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A request was sent out Monday morning for more questions.

Seventy-six replies later, here we are.

We won't have the chance to get to all of your questions in this newsletter. But a consistent theme rang through.

One, you are peeved at coach Avery Johnson these days.

Two, you are puzzled by Josh Howard's shot selection and performance.

OK, peeved and puzzled may not convey the depth of your frustration. But this is a family newsletter.

Now, onto your rants, observations and bewilderment.

Q: How could Avery keep Kidd in for the last few seconds and overtime against LA? My goodness, has he lost his Cajun mind? Of course, Kidd passed the ball to an open Dirk for the tying three, but you sure cannot count on him in crunch time. OK - I am just Kidding, pun intended.

My real question is, when we traded for Kidd was Josh Howard included in the deal because I have not seen him since the trade? Is there something wrong with him or is he just pouting? Or perhaps this is some super secret strategy by Avery to confuse our opponents and he is saving him for the playoffs. No poisonous journalism intended.

Randy in Spicewood

MOORE: Do I detect a dash of Cajun sarcasm, or is that a pinch of poisonous fandom creeping in?

Howard was not included in the deal, although Devin Harris was his best friend on the team. Does that mean he's been pouting? I don't think so.

The back contusion Howard suffered before the All-Star break shouldn't be minimized.

He said Wednesday he felt twinges from time to time and estimated the back was only 85 percent healthy. I don't even like to type with a bad back. I can't imagine what it would be like to attack the basket.

Q: Avery Johnson said after the Kings game that he told Jason Kidd to be more aggressive with his shot. Kidd scored an unbelievable (sneer) 21 points in that game versus the sad Sac Kings. Taking into account that Kidd played more minutes versus the Kings than against the huge rival Spurs the night before, and that he is a sure fire Hall of Famer, does Johnson think he deserves credit for Kidd's scoring performance?

Isn't this a childish attempt to divert attention from his ridiculous decision to keep Kidd out of the last seconds of the game against the Spurs? Did Kidd's assist to Dirk on his last second, game-tying shot against the Lakers change Avery's mind? If he really believes in the scoring lineup, then he should defend himself. Otherwise, he should admit he was wrong. I wonder if Avery's maniacal arrogance is ahead of interior scoring in keeping this team from a championship.

Anthony in Denton

MOORE: Did you conspire with Randy in Spicewood?

I don't believe Johnson was trying to take credit for Kidd's 21 points. But I do believe he was into the next phase of justifying why he put the point guard on the bench in the final 34.5 seconds of that loss to San Antonio the night before. The implication: if Kidd had looked for his shot against the Spurs like he did against the Kings, he wouldn't have been on the bench.

Instead of waiting for Johnson to admit he's wrong, you might want to campaign for Ralph Nader for president. That will happen before Johnson backs off his decision.

Q: By reading your oh-so-perceptive observations over the last couple of weeks something hit me: You guys were right about something. Watching Josh Howard over the last few games has been frustrating. He rarely drives and slashes anymore. Wasn't the Kidd acquisition supposed to make him better at getting to the rim? Why can't he be shelved for a few games if he's not 100%? I know guys play hurt all the time, but he only seems to be hurting them when he's out there. Where's the old J-Ho and will he be ready for the playoffs.

JP Heath, Lufkin

MOORE: You're right. The Howard you saw to open the season is nothing like the player you see now.

The back injury is a factor. He has settled for jump shots lately and defenders are sitting on that shot. Johnson showed him tape of how his game had slipped before the Utah game and he responded with 25 points.

Howard is the kind of athletic perimeter player who should flourish with Kidd pulling the trigger, and I think he will. But there is something else to consider right now.

Howard was at his best early in the season when the Mavericks isolated him, let him get set and then decide how to attack the defense. He's being asked to move more and score on the run now. That's an adjustment, with a bad back, he's been slow to make.

But Howard is versatile enough to adapt. Unless he suffers a setback or another injury, he should be ready for the playoffs.

Q: I've always liked Erick Dampier for his unflappability and for those things he's always done well: setting picks, defending the key, outlet passing and rebounding. But before Kidd I always felt that anyone who threw a pass to Damp should immediately be charged with a turnover. Things have changed. Now he only fumbles away half the passes and dunks rather than shooting that 10-inch lay-up at a 60% clip. And he's all hustle. Lookin' good. Can it last?

