Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Where does it stand with Kidd?

Jason Kidd sat out the final 35 seconds of the loss at San Antonio three weeks ago. He sat for more of the second half than he played in Tuesday night’s 102-100 setback to the Lakers.

For all the signs that’s he’s picking it up –the slick passes and heady play – do assimilation issues remain? Or is Kidd entitled to the bad games that all players succumb to at one time or another?

There’s no questioning the facts from the Mavericks’ latest “statement” game. Kidd scored just one point, missed all three of his shots and dished out just seven assists. He sat from midway through the third quarter to midway through the fourth, and played just 11 ½ minutes in the second half.

The rally from a 25-point deficit was made largely without the team’s new floor general. The General addressed that Wednesday as the Mavs prepared to host Boston at American Airlines Center on Thursday night.

“He just didn’t have his best night,” Avery Johnson said. “There aren’t many nights where he’s just going to get one point and not get double-figure assists. For us to be really good, we’re going to need him to score some, get those assists and play tough defense. But last night wasn’t one of his better nights. We were searching.”

Read on and get a preview of the Celtics in today’s notebook at mavs.com.

No comments: