After a 109-95 Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Jason was unequivocal about what the Dallas Mavericks needed to do to even their Western Conference semifinals series.

“We’ve got to take care of the ball," he told the Star-Telegram. "When we turn that ball over like I did, it puts our team in a hole and puts a lot of pressure on our defense.”

“I threw the ball into the stands a couple of times.”

Jason (15 points, four assists, four rebounds, four steals, eight turnovers) outdueled Billups in the battle of the point guards, but the Mavs were unable to come up with a Game 1 victory at Denver.

The game was close through three quarters, but the Nuggets went on a 19-4 run at the beginning of the fourth to put the game away.

In order to limit their turnovers, No.2 will have to be better prepared for the Nuggets aggressive defense. J.Kidd talked with the Star-Telegram about what he should have done during Game 1:

“I should have been more aggressive and held the ball longer instead of picking it up. When I picked it up, they swarmed me. That’s what they live for.”

Turnovers aren’t the only thing that the Mavs will have to change. They will also have to step up their defense. Allowing the Nuggets to shoot 54.8% from the field and giving them 58 points in the paint isn’t a recipe for success, as the Mavs found out.

Jason, who had a strong scoring game with 15 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 4 steals, was asked by NBA.com if he thought the Mavs were nervous in Game 1.

“I don’t think we got rattled in the sense of losing our composure. We just didn’t get good shots and they scored off those turnovers.”

BATTLE OF THE OLD GUARD
Fans have a chance to see an amazing point guard duel between two respected players in the Mavs-Nuggets series.

As Coach Carlisle told the AP, those who want to learn how to play the point guard position well should watch Chauncey and Jason going at it.

“If you’re a young player who plays the point guard position, watch this series because you’re going to see two of the best and most experienced in the game. And you’re going to see contrasting styles. Each guy leads his team in a different way.”

“They lean on Chauncey for scoring a little more than we need to with Jason, but they both can put the ball in the hole, they both have a pulse on the players they’re playing with. It’s like a better basketball DVD — just stick around and watch it because you’ll see great play at that position.”

Kenyon Martin has a unique perspective of the matchup between two of the premier point guards in the league as he has had the pleasure of playing with both. Martin was on Jason’s Nets team that got swept by Billups’ Pistons squad that went on to get a ring. He talked with the AP about how J.Kidd has only gotten better with age:

“The older you get, the more you have to think. [Kidd’s] always been a thinker on the court. But I think he’s thinking more than he ever has. I think that’s why they’re playing as well as they are.”

Nuggets Coach Carl talked about the difference between the two players:

“Chauncey’s probably a better scorer than Jason is, but Jason’s probably a better passer. But the orchestration of their teams, they’ve been doing it for years. Chauncey’s done it for six years (in Detroit) and now he’s done it for us. Jason was incredible for many, many years, and now he’s doing it with Dallas.”

NEXT UP
Game 2 takes place Tuesday night at 9:30 pm CST on TNT.

RELATED STORIES
Mavs 95, Nuggets 109 (ESPN.com, May 3rd, 2009)
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290503007
Mavericks’ 20 turnovers key to Nuggets’ victory (Star-Telegram, May 3rd, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1355033.html
Jason Kidd falls into Denver’s defensive trap (Star-Telegram, May 4th, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1355035.html
Aggressive Nuggets hit another gear in Game 1 victory (NBA.com, May 4th, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/art_garcia/05/03/mavs.nuggets.game1/
Out with the new, in with the old in Mavs-Nuggets (AP, May 3rd, 2009)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ibE0JZgcN8P26ldUFmU6eq4IsdsAD97UCHE80
Sloppy Seconds: Thuggets 109, Mavs 95 in G1 (Dallasbasketball.com, May 4th, 2009)
http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=1607