Jason Opens With a Flurry

If you’re going to talk about the league’s top point guards, Jason Kidd better be leading the conversation — especially if you’re talking about Wednesday night.

J-Kidd put on a point guard clinic yesterday at American Airlines Arena, leading the Dallas Mavericks past the Charlotte Bobcats 101-86 and finishing with a double-double that included a team-record 18 assists.

Jason was one assist off John Stockton’s all-time opening night record of 19.

"Jason Kidd just dominated the game," Charlotte coach Larry Brown, a point guard aficionado, told the Dallas Morning News. "He got everyone the ball, so unselfish. I don’t think Dirk
[Nowitzki] or [Jason] Terry took a tough shot. They had great looks because of him (Kidd).

"Just about every player is better when he plays with somebody like that," Brown added.

Jason finished the night with an incredible 18:1 assist to turnover ratio. For him, the key was keeping the ball moving and getting everybody involved.

"The big thing is everybody was touching the ball and we were getting out and running," he said, as quoted by Mavs Moneyball. "And I think our defense was there tonight, which is something that we’re going to have to have all season if we want to be an elite team."

WHY NOT US?
Despite having 10-consecutive 50-win seasons, a streak just four other teams in NBA history have accomplished, Mavs’ players realize there is a lot riding on this season.

J-Kidd, speaking to Yahoo! Sports, believes that the time to win is now.

"There’s always a window, but we’ve got to think about right now. Our window is the one we’re looking out right now. We can’t look down the line. Now is what we’ve got to focus on."

He also looked to this year’s World Series as a reason to believe that Dallas has as good a chance as anyone to be there at the end:

"It’s two teams nobody really talked about," Kidd said. "It just shows that getting hot at the right time and [having] great pitchers can dominate at this time of year.

"It gives us all hope, teams that aren’t talked about to be playing at the end of the year in June. So we can look at the World Series and say, ‘Why not us?’ "

The Mavs took that message to heart.

They opened the game on a 16-0 run and didn’t allow Charlotte to score in the first 5:13. Finally, after Jason sunk a deep around-and-down three pointer, the Bobcats were forced to use a timeout and regroup. This did little to slow the scoring onslaught, however, and by the time J-Kidd subbed out, the Mavs were in control 23-9.

With the commanding lead and Jason and the other starters resting, the Mavs committed four straight turnovers and allowed the Bobcats back into the game.

Down by three midway through the second quarter, J-Kidd and the starters re-entered the game. Immediately upon entering, Jason tossed a perfectly timed and perfectly placed alley-oop to Tyson Chandler for a quick two points and the momentum.

With No. 2 in the game the Mavs’ offense regained the stellar passing and crisp ball movement of the first quarter. They charged back, going on an 8-2 run and finishing the first half leading the Bobcats 49-45. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, sensed the difference in the team when Jason was resting.

Overreacting to the season opener is pointless, but you simply can’t overlook the impact Jason Kidd had Wednesday night against Charlotte.

More accurately, what happened when he wasn’t in the game was ridiculous.

In the first half, the Mavericks outscored the Bobcats, 39-21, when Kidd was running the show.

When he was on the bench, Charlotte was ahead, 24-10.

In the second half, things were equally pronounced. In the third quarter, which Kidd played every second of, the Mavericks had a 31-22 edge. That brought the total for three quarters to 70-43 when Kidd was on the floor.

When he went out for the first four-plus minutes of the fourth period, the Bobcats outscored the Mavericks 7-4.

Getting the picture?

HIGH MARKS IN THE THIRD
Before the game, Jason spoke to Yahoo! Sports and reminded fans what it would take for the Mavs to play solid basketball:

"It just goes back to being comfortable. When you’re comfortable and understand each other’s tendencies, the game becomes that much easier."

It was in the third quarter that No. 2 showed he is quite comfortable with his teammates.

After finishing the first half with a respectable seven points and six assists, Jason displayed the incredible court awareness and basketball instincts that have been hallmarks of his Hall-of-Fame career.

In just the first seven minutes of third, No. 2 had already racked up seven assists. He hit Dirk on multiple back-door cuts. He made textbook no-look and quick touch passes.

On fast breaks, the leading J-Kidd found the trailing player without even looking for him; it was as if he had two sets of eyes, one pair in front of his head and one in back.

"What we did last year in that third quarter was we came out flat…Tonight, hopefully we get a good grade from Coach," Jason said while adding that the defense played a big part as well. "Everybody was moving around helping each other. And when you have that type of communication defensively you’re gonna win most of the games."

By the end of the night, Jason’s stat sheet showed 12 points, 18 assists, three steals, and just one turnover. The Mavs were an incredible +30 with No. 2 on the floor. Nowitzki summed it up best:

"We’re lucky to play with a point guard like that."

NEXT UP
Jason and the Mavs look to continue their stellar play as they host the winless Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.

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