Journeyman Stojakovic big part of Mavs' run

Be honest. When you were bombarded with the multitude of players changing teams during the season, did you even notice Peja Stojakovic signing with the Dallas Mavericks? Would you have if minor headlines hadn't been created as the league investigated the move? Some speculated it was really part of exchange for Alexis Ajinca in a manner meant to circumvent the league's salary rules. Outside of Dallas and Toronto, few can truthfully say it registered more than an blip on their radar. After all, Dallas was the third uniform Stojakovic donned in the 2010-11 season, he had missed 32 of the 40 possible games prior to the deal. Then he went on to sit the first seven with the Mavericks. By season's end, he had taken part in only 33 games among the three teams. The signs were clear. The sun was setting on the great marksman's career. Stojakovic had accomplished much, including ranking fourth in NBA history in 3-pointers made. But his time of being an impact player was over, and his playoff resume was sure to be most remembered for his time as a member of the 2002 Sacramento Kings, who fell in seven games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. A career had been defined, and the player most viewed as an afterthought was being set aside. The busy days before the NBA trade deadline saw Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Devin Harris, Carl Landry, Marcus Thornton and Aaron Brooks change teams. All are already watching the NBA season continue to unfurl from their respective couches. It is Stojakovic who continues to play an integral role for a contender that just swept the two-time defending champions. Of all the transactions, Stojakovic joining Dallas might stand as the most significant of them all. Jeff Green is a disappointment in the eyes of most Boston Celtics onlookers. The same can be said for point guard Mike Bibby with the Miami Heat, though the expectations were clearly lower for Bibby, whose current defensive liabilities were well chronicled. Corey Brewer has been a nice addition for the Mavs, and he has been a clear positive influence on more than a single occasion in this postseason. But in comparison to the fanfare of his signing, which included multiple contenders lining up for his services, he has had a limited immediate impact. Troy Murphy's ghost only haunts the bench he has been tied to since his arrival in Boston. Among the midseason additions, that leaves the only real competition to play a more significant role in these playoffs as Kendrick Perkins and Shane Battier. Clearly, Perkins is likely to have a much more lasting impact on Oklahoma City. But this isn't about next year, or the year after that this is about helping right now. The intangibles both Battier and Perkins bring to the court are not being overlooked, nor are they being taken for granted. Battier offers veteran experience to a team with precious little of it. Perkins is a starter, something neither Battier nor Stojakovic can claim, and he delivers a level of toughness once foreign to the Thunder roster, as well as a championship pedigree. It must also be noted that Stojakovic carries traits to the court that are not necessarily captured in the box score. Defenses, fearful of his deadly accuracy from behind the 3-point line, are always conscious of where he stands, aiding the spacing the rest of his teammates are able to exploit. Perhaps most surprising is the fact Stojakovic, never known for his defense, has been at least adequate in that area. "As great as Kobe Bryant is, and he is unguardable, (Lamar) Odom is right there with him as one of the most difficult matchups in all of basketball, because of his versatility, his size, length, skill," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 3 against the Lakers. "We needed Peja's shooting out there, but the job he did defensively (on Odom) was equally important." Stojakovic has scored in double figures four times in these playoffs, including three times in the four-game sweep of Los Angeles. He has scored more than 20 points twice. He's hitting 46.2 percent of his 3-point attempts. He was 9 of 13 (69 percent) from deep as Dallas closed out the Lakers in Games 3 and 4. Stojakovic hasn't tracked down the fountain of youth, and he's not likely to see his role in Dallas grow as the years go by, but what he's put on the table right now is immense. He's not he player he once was, but he's proving to be plenty enough to fill what Dallas is asking of him. His shooting ability alone helps Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. "I just have to continue to be aggressive on the offensive end," Stojakovic said. "They were doubling Dirk from the very beginning, so we had to relieve the pressure. When we make a few shots, that opens up everything for (Dirk), and it helps him." Stojakovic has been aggressive when needed, a constant threat, and now stands as one of the biggest midseason acquisitions for this postseason.