starting point guard Devin Harris and reserve big man Brandon Bass, and with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard battling foul trouble.

Nowitzki and Howard, despite finishing with five fouls each, still combined for 40 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse scored 47 of the team’s 50 bench points. Gana Diop (10 points and 13 boards) had the team’s first double-double of the season.

The contributors didn’t stop there. Trenton Hassell and Eddie Jones were instrumental in Tracy McGrady missing 19 of 31 shots. While not as spectacular as his previous two showings, JJ Barea logged 18 ½ key minutes at point guard. Newly-signed Juwan Howard (12 ½ minutes) helped Diop and Nowitzki hold Yao Ming to just 12 shots.

Mavs coach Avery Johnson noted the team effort, especially with what’s left of the team.

“When those guys play well, we’re an awfully tough team to beat because this is not a one-man band with Dirk,” he said. “We have a team. When our team is functioning well; you saw bits and pieces last night without Devin and Bass. We think we have a chance to be good, but there’s a lot of the season left.”