An injury to a leading player in the team could definitely derail the thought process of a team's management. Surely, the Dallas Mavericks faced a similar problem when they had to put up with Josh Howard's injury. For the Mavericks, the problem has been ongoing for some time now, with him being absent from the starting line up for a lot of games. The game against the Spurs was a classic example of how the Mavericks believe in fighting it out.

Without their most potent force at both side of the court, the Mavericks definitely struggled to get some flair going in their game. It happens to the best of teams when their best players get knocked over in the previous games or are suffering from injuries. With the Mavericks, the absence of Howard from the line-up meant their defense and their attack were absolutely toothless. To their credit, the Mavericks did put up a fight.

Spurs were expected to roll through a Howard-less Maverick. Maverick's strategy of playing a tight game coupled with their hard-working defense really ran the Spurs ragged. They managed to take the game into double-overtime, where tired legs and a slight blip in concentration allowed the Spurs to put it over them. But really, the experts felt that the fact Mavericks could stretch a full-strength Spurs without Howard thus far was testimonial to their spirit and attitude with which they approached this game.

Josh Howard could see all of this only from the sidelines. After the game, the head coach of the Mavericks felt the need of Howard to be there in the middle. He has never been known to mince words and here he made it amply clear that he needed Howard out there in the middle, if the Mavericks were to win games. This comment is not to say that the Mavericks were helpless ducks without Howard. But this comment is primarily to stretch home the fact that with Howard in the team, the Mavericks seem like hungry vultures!

As the curtains draw on this game, clearly there is no room for introspection for the Mavericks. For them, the choice is simple - Get Howard back to avoid such painstaking games in future! It symbolizes the spirit of the Mavericks, but it does little to get them moving on the scorecard. And to win championships, you ought to get your scores up on the card as soon as possible.

Josh, to his credit, desperately wishes to be back in the squad. He has seen enough of the beatings the Mavericks have taken in his absence. And though his spirited team mates put on one stellar performance after the other, Josh and other Mavericks would definitely want their team to win. And for that, Josh must return!