ESPN

We started this little flashback column to help us deal with the devastatingly chilly fallout of the NBA Nuclear Winter. The good news is that this is the last one because the NBA is coming back on X-Mas day. Just as we did last week, we got help from the Mavs site created by the great Patricia Bender.

Dec. 2 is a particularly eventful day in Mavs history. It’s littered with brilliant performances from names like Mark Aguirre and Jason Kidd, great honors for folks like Don Nelson and Steve Nash, and sadly also includes yet another tragic turn for Leon Smith. But two things jump out and grab me as fantastic moments in Mavericks history.

In 2004, we were treated to an epic scorers’ duel between Dirk Nowitzki and then-Houston Rocket Tracy McGrady that felt like one of those great 80s battles between the elite scoring forwards of that decade. McGrady was unstoppable, draining 3s from all over the floor -- pulling up and bombing off the dribble no matter how tightly contested -- en route to 48 in an overtime loss. That’s right, the ROX took the L because Dirk was even better, dropping 53 and grabbing 16 boards in front of a primetime national audience on a Thursday night TNT joint the Mavs won 113-106. It was one of the most entertaining Mavericks games of the decade.

But I also wanted to note that on Dec. 2 of their inaugural season, Dallas signed former Lakers first-round pick Brad Davis. Davis had bounced around the League and spent time in the CBA and was on the verge of retiring when he gave pro basketball and the Mavericks one last chance. He went on to become one of the best guards in team history and the first player to have his jersey retired.

When I think of Davis’ playing days the images that flood my mind include:

1. Davis taking violently vicious charges

2. Catching and shooting that crank behind his head and fling jumper after Aguirre passed out of double teams

3. The chomping of that gum being exaggerated due to the wicked mustache game he was throwing down

4. That Toyota commercial in which he unleashed the Camry Jam and Corolla Rolla dunks on an 8’ goal

5. That perm, yo!

Some so-called Mavs fans that either don’t know any better, weren’t old enough to remember, or just plain weren’t paying attention at the time view Davis as some sort of Bill Bates hustle type that was only out there cuz he played really hard and set a good example. They think that it’s somewhat shameful that his number is retired.

Those people are just wrong. Davis was a baller.

About a month ago, FSSW re-aired the classic Moody Madness game and it was great to watch it for a number of reasons, but I really dug watching Brad’s game again. He did for the Mavs during that era what Mo Cheeks was doing for Philly. He ran the show and orchestrated the offense. And he made perfect entry passes to Aguirre who was just devastating on the block.

Ask Derek Harper how difficult Davis was to play against. He went against him every day in practice and has enormous respect for his game.
“And if you don’t know, now you know …”

Now we're talking. The countdown is down to the final five, the big hitters, the go-to guys.

So who are they?

First, here's a reminder of what this is all about: I'm ranking and analyzing the 16 players currently on Dallas' 15-man roster, one a day, from least critical to most critical to a title defense (with likelihood of being on the roster next season playing a significant role in the ranking).

For Nos. 16-6, scroll down. For No. 5, look no further:

JASON TERRY
Pos: SG
Ht/Wt: 6-2/180
Experience: 12 years
Age: 33 (Sept. 15, 1977)
Contract status: Signed through 2011-12
2010-11 salary: $ 9.9 million
2011-12 salary: $11.66 million

His story: It's one of redemption. Terry has been blamed and shouldered blame for the disappointing postseasons following the 2006 Finals collapse. Now, Terry has already reserved his spot in the American Airlines Center rafters for his No. 31 to be retired next to Rolando Blackman and Brad Davis. Terry is a champion and he's enjoying every minute of it. And why not? He was an integral part of the Mavs' run to glory after his regular season concluded with sketchy behavior -- from the out-of-control technical foul in Los Angeles, to the in-game blowup at home with teammate J.J. Barea and coach Rick Carlisle, to his premature victory celebration after he missed a free throw in the final seconds in Houston. He put it all behind him and put together a postseason for the ages, averaging 17.5 points on 47.8-percent shooting (44.2 percent from 3-point range). He had the memorable Game 4 wipeout of the Los Angeles Lakers, hitting 9-of-10 from beyond the arc for 33 points, and who will forget the uber-confident (cocky?) Terry calling out LeBron James and then walking the walk in the NBA Finals? Here's the facts: Terry had not shot better than 43 percent in the previous four postseasons and in the last two he was below 38 percent. It's hard to argue that when the Jet's engines are cold, the Mavs are vulnerable. When he's revved up and on his game, they sure are tough to beat.

