Twelve road games, seven at home and 15 against teams still in playoff contention, await the Mavericks, starting Thursday night at Portland's Rose Garden. It's a fittingly ominous launch to a rough playoff drive, given Dallas' 1-11 record in that building since it opened in November 1995.

It's likewise no stretch to suggest that no one in the West, save maybe the Los Angeles Lakers, faces the kind of finishing grind that looms for the Midwest leaders. Dallas has two games each in this span against LA, Portland, San Antonio and Utah. Also forthcoming is a three-game trip to Milwaukee, Minnesota and Boston from March 26-29, and a road back-to-back in Seattle and Sacramento on the last weekend of the regular season.

Good thing they enjoyed the preceding six weeks ? and especially the recent serving of six straight sub-.500 foes ? from the lofty perch of first place in the Midwest since Jan. 26.