The Mavs looked like NBA champions on Sunday afternoon, completely dismantling the Suns, 140-116.

Reason for fans to get excited over the upcoming playoffs, right?

Not so fast.

If we've come to know anything this season, it's to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Mavericks. There's no logic or reason to it anymore. They can go out and play a complete game on one night, and two days later they resemble an entirely different team...one almost unrecognizable by fans.

Inconsistency has been the Mavericks' identity this season, something that doesn't bode well for the playoffs. The optimist in you says the team will rise to the occasion come the postseason, and give maximum effort night in and night out. The pessimist in you says, why will things change all of a sudden?

Some of this can be blamed on the Mavs' injury problems. Josh Howard's lingering ankle issue means Rick Carlisle has had to continually tinker with his lineup, much more than he'd like to. You don't always know what kind of effort you're going to get from your youngsters on a nightly basis.

That still doesn't quite explain getting blown out by a dreadful Memphis team, or a miserable Oklahoma City squad.

Sometimes, the Mavs just seem to flat-out disappear. The reasons...are puzzling to figure out.

It's now up to veterans like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry to set the standard from here on out and refuse to accept Jekyl and Hyde performances. Dirk has shown a tendency to light a fire under his teammates, which should serve the Mavs well in this next crucial week.

One thing's for sure- if they can't give maximum effort in these final five, the Mavs won't be going anyplace but home, come postseason play.

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