The Dallas Mavericks know as well as anybody that it doesn’t get easier in the playoffs.

But starting tonight Dallas faces the toughest test of any team left in the postseason. To move on, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks must dethrone the champs.

"We’re going to have to play a perfect game to beat them. I hope we’re up for that challenge," Jason said when asked about playing LA. "They’ve won plenty of rings and they understand what it takes to do that. We’re hopefully going to give them a push and see what we can do."

The Mavericks haven’t played the Lakers in the postseason in the current era. In fact, it was 1988 when the teams last locked horns in the postseason. But J-Kidd has a far more recent memory of playing LA in the playoffs.

The Lakers were the only thing standing between Jason and his first ever NBA title with the New Jersey Nets back in 2002. But LA swept New Jersey in four games, derailing Jason’s run at a ring.

"That was a quick Finals," Jason told ESPN Dallas after Sunday’s practice as the team prepared to fly to Los Angeles. "They did what they had to do. We were just happy to be there."

Jason joked that the Mavs are in a similar situation.

"We’re just happy to be playing," he remarked. "Nobody thought we were going to get out of the first round, so there’s no pressure."

Of course, that’s not really the case and J-Kidd knows it. The difference between the Mavericks and Jason’s Nets is their experience.

"Our group has a lot of belief in each other and it’s something that we talked about all year," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We knew that this scenario was a possibility, where you’ve gotta beat a very tough first-round opponent and gotta beat the defending champs in the second round. And it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to."

The Lakers won two of the three games the two teams played this season, including a victory in Dallas on March 12th and one in Los Angeles on March 31st. The Mavericks won the opening game of the season series 109-100 on January 19th in Dallas behind 21 points from J-Kidd.

Rob Mahoney of The Two Man Game writes that Mavericks guards have fared well against LA this season:

Like everyone else, the Mavericks’ point guards were very effective against the Lakers in the regular season. Barea and Kidd posted an eFG% of 60.7% in the three regular season matchups. However, they combined for just 18.4 points per game because they averaged only 14 field goal attempts per contest. The Mavericks point guards are not aggressive scorers by nature, but if they can find some aspect of that assertion deep within themselves, they can take advantage of a rather large hole in the Lakers’ defensive front.

SEEKING HIS SHOT?
Dallas’ success from the point guard position this season against the Lakers has Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas wondering if Jason will search out his shot in Game 1 as he did against the Trail Blazers:

"There’s no doubt that of the point guards remaining in the Western Conference side of the playoffs, L.A.’s Derek Fisher is as favorable a matchup as Kidd will find. Everyone knows another 20-point outburst from the 38-year-old isn’t likely, but after Kidd hit for 24 in Game 1 and then 18 in Game 2 against the Blazers, he said the plan was for him to be more aggressive off the dribble and look more for his shot.

As the series moved along, Kidd’s points trended down closer to his season average of 7.9, while assists went up. Could he take a similar plan from the start of the Portland series into Game 1 at Los Angeles on Monday night?

"I think there’s going to be plenty of opportunities for me to shoot the ball," Kidd said. "But my job is to set the table for my teammates and get out and run and try to find easy baskets to put the pressure on them defensively."

Lakers guards Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant know they have to be ready for anything from No. 2:

"Jason makes them go. He impacts games without scoring the basketball. He’s been shooting the ball well from the perimeter, but it’s really just his ability to manage the game, get guys in the right spots. He still has very good hands defensively,

[and makes] timely steals," Fisher told ESPN Los Angeles. "So even though you don’t strategize for him offensively, you still have plan for him. You have to play him as an impact player because of how he plays the game."

Caplan writes in his series preview that whether he shoots or passes, Jason is the player to watch for the Mavericks:

Jason Kidd scored 21 points, knocked down five 3s and dished out 10 assists in the Mavs’ lone win against the Lakers this season. In the two losses, he had combined for 11 points, three 3s and 15 assists. With games coming quickly in this series, every other day until Game 7 if it’s necessary, Kidd’s endurance will be put to the challenge, especially if he must guard anyone other than Derek Fisher, and depending on who’s in when, Kidd might have to take time on Kobe Bryant and even Ron Artest.

Kidd stirs the drink. When he’s in a flow offensively and has a bounce in step on defense, he can control the pace and get the Mavs in transition, a la the 109-100 win in Dallas on Jan. 19.

Jason doesn’t think endurance will be a problem for him. He says he is feeling strong:

"I feel great. I think both teams got a little rest, so both teams will be fresh and ready to go," Kidd said. "For some odd reason my age has been a big topic. I’m happy that I’m 38 and that I have 38-year-old legs. I’ve just got to go out there and play."

Bryant, who is close with Jason after the two spent the summer together with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, told the Los Angeles Times about the respect he has for J-Kidd’s game:

"He runs their team extremely well and is one of the best to ever do it," Bryant added. "He hits timely shots and when he scores when a team needs big baskets. He might have four points, but they might be the biggest four points of the whole night. We have to know when to defend him in terms of attacking him offensively."

But No. 2 noted that while the teams share a mutual respect for each other, what’s in the past goes out the door when a series of this nature begins.

"We respect what they’ve done the last few seasons but we’ve got to challenge them," he said. "We’ve had some interesting games. But those games don’t mean anything. Both teams are 0-0, so we’ll see who hits the floor first."

Getting a victory at the Staples Center and wrestling away home court is priority one for the Mavericks and they have their chance tonight. Game 1 tips at 9:30 p.m. CT and will air nationally on TNT.

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