It will take more than one night like Wednesday's workmanlike showing by Erick Dampier to change the ever-growing criticism he's getting, which has reached nationwide proportions.

ESPN analyst Bill Walton is the latest to jump on the bandwagon. Walton was at American Airlines Center for Wednesday night's game, and he said the ineffectiveness of Dampier has become too obvious to ignore.

"The Mavericks are the second-best team in the Western Conference right now, clearly a step behind San Antonio because of the limitations of Erick Dampier," Walton said before tip-off. "The toughest thing for all these guys who play their hearts out every game is to dragged down by Erick Dampier."

The 6-11 center was averaging 6.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in 24 minutes per game going into Wednesday's contest against Phoenix. He had a solid night's work with 12 rebounds and two blocks against the Suns. But Walton said the Mavericks are no better off with Dampier as their center than they were in years past.

"It looked like they were moving forward when they bought out Shawn Bradley's contract," Walton said. "Now, they still have him. His name just changed to Erick Dampier."