Mavericks vs. Heat: Dallas Players Who Must Step Up to Shock Miami

The Dallas Mavericks haven't been able to find a rhythm as they attempt to defend their NBA title. Picking up a victory over the heavily-favored Miami Heat, who they beat in last year's NBA Finals, would provide a nice boost to their confidence level for the stretch run.

Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle knows guys like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry will produce, but here are three players who must step up for the Mavericks to secure a key road win.

Lamar Odom

When the Mavericks acquired Odom in the offseason, they certainly weren't expecting him to have by far the worst season of his career. He's averaging just seven points and has never appeared comfortable in his new surroundings.

Getting over that mental hurdle will be more difficult than anything Odom tries to fix on the court. He's proven in the past to be a valuable contributor, now he needs to find a positive mindset and start playing like everybody knows he's capable.

Odom comes off a solid outing against the Houston Rockets, so perhaps he's finally building some momentum. Mavericks fans can only hope.

Vince Carter

The Mavericks understand that vintage Carter, who averaged 25 points and six rebounds, won't be coming back anymore. That said, they want him to provide more than the six points he's been averaging over the last four games.

Miami can score points in bunches, so the Mavericks need Carter to provide a third scoring threat behind Nowitzki and Terry in order to keep up. He'll also spend time guarding Dwyane Wade, so he can't let him dominate the game.

It's a lot to ask an aging veteran, but Carter has shown glimpses of being able to handle it throughout the season. Tonight is an ideal time to step up again.

Ian Mahinmi

Brendan Haywood continues to work his way back from a knee injury. Until he's back to 100 percent, the onus will be on Mahinmi to provide a second option in the post alongside Nowitzki. Since entering the starting lineup, his results have been mixed.

The former San Antonio Spurs role player has plenty of potential, but needs extended playing time to develop his skills. While the Mavericks aren't asking him to play like a dominant force, he can't be invisible like he's been in the last two games, either.

If the Heat have a weakness, it's up front. Dallas must exploit that in order to pull off the upset, so Mahinmi will get a chance to prove himself on the big stage.