DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki goes into his 19th season looking to get Dallas into the top four in the Western Conference because the big German believes that is the easiest way to advance in the playoffs.The Mavericks havent done that since winning the championship in 2011, which helps explain first-round exits in four of the past five seasons. Dallas didnt make the postseason the other year.With another retooled roster that added title-winning experience in former Golden State starters Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut after more disappointments in free agency, the Mavericks are ready to try again in the pursuit of that elusive playoff series win.Wed love to establish ourselves up there, the 38-year-old Nowitzki said. That means youve got to be consistent. Youve got to win those Tuesday night matchups at home that sometimes we end up losing. The West is tough. But I think were good enough and were going to fight for it.Dallas added Barnes on a max contract at four years and $94 million after the Warriors had to let him go in free agency when they landed Kevin Durant. Boguts arrival in a trade was essentially for the same reason.The Mavericks have two players remaining from their championship team: Nowitzki and guard J.J. Barea. And what Barnes considers perhaps the key piece: coach Rick Carlisle, who is back for a ninth season in Dallas.You can never have enough championship experience, Barnes said. Weve got some younger guys on the team, a lot of whom are going to play and a contribute a lot, so just teaching these guys. Dont try and look to the All-Star break or April and say, `OK, now Im going to turn it on. Its every single day.Things to consider as the Mavericks push to make the playoffs for the 16th time in 17 seasons:BACKCOURT CONTINUITYWhile Carlisle is dealing with a retooled starting five for the sixth straight season, he does have some backcourt consistency with the return of point guard Deron Williams and shooting guard Wesley Matthews. Williams re-signed after a solid debut with his hometown team last season. Were big and physical at that position, Carlisle said.BOGUTS BUSY SUMMERThe 7-footer from Australia accelerated his rehab from a left knee injury that knocked him out of the last two games of the NBA Finals loss to Cleveland because he wanted to play in the Olympics. He started fast but faded somewhat as the Aussies fell short of a medal. He doesnt consider summer wear-and-tear an issue this season.I think you come in in a little bit better shape than you do in most years because I was only playing three or four weeks ago, he said in late September.ABOUT THAT YOUTHSecond-year swingman Justin Anderson figures to be the key contributor among a young group that includes forward Dwight Powell and rookie center A.J. Hammons, a second-round pick. While 7-1 Tunisian center Salah Mejri turned 30 over the summer, hes in just his second season.Theyre definitely athletes and we should be able to have a great defensive lineup once Im out, said Nowitzki, who loves to make fun of his defensive shortcomings.THE OTHER CURRYIn addition to adding a Golden State flavor, the Mavericks signed Seth Curry, younger brother of Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. The former Duke player got his first chance at decent playing time last season with Sacramento. He shot 45 percent from 3-point range, and the Mavericks are hoping he offers that threat off the bench.I feel like Ive played with him the last four years hes been around so much. Just practices, he was with us in camp one year, Barnes said, referring to his time at Golden State.CHANGE OF PACECarlisle figures the starting five with be a plodding group with big guards and aging veterans in the front court. The pace will change significantly with a second group that includes the speedy Devin Harris and Barea, along with the athletic Anderson and Powell. Our second unit has virtually never been a mirror image of our starters, Carlisle said. Thats OK. Weve made it a positive in the past and were going to have to do that again.---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler Nick Foles Womens Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. 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I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland coach Brenda Frese is still tinkering with her lineup before the Terrapins head into a more challenging part of their schedule.A deep and talented roster has given her plenty of options.Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 19 points and No. 6 Maryland routed Maryland-Eastern Shore 106-61 on Wednesday night.Maryland (2-0) got another big game from two of its highly touted freshmen, Kaila Charles and Destiny Slocum, both of whom got their second straight start. Slocum had 10 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Charles scored 14 points. Another freshman Jenna Staiti scored all 10 of her points in the second half and had 14 rebounds.We spend a lot of time talking about when youre number is called be ready to play, Frese said. I think you see that we have a lot of combinations that we can go with. Defensively, we have to get a lot better.Maryland shot 45 of 80 (56 percent) from the field and scored 22 points off 12 turnovers. Brionna Jones had 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, two shy of 34th career double-double.The Terrapins beat Maryland-Eastern Shore 106-30 last year and were never threatened in this one. Walker-Kimbrough made six of seven shots from the field for 16 points and Maryland led 54-29 at the half.I thought we played together, Walker-Kimbrough said. Coach called some pretty good sets in the beginning. We just took what the defense gave us. We have so many weapons.The Hawks were just 10 of 29 (34.5 percent) from the field and were outrebounded 29-12 in the opening two quarters.Maryland continued to pull away in the third quarter and a jumper by Charles at the buzzer boosted the margin to 80-50. Kiah Gillespie had six of her 12 points the final quarter for the Terps.Ciani Byrom led the Hawks (1-1) with 14 points, Mariiah McCoy finished with 10.ddddddddddddI thought the kids showed a lot of character, a lot of fight, Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. They knew we were playing against a team where we were an inferior opponent. I was really impressed with the ability of our kids to keep their heads up and continue to have some confidence.BIG PICTUREUMES: Despite the loss, Maryland-Eastern Shore has an experienced lineup that could make a run for a title in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.Maryland: The Terrapins high-powered offense has completely overmatched their opening two opponents and scored at least 100 points for the second straight game.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Terrapins did nothing to hurt their ranking. With a couple of the top teams playing each other over the next few days, they could move up.SPREADING THE WEALTHNo player on Maryland has been on the floor for more than 25 minutes in either of the opening two games. Frese has been able to freely rotate players and gotten contributions from almost her entire roster. At least 12 players have scored points in both of the Terrapins victories this season.HELP ON THE WAYMaryland-Eastern Shore guard Moengaroa Subritzky won an appeal for another year of eligibility but must sit out the first three games. The New Zealand native was a First Team all-MEAC selection and led the team in numerous offensive categories last season, including three-point percentage (.326), three-pointers made (44) and steals (29).UP NEXTUMES: The Hawks play the second of a three-game road trip Saturday against in-state rival UMBC.Maryland: The Terps host another local school as they play Mount St. Marys on Friday. ' ' '