Dallas Mavericks: 6 Players Who Need to Step Up

The Dallas Mavericks have fans worried with an 0-2 start to the NBA season. This is clearly not the same group that won the championship last year.

Dirk Nowitzki said that his team looks "old and slow and out of shape," but he's not quite ready to push the panic button with 64 regular season games remaining.

We knew there would be some kinks to work out with all of the moving parts on the roster, but the defending champions look lost out on the court.

It might not be time to worry just yet, but these guys have got to step up if Dallas is going to turn it around.

Rodrigue Beaubois, G

Through two games: 3-of-9 shooting (33 percent), 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, two turnovers, 2-of-4 from the line (50 percent)

Beaubois is finally healthy after a foot injury wiped out most of his 2010-11 season, but he's going to have to play much more effectively than what we've seen from him so far this year.

Rather than playing like a video game player, Beaubois needs to buy into the game plan and not force his shots when playing with the second unit.

His youth and athleticism are two elements that this team could really use, but he needs to improve his decision-making in a hurry for Dallas to cash in.

Vince Carter

Through two games: 5-of-12 shooting (41.7 percent), 16 points, three rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, five turnovers, 3-of-6 from the line (50 percent)

Carter looked like a low-risk veteran pickup for the reshaping Mavericks roster, but he has looked like a shell of his former self through two contests this year.

Averaging about 21 minutes per game of playing time, Carter started the first game of the season for Dallas, but he was replaced in the team's second game in favor of Delonte West.

He is having trouble keeping up with the pace of play at both ends of the floor, and the fact that he's already limited in his role doesn't bode well for this team early on.

Delonte West, G

Through two games: 4-of-12 shooting (33 percent), 12 points, two rebounds, seven assists, six steals, four turnovers, 3-of-3 from the line (100 percent)

West has shown the ability to be rather versatile in his contributions, and he's really going to have to step it up for Dallas if the team hopes to right ship.

He excelled in a reserve role on Christmas Day when he scored 10 points to pair with three assists and three steals, but the enigmatic combo guard took a step back when given a starting role on Monday.

No matter whether he's a part of the starting five or coming off the bench, West will need to bring it on a nightly basis, because he could very well play 25 to 30 minutes per night going forward.

Brendan Haywood, C

Through two games: 3-of-7 shooting (42.7 percent), seven points, eight rebounds, two turnovers, 1-of-4 from the line (25 percent)

Haywood has just been brutal through the first two regular season games, and it doesn't look like he's going to turn it around at any point in the near future.

Not only does Haywood look old and stiff, he's also averaging just under 18 minutes per game despite being handed a starting role and with just Ian Mahinmi and Sean Williams behind him.

With the offseason departure of Tyson Chandler to New York, Haywood has to step up in the middle and give this team a presence beneath the basket if the Mavericks are going to have any prayer of stopping the opposition down low.

Shawn Marion, F

Through two games: 7-of-15 shooting (46.7 percent), 14 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, four turnovers, no attempts from the line

Marion has been alright in terms of his contributions in the points and rebounding departments, but that's the problem—he's been just average.

Even that is a generous description for his recent play, and he just doesn't look like the player who was reestablishing himself as a key contributor down the stretch for Dallas during the team's championship run.

The versatile veteran really has to contribute in a much more impressive manner for the Mavericks, and two-point performances like the one he came with Monday against Denver simply can not be repeated.

Lamar Odom, F

Through two games: 2-of-16 shooting, 10 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, four turnovers, 5-of-8 from the line (62.5 percent)

Odom was going to be a key part of how Dallas planned to replace Tyson Chandler this season, but so far it's been a tough go of it in Odom's quest to acclimate to his new surroundings.

Looking past the abominable field-goal percentage, Odom needs to do more than score and grab rebounds to be an effective member of this team.

If his performances are inconsistent throughout the season, as he has shown during previous junctures of his career, it could be a woefully long season for the Mavericks.