Not long after seeing Dennis Smith Jr. commit a critical turnover, then re-watching the game's final 90 seconds on video with his team, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle made a couple of declarations.
"I like where Dennis is at; I really do," Carlisle said.
That statement still was resonating when Carlisle added for good measure: "These last nine games it's going to be his show to run."
Carlisle, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks franchise as a whole have publicly, privately and unwaveringly supported Smith throughout his rookie season.
And guess what? Smith, at age 20, is rewarding everyone's faith, not only with his at-times spectacular if inconsistent game performances, but with his work ethic and improving attention to detail.