Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson... Jason Kidd?
Jason Kidd has put up historic numbers that are on par with NBA legends. Jason Kidd has been spectacular during the Nets first round series against Toronto. In game 1 Kidd had 15 assists, and missed a triple-double by only 2 points. In game 2 Kidd missed a triple-double by 3 assists and the Nets lost by 6. In game 3 Kidd recorded a triple-double and became one of only 3 players in post-season history to score 15 points, grab 15 rebounds and drop 15 dimes. Kidd's 19 assists in game 3 were a career playoff best and a Nets franchise record. Kidd's 16 rebounds matched a career playoff best.
After hurting his knee while colliding with Chris Bosh early in the series, Kidd was unsure if he would be able to play in game 3. Not only did he play, Kidd had 14 assists at halftime and registered his 10th career post-season triple-double. Kidd moved past Wilt Chamberlain into a tie for 2nd with Larry Bird for the most post-season triple-doubles in a career (Kidd is still 20 behind Magic for first).
It was the same old story last night in a game 4 blow out win. Through 3 quarters Kidd was 2 rebounds shy of another triple-double, but didn't see much action in the 4th quarter. Despite coming up short of a second consecutive triple-double, Kidd is still averaging one for the series. Only Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Fat Lever and Kidd have ever averaged a triple-double in a post-season series. Magic did it 4 times, Wilt did it twice. In 2002, Kidd averaged 17.5, 11.2 and 10.2 in a series that went 6 games, something only Magic and Kidd have been able to accomplish.
Kidd outshines his competition. He is able to dominate without shooting or scoring. During the regular season Kidd led the Nets in rebounds, assists and steals per game.
During his career, Kidd has always managed to out-source the scoring duties. While with New Jersey, Kidd first used Kenyon Martin and now has been able to perfect the alley-oop with the NBA's best "oop" ever Vince Carter. The season following the acquisition of Carter, Kidd averaged 7.3 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. The Nets have loved the Kidd to Carter combo - both were named all-stars this season. In early April, Kidd and Carter were the first teammates to record a triple-double in the same game since Jordan and Pippen did it in 1989.
Kidd collects assists by setting up his team with high percentage shots. In order to record assists, you need production from teammates - something Kidd demands and gets. He has an especially easy time pumping his assist total because his teammates are able to finish. Much like Steve Nash has consistent finishers in Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion (Nash had 23 assists Sunday), Kidd has Carter and Richard Jefferson.
Carter has pushed his PPG from 22 in March to over 29 in April and has raised his FG % from 41% to just under 48%. Carter has also been a triple-double threat against his old team in the first round and has averaged over 7 assists and 7 rebounds in the month of April. Jefferson missed time between the end of January and the beginning of March due to injury. His point production has gone up from 15 during the regular season to 18 during the month of April. Carter had 27 points and Jefferson had 23 Sunday.
Kidd has been helped greatly by role players Mikki Moore and Bostjan Nachbar. Feeding Moore in the post has almost been an automatic assist. Moore led the NBA in FG %, shooting just over 60% on the year. Nachbar played in 11 games in all of 2006, but has already appeared in 76 games for more than 20 minutes per this season. Nachbar has been on the dish-end of a lot of Kidd's paint penetrations. He has averaged more than 12 points per game since the all-star break and 14 per game in April. What is most impressive about Nachbar is his efficiency on offense. Nachbar averages 45.7% from the floor and 42.3% from beyond the arc and leads the Nets in FT%.
The Nets, who is 9-3 in April, got a little bit of everything from Jason Kidd in a game 4 win Sunday. Steve Kerr described his play as "perfect for a point guard". New Jersey leads the best of 7 series 3 - 1 after the two teams tied the regular season series 2 - 2. New Jersey, who finished 6 games back of Toronto for 1st place in the Atlantic division, will try to close out the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in game 5 on Tuesday at 7 pm ET.
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