Two minutes into the second quarter, the Mavs had settled into their "it's early and who cares if we fall behind" mode. Down nine to the Wolves, they weren't really in the game until Nick Van Exel penetrated and passed to Steve Nash for a three. Then after a rare Joe Smith miss (rare because the player Minnesota nearly scrapped its franchise to keep sat for 41 minutes Sunday), Nash did the same for Van Exel.

That cut the lead to three, and Minnesota never led by more than that margin the rest of the way in Dallas' 101-94 victory.

This may go down as the first playoff series in NBA history determined not by the team with the best center, best power forward or any of the traditional measurements. It is being won right now by the team with the best backup point guard.

Coach Don Nelson confirmed the brilliance of the insight regarding the earlier three-pointers after practice Tuesday, saying, "I don't really disagree with you." Nelson's in an agreeable way these days because the draft deadline deal he made with Denver keeps weighing in with positive results.