Journeyman Stojakovic big part of Mavs success

Be honest. When you were bombarded with the multitude of players changing teams during the season, did you even notice Peja Stojakovic joining the Dallas Mavericks? Would you have if minor headlines hadn't been created as the league investigated the move, which some speculated was in exchange for Alexis Ajinca in a manner meant to circumvent the league's salary rules, to ensure it was by the books? Outside of Dallas and Toronto, few can truthfully say it registered more than an anonymous blip on their radar. After all, Dallas was the third uniform he donned in the 2010-11 season, he had missed 32 of the 40 possible games prior to the deal, and went on to sit the first seven with the Mavericks. By season's end, he had taken part in only 33 games between three teams. The signs were clear. The sun was setting on the great marksman's career. Peja had accomplished much; including ranking fourth in NBA history in made threes, but his time of being an impact player was over, and his playoff resume was sure to most remembered for his time as a member of the 2002 Sacramento Kings that 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. With Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Devin Harris, Carl Landry, Marcus Thornton and Aaron Brooks already watching the NBA season continue to unfurl from their respective couches; it is Peja Stojakovic who continues to play an integral role for a contender that just swept the two-time defending champions. Amidst all of the player movement that sought to redefine the face of these playoffs, it may be Peja who stands as the most significant of them all. Jeff Green is a disappointment in the eyes of most Boston Celtics onlookers, and the same can be said for Mike Bibby, 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's had a limited immediate impact. Troy Murphy's ghost only haunts the bench he's been tied to since arriving 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, who delivers a level of toughness once foreign to this Thunder roster, as well as a championship pedigree. And, one of their respective teams is assured to move on to face Peja, and the rest of the Mavs, in the Western Conference Finals. They are significant players filling significant roles. It must also be noted that Peja carries traits to the court that are not necessarily captured in the boxscore. 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. The mere threat his presence creates helps the Dallas offense. Perhaps most surprising is the fact that Peja, never known for his defense, has been at least adequate in that area. "As great as Kobe Bryant is, and he is un-guardable, 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," Maverick's coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 3 against the Lakers. "We needed Peja's shooting out there, but the job he did defensively (on Lamar Odom) was equally important." Looking in more tangible areas, Stojakovic has scored in double figures four times in these playoffs, including three of the last four games, and over 20 twice. He's hitting 46.2 percent of his 3-point attempts, including hitting 9-of-13 tries (69 percent) from deep as Dallas closed out the Lakers in games three and four. Coming into Monday night's game, Battier and Perkins had scored in double digits only three times combined, though Perkins has added two games with at least 11 rebounds. Peja 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. The threat he brings changes the game by forcing defenses to account for him. His shot changes it by more obvious means. His scoring adds to a bench already consisting of Jason Terry, JJ Barea and Brendan Haywood, while also complimenting Shawn Marion to form an almost ideal rotation at small forward. He's not he player he once was, but he's proving to be plenty enough to fill what Dallas is asking of him. Whether or not he will become the midseason addition to leave the largest footprint on these playoffs remains to be seen, and may be up for debate. For a player few took more than a second glance at when the news of his signing with Dallas took place, that's already an impressive feat. "I just have to continue to be aggressive on the offensive end they were doubling Dirk from the very beginning," Peja said, "so we had to relieve the pressure. When we make a few shots, that opens up everything for (Dirk), and it helps him " He's been aggressive when needed, a constant threat, and now stands as one of the biggest mid-season acquisitions for this postseason.