But the ability to change from a poor man-to-man team to an adequate zone team has saved the Mavs more than once. And it could save them when it counts most in April and May.

"The zone has won at least 10 games for us this year," coach Don Nelson said. "I don't think it's really cost us one because if it's not working, I get out of it. Some nights when I think the zone's not very effective, I'll ask [the assistants], 'How's it doing?'

"They'll say, 'Well, it's better than the man-to-man.' "

They work best against teams that can't pass. They work best against teams that can't shoot from the outside.

In other words...

"They work better against bad teams than good teams," Nelson said. "There aren't any bad teams in the playoffs, so I don't know how effective zones will be."