Dampier may play vs. Blazers tonight

Super screener Erick Dampier could be back tonight with Portland in town. The big fella has missed two of the last three games with a sprained ankle.

“We hope to have big Damp back,” Avery Johnson said today.

Johnson added that the problems on offense, at different points throughout the season, can be traced back to Dampier not being in the lineup.

“Our guys tend to get open when Damp is on the floor,” Johnson said.

Now the bad news. Guys that won’t be in uniform: Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Devin Harris.

Johnson was asked if he’s bewildered, angry and confused by the play of late. The banged-up Mavs have dropped two straight and four of the last seven.

“If we were totally healthy and going through this same type of inconsistency, I would probably sit in all those chairs that you just named,” he said. “But I know where we are and it’s not the time to get too negative.

“Now I get a little irate with our effort. No matter who’s in uniform, we should hit people, we should get back on defense and on offense we shouldn’t still settle for jumps shots no matter who’s in uniform. We understand we’re fighting an uphill battle right now, that’s a fact, but we still can do something about it. I’m more irate about effort more than anything.”