Ray Giles, Dallas

MOORE: Why not? He's going to get more time now that DeSagana Diop has been traded. If he stays out of early foul trouble, he'll be in position to do more than he's done since his first season with the Mavericks.

His recent success goes back to what people in Golden State said after the trade was made. If you get him involved on the offensive end early, you get a more active defensive player. The Mavericks have tried that through the years with limited success.

The difference with Kidd is that he hits Dampier with the ball on the run. He gets it to him high on the pick-and-roll where he doesn't have to put it on the floor. That's made a difference.

Q: Where is the pick-and-roll between Dirk and Kidd? Is this a play that takes time to get right between two players? I'm surprised that the Mavs have not been able to find success in the half court with a Hall-of-Fame point guard working with a Hall-of-Fame power forward.

Scott Smith, Austin

MOORE: You've seen Kidd run the pick-and-roll with Dampier. You'll probably see him run it more with Howard. He runs it with Nowitzki, but it's more a pick-and-pop. That was the play Nowitzki loved to run when Steve Nash was the point guard. It allows him to catch the ball in rhythm and shoot. He will drive some off that play, but an uncontested jumper is the first option.

Q: First, would it be possible for David to quit using the crutch phrase, 'I would argue'? Second, I would argue that the Mavs have weathered the hardest part of their schedule (with Kidd adjustment phase) and are still in the top eight. The remaining schedule is much easier, and I can see them finishing strong. Is a top-four finish (even top two) in the West out of the question? Or should we begin focusing on next year?

Cliff

MOORE: That was a tough part of the schedule. Another one comes up later this month when the Mavericks face the LA Lakers, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs in consecutive games. The difference is all of those games will be played at the American Airlines Center.

After that, the schedule does ease up a bit. But the team still has two more games with Golden State, another with the Lakers and games against Phoenix, Utah and New Orleans.

I think a top-two finish is unlikely. But a top four isn't out of the question. Come to think of it, I would argue ... Sorry. I almost made it all the way through.

Q: I am not on the Mavs-are-doomed bandwagon - yet. But what do you realistically think the Mavs' chances in the playoffs are? This Western Conference is so tough this year, and so thrilling to watch, but with each loss I'm starting to think they won't even be in the playoffs. Will that say anything about the Kidd trade and sending Devin Harris away?

Paula Thompson

MOORE: It looks more and more unlikely that the Mavericks will come out of the West this season, but they have a chance.

The fact Kidd has only been here for eight games and they were as competitive as they were on the road against the Spurs, Lakers and Jazz is an encouraging sign for the coaching staff. The problem is that this team has been so inconsistent on both ends of the floor. Clearing that up before the playoffs start is probably unrealistic. It just seems to be part of this team's identity.

If the Mavericks don't win the title this year, it doesn't mean the Kidd deal was a bust. But if the Mavericks don't win a title before Kidd retires or moves to another team, they will have given up too much. From than standpoint, the trade will have been a bad one.

Q: I didn't like the trade from the beginning, and now I like it less. Here is why. Jason Kidd is not a good shooter. The defense does not have to come out on him. Devin Harris is a better shooter and is improving too. He really gave the Mavs more options. The Mavs have lost two close games now and did not really have very many options for the last shot. It's obvious that Kidd is not going to make a big shot to win a game.

Marcus in Tulsa

MOORE: Harris is a better shooter than Kidd. He's quicker and a better on-ball defender against young, fast point guards. But he didn't give the Mavericks more options at the end of the game than Kidd.

Kidd makes plays that no one else in the game makes. I don't care if the defense comes out on him or not. He will get the ball into the hands of the person who should take the shot.

Q: When do you think we are going to see Jamaal Magloire? How much of an upgrade do you believe he will be over DeSagana Diop, if any?

Ryan

MOORE: Magloire hasn't played much this season, and Johnson has spoken of the need to get him into basketball shape. It sounds like that will come in practice, not games.

Dampier has played so well of late that's not an issue. But the Mavericks will need to get something out of Magloire heading into the playoffs. He's stronger than Diop and a little better offensively. But he's not nearly as athletic or the shot blocker that Diop is. He's not an upgrade. But he should be able to help.