Jason and the Mavericks wrapped up the preseason on Thursday with a 114-91 loss with Indiana, and afterward, while happy with his team’s progress to date, No. 2 said there was work to do.
He explained to Hoopsworld.com:
“So far we’ve been pretty good. We’ve been a little slow at times, but I think the starters are doing well, but even the bench is starting to come along. So right now I think the team is doing well and we’re just trying to get better every time we take the floor.”
NO CONTRACT? NO PROBLEM
Jason has talked all preseason long about his love for the game knowing his level of play will dictate a new contract. USA Today writes:
”Both sides would love for Kidd to prove he deserves to stay. ‘I’m not really playing for a contract because I love to play,’ Kidd said. ‘More or less, I’m playing for a chance to win a championship.’”
EXCITEMENT
No. 2 can’t help but express his excitement and satisfaction with the way coach Rick Carlisle has been running the team, because Jason gets to run the floor with more freedom than under Avery Johnson. USA Today writes:
Johnson’s explanation for the tight leash was that Kidd didn’t know the system. There was constant chatter about needing a training camp together to get things right. Now Carlisle has used that luxury to install the up-tempo approach and a free-flowing, Princeton-esque system for the time they don’t get running. And, Carlisle notes, “We don’t have a playbook.”
“I’m excited about it because there’s so many different options and it puts guys in so many different places,” Kidd said. “Reggie (Miller, who played for Carlisle in Indiana) said that Coach is going to put you in a place to be successful and that’s all you can ask for.”
NEXT UP
Jason and the Mavs’ open the regular season in Dallas against Houston on Thursday Oct. 30th at 7pm. You can catch it on TNT.
RELATED STORIES
Mavs look to rebound with new coach, same players (USA Today, Oct. 23, 2008)
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-10-23-364278972_x.htm
Mavericks Getting on Kidd’s Page (HoopsWorld.com, Oct. 23, 2008)
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10344