The pre-season is coming to a close, but Jason Kidd’s work as a mentor to his teammates is just beginning.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle knows just how invaluable J-Kidd’s knowledge of the game can be, and newcomer Rodrigue Beaubois is making the same discovery.
 Dallas coach Rick Carlisle has said repeatedly that having Jason on the floor is like having another coach (Getty Images). |
Beaubois added 10 points in last Friday’s win over the Cavaliers, and afterward, No. 2 told ESPN.com about the potential he sees in him in simple terms:
“He is talented. He’s going to help us win some games.”
SETTING AN EXAMPLE
No. 2 and teammate Dirk Nowitzki raised the bar for themselves and teammates before Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Two hours before tip-off, most players are relaxing and mentally preparing for the game. J-Kidd and Nowitzki decided to do things a little differently.
The two veterans were shooting 10 jumpers at a time, then running full-court sprints after sinking nearly every shot.
MAVS SHAPING UP
Kidd and the rest of his teammates are looking forward to starting the regular season. Josh Howard participated in his first contact practice since undergoing ankle surgery in May, and No. 2 was impressed.
He told Dallasbasketball.com:
“He looked great. It was pretty much like he hadn’t missed a beat.’’
No. 2 and the Mavericks have high expectations of the Marion-Howard duo. Carlisle sees this as a challenge him and the team are ready to take on.
As he told ESPN.com:
“The unknown is how we’re going to play with them. With the people we have available now, it’s very similar to last year. With those two guys in the fold, our formula is going to be different. That’s one of the things that is going to make this a challenge for us. But I don’t mind these challenges if you have good players.”
Nowitzki agrees, and is eager to see what the season will hold. He explained to the Star-Telegram:
“I really like all the ingredients. Now we just got to make it work. Our practices have been really intense. Guys are going after each other and making each other better. I’m actually impressed with the first three weeks. But that obviously doesn’t mean anything for the regular season. It’s going to be interesting because we haven’t even scratched the surface.”
TAKING A BREATHER
No. 2 sat Tuesday night’s game out to rest. The Mavs lost 96-66 to the Cavaliers.
NEXT UP
J-Kidd and the Mavs finish up the pre-season in Houston Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on KTXA.
RELATED STORIES
Mavs Wednesday practice: your all-access pass (DallasBasketball.com, Oct. 20, 2009)
http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=2128
Beaubois going through growing pains (ESPN.com, Oct. 20, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/columns/story?id=4564334
Dallas Mavericks excited about Josh Howard-Shawn Marion tandem (ESPN.com, Oct. 20, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/columns/story?id=4560112
If you’re wondering why they’re good (Dallas Morning News, Oct. 20, 2009)
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/10/if-youre-wondering-why-theyre-good.html
Nowitzki eager to see all Mavericks together (Star-Telegram, Oct. 20, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1692047.html