Miscellaneous Mavs News and Postings - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

dude1394 · 03-08-2010, 12:50 PM

A place for miscellaneous stuff. Mavs reviews, new trade analysis, etc.

Quote:

benjamin hochman
Hochman: Mavericks clearly mean business

By Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post
Posted: 03/07/2010 01:00:00 AM MST

Brendan Haywood has helped the Mavericks rebound from a slow start with an 11-game winning streak, including Saturday's victory over Chicago. (Glenn James, NBAE via Getty Images )
John Ross Ewing Jr., the Dallas businessman with the devilish grin, famous- ly said that "anything worth having is worth going for all the way," which brings us to another Dallas businessman with a devilish grin, who, yes indeed, is going for it all the way, thanks to a Texas-sized trade and 10-gallon gall.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the basketball baron, is making a run not only at the Nuggets' seemingly predestined No. 2 seed in the West, but also at those high-and- mighty Lakers. No, Cuban's Mavericks probably won't catch L.A. in the regular season, but the way the post- trade Mavericks are playing, one wonders if they could knock off the Lakers when it matters. Since acquiring Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, Dallas has won 11 straight games and this week has daunting matchups against Minnesota, New Jersey and New York.

"They think the trade has made them a better team, and they're hoping to prove they moved up a level that they weren't at last year," said Denver coach George Karl, whose Nuggets beat Dallas in the playoffs' second round last year. "And I think most people think they have."

Butler is the bigger name, but Haywood might be the bigger difference-maker — the big provides big "D" in the Big D.

"Haywood is a legitimate starting big," said Indiana coach Jim O'Brien, who watched Haywood snatch 20 rebounds against the Pacers in a Feb. 20 Dallas win. "We've seen him in the East for a long time, and I think he's one of the most underrated big guys in the league. That was a tremendous pickup."

Butler might bring similar production as did Josh Howard, sent to Washington in the big trade, but Butler brings more grit on both ends of the court.
[b]"I think Howard's time ran out in Dallas," Karl said, "but they replaced him with just as good a player, if not a better player."[b]

The trade resuscitated the Mavericks, who had lost four of five by Feb. 5 — including one to Minnesota at home — and led to Cuban saying the team "(stinks) right now" in the Feb. 6 edition of The Dallas Morning News, under the headline: "Results aren't changing; perhaps the roster will."

Now, after the roster change (and resulting change in results), the Mavericks have the look of a champion — the star (Dirk Nowitzki); the veteran, pass-first leader (Jason Kidd); the complementing scorers (Butler and Jason Terry); the hawking, long- armed defender (Shawn Marion); the hustling pest (J.J. Barea); and the size (Haywood and — if he gets healthy — Erick Dampier too).

"It remains to be seen how they do in the playoffs," O'Brien said, "but they're certainly a much-improved team. . . . That was a huge trade — changed their team around."

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/...#ixzz0hbmpSWnD

dirno2000 · 03-08-2010, 01:11 PM

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They think the trade has made them a better team, and they're hoping to prove they moved up a level that they weren't at last year," said Denver coach George Karl, whose Nuggets beat Dallas in the playoffs' second round last year. "And I think most people think they have.

The way Karl worded this is interesting. Does he really not think we're better or is that just not the message he wants to send to his team.

SMC0007 · 03-08-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

The way Karl worded this is interesting. Does he really not think we're better or is that just not the message he wants to send to his team.

I think it means the entire Nuggets organization believes that were at a level we weren't at last year. He's scared, they're all scared.

mavErika · 03-09-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

They think the trade has made them a better team, and they're hoping to prove they moved up a level that they weren't at last year," said Denver coach George Karl, whose Nuggets beat Dallas in the playoffs' second round last year. "And I think most people think they have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

The way Karl worded this is interesting. Does he really not think we're better or is that just not the message he wants to send to his team.

subtext: "We got it, you're way better than before. But now can you please stop winning all these games? We kinda liked that #2 seat and all the glory that comes with it."

Seriously though, he worded it in a way that enables him to tell his players that he still thinks they are the better team, I think nobody can tell what he really thinks from what he says in interviews.

Skywalker · 03-08-2010, 05:49 PM

Nice thread, I was just reading an article and was wondering where I could post it.

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Shawn Marion lives!
By Sekou Smith • March 8, 2010 • 11:02 AM

The former Suns' All-Star was delcared finished by some when he departed Phoenix and was no longer on the receiving end of all those flashy Steve Nash passes. But guess what, Shawn Marion has plenty left in the tank. And if things break right for he and the Mavericks, he could be competing for that title that they never did in Phoenix.

HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS -- Shawn Marion was supposed to be finished.

The moment he left Steve Nash's side in Phoenix, his critics came out of nowhere to proclaim him career over.

