[grndmstr_c]

The high minutes bit - without which double-double's just don't happen (as a careful evaluation of Damp's stats will tell) - is all down to Tyson, IMO. He's the first legitimate center the Mavs have had in the Dirk era who can both: a) be enough of a factor on the offensive end that you'd almost never think of taking him out of the game to get one more scorer on the floor except in an an end-of-quarter designed play situation, and b) move well enough on the defensive end that you'd almost never think of taking him out of the game because of a small ball matchup vulnerability.

That said, Nellie wasn't the only Mavs coach who's demonstrated a willingness to play without a center, and with Peja and Booby in the fold I don't think it's all that far-fetched that Dallas might give a little time to some lineups that have Dirk at the 5 over the next few months.