It came from Josh Howard.
Slowly but surely, Howard is regaining his form, to the point where he's found himself pleasantly surprised with the progress his surgically repaired left ankle has made.
When he played the entire fourth quarter against Sacramento on Saturday, producing eight points and two rebounds, then came back and was good to go against the Lakers on Sunday on the second half of a back-to-back, it was a terrific sign.
"It's picking up," he said of his ankle. "I'm doing my rehab. And actually, it's been a whole lot better. I'm surprised the way it's feeling now. I'm almost back to my old self."
It's showing on the court. Howard's abilities are blooming a little brighter with each game. He's making the mid-range shot. He's mixing it up in the paint. And he's still got the three-ball in his arsenal.
It's got to be a comforting notion for coach Rick Carlisle, knowing that he can use Howard any way he wants to now. Carlisle called Howard's skill set "another dimension that we don't have without him."
Part of that is Howard's ability to run and finish on the fast break. With Jason Kidd running the show, Howard figures to get plenty of point-blank scoring opportunities.
Howard remains a key piece to the Mavericks' puzzle. He is being counted on to take some of the burden off Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry.
"That's what we're here for," Howard said. "I think everybody else is in it to win it for [Nowitzki]."
And where Howard and the Mavericks are concerned, it really doesn't matter whether he continues to come off the bench or if he starts. Either way, it's good for Dallas to have the old Josh back.
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