Over a six-day span, the Mavericks have one game, which is tonight against Indiana.

This little lull in the schedule has given the Mavericks a chance to analyze their situation, that they remain a sub-.500 team at 6-7.

But having won four in a row, they also know that their horrid start to the season might have been an aberration.

After all, they had losing streaks, winning streaks, players asking to be traded (actually, just one player, that we know of) and coaches and players questioning the team-wide effort.

"The NBA is never smooth," Jason Kidd said. "You're going to go through your ups and downs. There's going to be stuff that goes on with the team."

Through the difficult times, however, one thing has been consistent when it comes to Jason Terry. When he's entrenched as the sixth man, he's pretty good. And so are the Mavericks.

During the four-game winning streak, Terry has come off the bench in each game and is averaging 21.5 points.

In the first nine games of the season, he was averaging 17 points while starting five times and coming off the bench four times. He is shooting better than 50 percent in the winning streak, as opposed to just under 40 percent in the first nine games.

Just as the team has gone through a tough start, Terry had his rocky times. But he has a word for what he and the Mavericks have gone through.

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

During the Dallas Mavericks' four-game winning streak, Jason Terry has come off the bench in each game and is averaging 21.5 points.

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"Priceless," he said Monday. "Adversity at the beginning of the season is very priceless. You'd rather have that now than at the end of the season.

"We're happy with where we're at. We'd like more wins, but as far as learning and developing, we're moving along."

Terry clearly has supplanted Jerry Stackhouse as this team's designated scorer off the bench. Stackhouse, of course, is having his agent explore trade options while the 6-6 swingman rehabilitates a heel injury.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are attempting to build on their momentum. They also are hoping the adversity of the first few weeks of the season is over with.

Added Devean George: "It's part of the NBA. It's going on with every team. Some teams hit it now. Some hit it later. Some have it all season. We're getting better every day."