His outlook: It's a strange feeling for sure for Terry as he enters the final year of his contract and eighth with the Mavs -- hard to imagine Steve Nash walked out way back in 2004 and Terry was the guy the Mavs traded for to take his place. Terry, who will turn 34 before the season starts, has said he wants to retire in Dallas. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson has said he'd like to see that happen. As for next season, Terry will, in all likelihood, continue in the sixth-man role -- and presumably any day now he'll announce his intentions to reclaim the NBA's Sixth Man award after finishing second the last two seasons. Terry had plenty of pressure on him to perform last season, especially after Caron Butler, who was emerging as the club's needed second-leading scorer behind Dirk Nowitzki, went down for the season on Jan. 1. If the Mavs can re-sign Butler, it would again allow Terry to not have to worry about filling it up every night. Butler is capable of scoring 18 to 20 points a night and giving the starting lineup a significant boost. The Mavs hope the addition of 6-foot-6 shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, the likely starter, and a fresh start for Rodrigue Beaubois will help ease the scoring burden on Terry and further diversify the offense. And, if the Mavs don't re-sign Barea, Terry could spend more time handling the point. Had Terry cratered last postseason, the cries to run him out of town would have grown loud. Now, he's beloved more than ever and his quirky miscues that are bound to happen from time to time will be more easily excused. Will the Mavs begin negotiating an extension when the lockout is lifted? Will he finish out the season and become a free agent for the first time in his career? Stay tuned.

The Countdown
No. 16 DeShawn Stevenson
No. 15 Peja Stojakovic
No. 14 Dominique Jones
No. 13 Ian Mahinmi
No. 12 Brian Cardinal
No. 11 Rodrigue Beaubois
No. 10 Brendan Haywood
No. 9 Corey Brewer
No. 8 J.J. Barea
No. 7 Rudy Fernandez
No. 6 Shawn Marion
No. 5 Jason Terry
No. 4 Coming Monday

DALLAS -- Early on in the playoffs, Jason Terry talked about not only wanting to redeem himself for his two previous poor postseaons, but how he wanted to retire with the team and even have his No. 31 retired.

This all came about because Terry will be going into the final year of his contract next season, and he said that it weighed on him that another subpar playoffs for him and the team could land him on the trading block.

Well, after winning the NBA title on Sunday, let's just say that Jet is feeling pretty confident about his standing in Dallas. During the championship rally inside the American Airlines Center Terry took his legacy -- and maybe a few of his friends -- into his own hands.

Standing on the stage erected at midcourt, Terry, with a microphone in hand, looked up to the rafters where the retired numbers of Brad Davis -- No. 15 -- and Rolando Blackman -- No. 22 -- hang, and in a hoarse voice, said: "Brad Davis, Ro Blackman, move over, there's new jerseys coming to town."

Dirk Nowitzki's No. 41 is obviously a given to one day hang from the AAC rafters. Very possibly joining him after this first title for the 31-year-old franchise could be Jason Kidd's No. 2 -- he wore No. 5 in the 90s when the Mavs drafted him -- and Terry's No. 31.

Through the magic of ESPN.com, you can now vote for your favorite all-time starting lineup for the Dallas Mavericks, as well as every other NBA team.

That's right, the most productive five for every franchise. Or maybe we should just call it "Dirk and his four friends."

So who makes the cut? Who do you like at point guard: Derek Harper, Steve Nash, Brad Davis or Jason Kidd?

Shooting guard also is a tough pick: Michael Finley, Rolando Blackman, Jim Jackson or Jason Terry?

You pick at every position, so cast your vote for your all-time Mavs Fab Five.

Not that he'll remember Sunday night's start-to-finish blowout loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, but Dirk Nowitzki did hit a career milestone.

The Dallas Mavericks power forward played in his 872nd career game with the Mavs, tying Derek Harper for second-most in franchise history. Nowitzki, assuming he remains in good health, will surpass leader Brad Davis (883) later this month.