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The moment you think the Mavericks are on the verge of a double-digit winning streak, they lose a close game in Sacramento.

Just when you're ready to declare this team is focused and has it figured out, they lose by 18 points on the road to Washington.

Good teams will win 50 or so games during the regular season.

But elite teams, ones with a legitimate shot to win the title, win games on the road.

The Mavericks haven't done much of that this season. The team was 9-10 on the road entering Wednesday night's game at Charlotte. Five teams in the Western Conference had won more road games. Six teams in the East had done better on the road.

Think about it. What is the Mavericks' biggest win on the road this season? Was it the season opener against Cleveland in October or the win at Golden State on Nov. 8?

The only road victory over a team with a winning record in the 11 weeks since has been at Houston. Twice.

The Mavericks must pick up some quality wins on the road before anyone mentions them among the league's top teams this season.

Q: Hi David. I like you so much better than that other guy. I won't even mention his name as I don't want to insult you. On to the question. I read that 20 percent of all fans are very superstitious, and since I'm one of them, I apologize to you all but ... does it look like the Mavs are starting to hit their stride? From my perspective, they still have a lot of work to do, but it looks like they're starting to come together. Maybe that beginning is what they needed?

Nate from Nova Scotia (That's right. Nova Scotia!)

MOORE: How are things going in Canada's second-smallest province? Tell everyone in Halifax hello for me. By the way, I loved Nova Scotia's own Ellen Page in Juno.

Your question hit on what I was talking about. The Mavericks show signs of hitting their stride, and then make you wonder why you ever thought that in the first place. It's no disgrace to lose to the Wizards on the road, but this team is too good to lose by 18 points.

The Mavericks remain too inconsistent to say they have hit their stride. Of course, there is one other thing to consider.

The Mavericks have found their stride, which means it could be another short appearance in the playoffs.

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Q: What's with Juwan Howard and his playing time? I expected him to have good minutes this year, yet recently he's not even activated for games, and before that he had lots of DNP-CD's.

William, Mavs fan in India (that's NOT Indiana)

MOORE: Howard was brought in as insurance and to be a strong, veteran presence on the bench and in the lockerroom. Think of him as this season's Kevin Willis, only with more game.

The Mavericks never envisioned Howard would take minutes away from Erick Dampier, DeSagana Diop and Brandon Bass. His role is to step in when any of those players is injured, ineffective or gets into early foul trouble. He will get some minutes now that Bass is hurt.

And I would never confuse India with Indiana. That would only happen in Big Ed's week.

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Q: I've noticed that Devin Harris seems to show up more often in the bigger games. Of course, all of the games are of equal paper value, but in terms of mentality, the games with heavier weight are the ones that Devin Harris really shows up for. Last year, he rarely showed up at all. Is this yet another sign of his increasing development, or is this just Avery Johnson's influence?

Phil from Denton, Texas

MOORE: I haven't had time to verify your assertion – I'm one episode behind on The Wire and need to catch up – but for the sake of argument let's say it's true.

The Mavericks will tell you when they get good games from Harris and Erick Dampier, they rarely lose. I think Harris is really good. He can break down defenses with his speed, has gotten better distributing the ball and is one of the top defensive point guards in the league. When he's hitting that midrange jumper and floater, the Mavericks are really good.

Harris knows his value to this team. If his numbers do improve against the top teams, that's a good sign. Johnson's influence plays a part in this, but let's give most of the credit to Harris.

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Q: From the department of "How do you even think of such trivial stuff?," what do you think of trading Mo Ager and JJ Barea to Minnesota for a second-round pick? It doesn't look like they will get much of a shot on a deep team like the Mavs, but the T-Wolves may want to see what they get giving these guys some time. Barea seems like he can back up Sebastian Telfair, and Ager may yet develop with time. In any case, not much risk for either team.

I Remain John in Clearwater, Fla.

MOORE: Sorry to say, John, but I agree with you. This is trivial.