There was no way he would put up All-Star numbers away from that fun-and-gun system Mike D'Antoni employed there, a system that seemed to boost the stock of any and every player lucky enough to play in it.

For a while (namely his time in Toronto and Miami), those early assessments seemed legitimate. Marion wasn't the same without Nash.

But it didn't last long. Marion has had a career rebirth, of sorts, in Dallas, where he's once again playing alongside a Hall of Fame point guard (Jason Kidd) and in an ensemble cast capable of winning a championship.

The mighty Mavs have won 11 straight games and go for No. 12 tonight at Minnesota.

And what Marion might have lacked in humility in Phoenix (remember he always fought against stereotype with the Suns, insisting that his production was the same before Nash and D'Antoni as it was after) he has made up for in understanding with the Mavericks.

Sure, Marion is no longer the double-double machine he was earlier in his career. But he's become an even more valuable, defensive-stalwart for Rick Carlisle's team than he was every given credit for being in Phoenix.

As Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News explains, Marion has wisely sacrificed individual glory for the ultimate prize:

"A lot of what Marion is doing this season is under-appreciated because it's at the defensive end. He often gets asked to guard the opposition's primary scorer. That he's not called on very often offensively is tough, he said.

"Especially if somebody's really going at you, and you don't get the chance to do the same," he said.

"I'm a competitor. I want to go back at them, too. And sometimes you don't get the chance to do that. But that's what you sacrifice. And you got to deal with it. When you get that W, all the other stuff means nothing."

That keeps him going. The Mavericks are growing in stature among the Western Conference elite. "We do have a chance," Marion said.

Jason Kidd is the leader of this team. And he knows how much Marion has given up. But Kidd and his teammates expect nothing else.

"You look at all championship teams, they had guys who sacrificed," Kidd said. "There's always guys who could do more stat-wise. But at a certain age, stats become secondary. Wins become the main factor in the equation. "Dirk [Nowitzki] could come out and shoot 30 times a night and just worry about his stats. But he accepts the double-team and makes the pass. If your best player is willing to sacrifice, everybody else has to.

"It can be tough. But there are going to be nights or a week or two that you're going to have to carry the team because you get on a roll, and we have to play through you. And so we all can say, 'Hey, we know you can do that. Thanks for carrying us for the week, and it may be somebody else's turn to go.' "

With Jason Terry out, the Mavericks need more from Marion. And it looks like he still has the ability to get it done."

He might not be the highlight machine he once was, but Shawn Marion lives!

http://my.nba.com/cms/112238/shawn_m...s=iref:nbahpt1

Murphy3 · 03-08-2010, 08:46 PM

So, why don't we call it the official miscellaneous thread?

dude1394 · 03-09-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

So, why don't we call it the official miscellaneous thread?

Okay...

the Official Miscellaneous Mavs News and Postings thread.

CadBane · 03-08-2010, 10:40 PM

Similar article to the above on Marion. I wouldn't read too much into it. But you can sense a little latent frustration there with Marion. Hope he doesn't start to escalate it to whining. He definitely got his points in tonight.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...e.333af12.html

Usually Lurkin · 03-09-2010, 12:37 AM

hmm, a discussion on Marion's role and whether he's happy. THat might be thread worthy.

ReDirkulous Tyme · 03-09-2010, 12:17 PM

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tn...s=iref:nbahpt2

Chuck actually giving the Mavs some credit. Haven't seen him speak this highly of the Mavs in a long, long, long, long time. I think Chuck's analysis is pretty much right on, Chris Webber doesn't know what he's talking about, nobody is going to want to go small on us, you cant stop us if you go small...

mavsfan1000 · 03-09-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReDirkulous Tyme

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tn...s=iref:nbahpt2

Chuck actually giving the Mavs some credit. Haven't seen him speak this highly of the Mavs in a long, long, long, long time. I think Chuck's analysis is pretty much right on, Chris Webber doesn't know what he's talking about, nobody is going to want to go small on us, you cant stop us if you go small...

The Warriors of 2007 would have to disagree with you. Small but active/athletic defenders and run like crazy and hit a lot of 3's is what they did. Luckily there isn't a team like that now or aren't as good at it as that Warriors team was. But I think Utah whose strongest scorers are at the 1 and 4 and our weakest defensive positions being 1 and 4 could be a problem.

Dirkadirkastan · 03-09-2010, 11:01 PM

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Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

The Warriors of 2007 would have to disagree with you.

WTF does a lineup of Harris/Stackhouse/George/Dirk/Diop have to do with anything? That they wore the same navy blue jerseys? Why the f*ck would you bring that up?

chumdawg · 03-09-2010, 11:08 PM

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Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

WTF does a lineup of Harris/Stackhouse/George/Dirk/Diop have to do with anything? That they wore the same navy blue jerseys? Why the f*ck would you bring that up?

