While the rest of the Western Conference frantically went after big men to combat the new addition to the Lakers, Pau Gasol, the Dallas Mavericks went in the opposite direction by trading for a point guard that once shined in the Dallas limelight. The Mavericks traded point guard Devin Harris, forwards Maurice Ager and Trenton Hassell, and center DeSagana Diop, along with the previously retired Keith Van Horn in exchange for Kidd and forwards Antoine Wright and Malik Allen.
The Mavs are 4-2 since Kidd joined the team, but we really have only begun to see the impact he will have with a team who was already contending for the championship.
What Kidd does on the floor has been well documented. He's a triple double threat every night, and if he doesn't get it, its more than likely because he didn't score 10 points, then that he didn't snag 10 boards or dish out the assists. With this Dallas team, everything he does well will be magnified because he fills such a need for them.
Dallas was stunned in the first round of the playoffs last year by the surprising Golden State Warriors for one big reason: Golden State ran the floor and got easy baskets, while Dallas struggled with their half-court offense. Dirk Nowitzki was bothered by the smaller Stephen Jackson and couldn't create his own shot like he wants to. With Kidd, the offense will run through Dirk much less and you will see much more movement and good looks.
What Jason Kidd gives them, is the ability to run the floor without changing their philosophy. Kidd is the best in the league at throwing a bounce pass from one end of the floor to the other for a layup. Jason Terry is one of the fastest players in the league and will benifit greatly from this. Dallas will be able to get easy baskets without having to think about running the floor every time they touch the ball like Phoenix does (or did, before the Shaq trade).
Kidd also impacts the game on the other side of the floor. In that series against Golden State last year, the Mavericks gave up over 105 points per game. When you take in to account all the easy scoring Kidd creates, that alone will make the Mavericks a more focused defensive team. In fact, Kidd has been named to one of the NBAs all-defensive teams nine times in his 13 year career.
For those of you who believe the hyperbole about Dirk Nowitzki being a poor playoff performer, try and remember his 2006 playoff run. He was the best player in the league in a lot of people's eyes before the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead against Miami in the finals. If that doesn't convince you, the fact that he steps up his averages in just about every statistical category in the postseason should.
11 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
In Dallas' loss to the Spurs last week, twice Dirk was defended by Tony Parker in the final minute and twice Dirk failed to capitalize. Then, Jason Terry was able to get a step on Bruce Bowen with under 10 seconds, and he had his shot blocked. Those are Dallas' two best scorers. If Dirk can't hit important shots against Tony Parker, who can he hit them against?
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Isaac Sorsa about 1 year ago
I may be misremembering, as Roger Clemens would put it, but I remember seeing Finley and Bowen on Dirk towards the end of that Spurs game.
Even if I'm wrong, that game was an anomaly. Dallas really didn't play all that well and despite leading for a good portion of the game, they seemed to be playing to just hang in there. Then of course there was the mistake on Avery's part to keep Kidd out the final posession.
As for Dirk hitting big shots, I think we've seen him do it a number of times, specifically with Shawn Marion and Manu guarding him. Anyone who thinks Dirk is a liability to Dallas' chances to win the title are mistaken.
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Andrew Ungvari about 1 year ago
The Mavs are 11-14 on the road. That means they've got 16 road games left. Unless they can turn their road woes around, they won't have home-court past the first-round. They don't match up well with any of the teams that have strong front-courts, including the abysmal Suns. The Mavs will be lucky to get past the 2nd round.
The days of Kidd being a force defensively are over. His inconsistent shooting allows the opposing teams to use their point guards as rovers on defense.
The west is just too damn deep. The only teams that I can see the Mavs beating in the playoffs are the Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors (yes, the Warriors), and possibly Phoenix and New Olreans. They have no chance against the Spurs, Lakers or Jazz, especially without home-court.
It was well-written, though, Isaac. Good job.
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Andrew Ungvari about 1 year ago
They're 14-17 on the road with ten left on the road. My bad. That doesn't change the fact that they need to turn their road woes around...
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Steve Yodz about 1 year ago
I'm not sure this move is going to help them much, but at least they made an effort and showed a little creativity instead of just playing follow-the-Lakers like everyone else. Good article. I can't wait to see how this season plays out.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Kidd may have been able to make a difference 2 or 3 years ago, but not now...
