"If the Dallas Mavericks advance deep into the playoffs this year, it may be because of a shrewd move they made back on March 3.

The decision to sign small forward Corey Brewer.

Everyone associated with the Mavs agree that Brewer is unlike any other player to play with this franchise in recent years. He's wiry, athletic, energetic, and extremely active at both ends of the court, and doesn't mind sticking his nose in dirty places and diving for loose balls.

Brewer is, in essence, just what the Mavs need in their quest to win the franchise's first NBA title.

"He's different than any other guy we have,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's the reason we signed him.

"He's a smart kid. He picks up on things.''

Before signing Brewer, the Mavs wrestled with the idea of inking Sasha Pavlovic, who had signed a pair of 10-day contracts with Dallas earlier this season. But management decided against it because the Mavs had recently acquired Peja Stojakovic, who is a larger version of Pavlovic.

"Pavlovic was an option, but he was kind of similar to Peja,'' Carlisle said "And so the decision was made to go in the other direction because (Brewer) was a young player that we felt had more upside as well."