That being said, I wouldn't do it. Barea looks like he can be a very nice backup point guard in this league. You might be able to replace that with Minnesota's second-round pick, but you can't be sure. I'm not sure you'd get a better player than Ager at that spot, either.

Both players deserve a little more time to show if they can be part of this team moving forward. I'd say no.

Now, if the Timberwolves suddenly started talking about their first-round pick ...

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Q: Love the column, and I think one of you is definitely smarter than the other. I have been a fan of the Mavs since you could sit anywhere in Reunion. I have since moved north and now have to pay homage to my favorite team by first paying my satellite provider. I prefer to remember the '80s and not the '90s. In the eighties, we had players who were reminiscent of what we have today. One in particular was Derek Harper. I just loved the guy. He could get to the rim with ease, but he couldn't finish. It took him awhile to master the touch and to add the dish out to sweet-stroking Ro Blackman. To the question – half the league would love to have Devin Harris and his god-given talents. Do you think the propensity of the Dallas fans to forget the past and continue to seek short-term results would influence the Mavs front office? If you think it can't, think back to how we handled Steve Nash.

Mickey Nance from Hartford, Conn.

MOORE: You're the smart one, Mickey. Anyone who invokes the names of Harper and Blackman and uses the word propensity in the proper context will always find a spot in this newsletter.

Big Ed, by the way, believes propensity is the gas you find in a propane tank.

When it comes to personnel moves, the Mavericks front office in no way, shape or form responds to public pressure or perception. If it did, it never would have let Nash walk in his prime so he could go to Phoenix, win two MVP trophies and blossom into the best point guard of his generation.

Harris won't blossom into the best point guard of this generation, but he's pretty good. I would be surprised if the Mavericks moved him any time soon.

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Q: So what would happen if two teams in a conference tied for eighth? I've heard there are many tie-breaking factors, but what are these factors? My grandpa told me that one of the first ones was which team beat the other more in games between the two. What is the order they go in?

Kaitlyn White

MOORE: Your grandpa is right. That's why you should always listen to your elders.

Head-to-head is the first tie-breaker. Next is division record if both teams play in the same division. If not, the system goes to conference record.

If it's still tied, you go to record against playoff teams in the conference then to record against playoff teams in the other conference. If you go through all those scenarios, the final tie-breaker is net points.

If that's tied, I have no idea what you do – and neither does the NBA. I'd say you'd be looking at a coin flip.

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Q: You mentioned in your column last week that the Mavs used their midlevel exception to sign Eddie Jones and Brandon Bass. Is that correct? I thought they were both signed for two-year minimum deals. If that is true, then they would still have the exception.

Andy Montgomery

SEFKO: My apologies on a bungled answer. You're not the first to bring it up. I'm an idiot, which I'm sure D-Moore will reinforce in next week's newsletter.

Thanks for keeping us on our toes.

MOORE: I wanted to give Big Ed his say on this matter. I don't think there's anything else I can add.

Actually, there is something else I can add, but it would be in poor taste.

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Q: Hello gentlemen, and I use that term loosely. This is not a question but rather a comment about the Sonics. I grew up in Dallas and love the Mavs. Sadly, I now live in Seattle. I attended the Mavs-Sonics game in Seattle on Jan. 11. The game was great because the Mavs won by 20 points. Yet the experience, the entertainment, was pathetic. The arena was half-empty. The fans were either quiet or booing the hometown team, yelling things I have never heard at AAC. The marketing department and whoever is in charge of entertainment during games need to be fired. It makes you wonder if the new owners are truly trying to drive away fans to pave the way to Oklahoma City. The experience was nothing like it is during Mavs home games. It seriously makes me consider moving back to Big D.

Love the newsletter and you two guys taking swipes at each other. Maybe you two should ask Mark Cuban if you can have a match during one of his HDNet MMA nights.

Jonathan in Seattle

MOORE: We usually don't allow people to ramble on and on in this newsletter with their comments, unless it's me or Big Ed. But I ran your riff for two reasons.

One: You took a dig at us in the opening sentence. We like that.

Two: I really do want to watch that episode of The Wire and don't have time to answer another question.