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Isaac Sorsa about 1 year ago
I think today against LA you saw what this Dallas team will look like in the playoffs. Josh Howard could not get going offensively which really cost them the game, but Jason played well all game long and you saw the impact it has on the way guys play defensively.
Erick Dampier will be one of 3 very important X-Factors for Dallas to be sucessful in the playoffs, and when he's getting easy looks like he did today, he's a motivated defensive player. You saw him getting more and more in to the flow offensively and he ended up completely shutting Pau Gasol down for 3 quarters. Brandon Bass and Jerry Stackhouse are the 2 other X- factors in my mind.
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Erick Blasco about 1 year ago
Uncharacteristic choke job by Kidd on the free throw line, but that's an anomaly. Dirk made some big shots in the fourth quarter, but that too is an anomaly. Pau Gasol was active, quick, soft, unselfish, and boneheaded. That isn't an anomaly. Kobe went bananas in the fourth quarter. That isn't an anomaly either.
The Lakers interior defenders were confused throughout. Any time the Mavs ran a screen or double screen involving Dampier, either the rotations would be late, or the defenders would float atop the three-point line not getting back to pick up the cutter. Nice job by Kidd and Dampier to take advantage of that.
Josh Howard was a non factor while Odom made tons of mistakes.
With the game being played with playoff intensity, Kobe showed up time and time again to produce critical points. That was the difference for LA.
The Mavs are better with Kidd but they still aren't a championship-caliber team. The Lakers aren't better than the Spurs right now, but Kobe can win playoff series' against subpar defenses all by himself. This game was a very important game to watch.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Dirk has been one of the most clutch performers over the past few years if not THE most clutch performer. The problem isn't Dirk. The problem is everyone but Dirk. His coach, his supporting cast and his owner. Because of Dirk's unique skills the one thing he needs around him is a bigman. And dirk has the worst bigmen in the league around him. His little men aren't much better either. Dirk ends up being forced onto the post most times because the opponent puts smaller players on him(if Dirk had a gbetter big with him teams could do this) but also because his guards can't shoot from the perimter consistently he is unable to post up either. This is why Dirk couldnt post up in the Spurs series with parker on him either.. you know if Dirk posts up he is going to ahve to pass out of a double team to someone.. so who is he going to pass to? Stack? Terry? Even Kidd.. all equally terrible 3 point shooters. Dirk could take the open perimeter shot if he had another post player other than himself.. but he doesn't and Avery refuses to let Dirk shoot threes anyway.. at least until the game or series is out of reach.
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Isaac Sorsa about 1 year ago
Dirk has hit big time 4th quarter shots time and time again in the league. He really does have an undeserved rap sheet as a guy that goes in to his shell in crunch time. He's not Kobe, Gilbert Arenas or Reggie Miller but he's hit a lot of big time contested shots with less then 30 seconds to play.
Don't get me wrong, at this point and time I do not think the Mavs are the best team in the West, I think the Lakers and San Antonio are the cream of the crop right now. However, the Mavs are better right now then they were the first couple games with Kidd, and by the time the playoffs roll around they will be so accustomed to what Kidd brings to the table they will be in a great position to make a postseason run, and I think they'll have a lot of momentum at that point. Remember, this is a team that has made deep postseason runs (with the exception of last year) for a while now, and they've always really had to work hard for their points. The contrast to that which Kidd brings is going to rejuvinate this team at the right time.
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Andrew Ungvari about 1 year ago
I said it before and I'll say it again--as good as Kidd is, the Mavs didn't need a point guard. They needed a center. Dampier had a great game today. I'll bet he doesn't have another game close to 16 points/17 boards this year.
Kidd will be much better for the Mavs than Shaq has been for the Suns. But the common denominator is that it seems like fans of both the Mavs and Suns still think of those two guys as the players they used to be. Kidd is such a smart player that he can be effective until he's 40 if he wants. But he's not what's gonna put this team over the top.
Both the Suns and Mavs share another glaring weakness--horrible coaches. D'Antoni and Avery will never win a championship. Pat Riley ran circles around Avery in the Finals and D'Antoni cries like no coach I've ever seen. He has no composure. It's embarrassing, really. Neither is good at coming up with a game plan or making in-game adjustments.
The question is who gets Larry Brown because one of those guys is getting canned this summer. The only other options out there are Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle. Van Gundy won't go to Phoenix because Shaq threw his brother under the bus. Carlisle might be a good fit in Phoenix though.
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