Stein: This preseason baptism in the "deep end," as Rick Carlisle keeps describing it, is going to pay big down-the-line dividends for Mekel. He was only ever supposed to be Dallas' third point guard in Year 1. Yet here's Mekel starting game after game because of all the Mavs' injuries (Calderon, Harris, Shane Larkin) in the backcourt. Mekel's getting minutes and reps he was never supposed to be getting this soon. And it's going to make him an NBA player faster than anticipated.