One of Avery Johnson's toughest jobs is divvying up playing time.

That's especially true on this team, which has 11 players who have started at least 50 games, including playoff games, in their careers.

With all of those players still in their prime, Johnson has to figure out who sits. It's potentially a problem, or at least it could be. But with Jerry Stackhouse back in his customary spot as the sixth man, the Mavericks' rotation is starting to settle itself – although it still figures to be fluid from game to game.

"It's one goal," said Greg Buckner, who figures to be one of the players who drifts in and out of the rotation. "Everybody besides Devean George and Coach has not done what they want to do in their NBA career, and that's win a championship.

"We all understand why we're here. It's not playing time. It's not contract. It's to bring the city of Dallas a championship."

Buckner, like Austin Croshere, George and Anthony Johnson, all have bought into the system. They realize that the Mavericks are on the short list of title contenders this season.

Taking care of business between now and the playoffs is important. Often, that will mean one or more of the players is the odd man out of the rotation.

"I think it's great because you need depth in this league," Johnson said. "Some nights, it may be Devean George [playing]; some nights, it may be Croshere; some nights, it may be Buckner. Who knows? But pretty much, that's why they signed here, because they wanted to have an opportunity to be part of something really good.

"I think it's a good problem to have. But none of our players are perfect."

Addressing the zone: The Mavericks spent most of Tuesday's practice working on the zone defense that Minnesota strapped on them in the fourth quarter Monday night.

They realize it's extremely likely that they will see it again, given that they were forced into 4-of-16 shooting in the quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki was particularly hamstrung, squeezing off just eight shots in the game.

"They zoned him," Avery Johnson said. "And they kept two guys in his area, and we just didn't execute. And when we got some open looks, they just didn't go down."

Johnson actually wasn't as upset about the way his team handled the zone after he got a chance to see the video.

"We weren't very good against it overall, but it wasn't as bad as I thought," he said.

Looking for an iron man: Josh Howard has been getting stronger every game since his sprained left ankle healed, and Johnson is expecting more than the output Howard has had during his steadily rising career.

"I want Josh to be a workhorse guy," Johnson said. "I want him to be a guy we can depend on to play a solid, high minutes.

"Some guys will play 36 or 38 minutes and 12 of those minutes, they coast. I'm looking to get 38, sometimes 40 minutes, of solid basketball from Josh where he's running the court, running the offense when I need him to and playing tough defense. No coasting."