A blueprint for Brandon Bass

After a slow start, Brandon Bass is returning to the form that made him a free-agent steal last year.

And as much as I like to watch him play, here's what I would like to see him become:

Amare Stoudemire.

Hold your applause, please.

After watching Bass throw down three of the most vicious dunks I've seen in a long time in the Hawks game, two of which ended up being the difference in the game.

And that got the wheels turning in the ol' noodle.

Why can't Bass be like Amare? That out-of-control freight train that gets feeds from Nash down the middle of the lane, and no force can stop him without fouling him.

Sure, Stoudemire has two inches and about ten pounds on Bass, but that doesn't mean Bass can't get a head of steam and take a pass into a wide open lane.

There's a reason the Mavs got Kidd: his passing. You're telling me that Carlisle can't draw up some plays to clear out the lane, and Kidd can't thread a pass the a streaking Bass, who happens to be great in that same situation?

A little-discussed consequence of settling for jumpers is the lack of fouls for the other team.

If you can get the other team's frontcourt into foul trouble, nothing but good things happen. The starting 4 and 5 get their minutes cut back, which leaves the paint more vulnerable to attack, which in turn leads to higher percentage shots, less turnovers and more points.

During the current stretch of wins, Dallas has done very well getting points in the paint, something they used to struggle to get.