How the hell did that lineup ever win 67 games? It's crazy to think about it in retrospect!

mavsfan1000 · 03-09-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

How the hell did that lineup ever win 67 games? It's crazy to think about it in retrospect!

Dirk, Howard, Terry, Harris, Diop, and Dampier were all in their primes or close to it. They stayed healthy all year which was amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

WTF does a lineup of Harris/Stackhouse/George/Dirk/Diop have to do with anything? That they wore the same navy blue jerseys? Why the f*ck would you bring that up?

Maybe so but this teams offense is still geared around Dirk. And Golden State had the answer for Dirk. Our bigs (Haywood and Dampier) would still find it difficult to deal with small ball as well.

Underdog · 03-10-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

How the hell did that lineup ever win 67 games? It's crazy to think about it in retrospect!

06-07 NBA MVP, Dirk Nowitzki

SMC0007 · 03-10-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

How the hell did that lineup ever win 67 games? It's crazy to think about it in retrospect!

One word:

Avery Johnson!

SMC0007 · 03-09-2010, 12:27 PM

The Official Miscellaneous Mavs News and Postings thread.

Kante · 03-09-2010, 05:40 PM

Barea doubtful against Nets: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/maver...ubtful-vs-nets

badfish22 · 03-09-2010, 06:12 PM

lol I was reading this chat with a Laker columnist and this was asked:

Frank (Dallas): Who is the healthiest team right now at the top of the West/East? It seems like the injury bug has hit almost everyone.

To which the genius replied:

"This coming from the guy whose team is on a 12-game winning streak. I should hope that the Mavericks are the healthiest team if they're winning like that."

lmao. Hope again there, bud. Try actually following basketball.
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/31274

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2010, 06:25 PM

http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=2706

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DONUT 11: The No. 31-wristbands-as-socks tribute DeShawn has been paying to his fallen mate Jason Terry? Sefko reports that the NBA is blocking that because it’s a uniform violation.

C’mon, Chancellor Stern … don’t you have some straw-chewing outlaw to crack down on?

LetsGoMavs · 03-09-2010, 06:43 PM

Stern is an absolute joke - banning DeShawn from wearing a wristband (wich is basically fully covered by his right sock)? ...That is downright ridiculous.

Kidd Karma · 03-09-2010, 06:58 PM

Write it on your shoe.

Geez Barea down too. What's left? Carroll will get some meaningful burn.

DirkFTW · 03-09-2010, 07:01 PM

Maybe he heard about the one around Stevenson's third leg and decided enough is enough.

badfish22 · 03-09-2010, 07:50 PM

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nb...s=iref:nbahpt1

AO41 · 03-09-2010, 10:03 PM

I gotta say I didint have any problem with the straw thing because I can see it bein dangerous, but come onnn the wrist bad is a little ridicules to ban

I would still wear it, but just turn it inside out lol

LSMF · 03-09-2010, 10:14 PM

If we make it to the finals emperor Stern will never let us win...

mqywaaah · 03-09-2010, 10:27 PM

I like this thread. Insightful

dude1394 · 03-10-2010, 10:55 AM

any team with an idiot for a head coach and players around him who cannot step up are susceptible to a collapse if the other team sells out to stop them.

dude1394 · 03-10-2010, 12:29 PM

The mavs lost the GS series imo because they tried to slow it down versus running it back at them. You don't allow a running team with a bad defense to set up and walk the ball up the court. Avery wasn't smart enough to see this. He thought he had to control the tempo. Wrong.. you have to push back and get easy baskets, not allow them to setup everytime.

Utah in the second round ran it at them, not walk it up and use boozer. Also UTAH obviously had a point guard (and a coach) who could get the ball to their big man closer than the 3pt line.

mavsfan1000 · 03-10-2010, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

The mavs lost the GS series imo because they tried to slow it down versus running it back at them. You don't allow a running team with a bad defense to set up and walk the ball up the court. Avery wasn't smart enough to see this. He thought he had to control the tempo. Wrong.. you have to push back and get easy baskets, not allow them to setup everytime.

Utah in the second round ran it at them, not walk it up and use boozer. Also UTAH obviously had a point guard (and a coach) who could get the ball to their big man closer than the 3pt line.

Yeah Dallas has troubles scoring when slowing the game down. Thus why they seem to give up leads as they try to use clock and it hurts them. Golden State being able to set up their defense. Their defense wasn't that bad unless you have a low post player. A player that can be physically imposing like a Duncan or Boozer can overcome the quick hands and speed the Warriors had. Deron Williams also did matchup well with Baron Davis as he could match his size and speed. Also you gotta mention that the Warriors were on fire to end the season. Just a perfect disaster waiting to happen.

dude1394 · 03-10-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Yeah Dallas has troubles scoring when slowing the game down. Thus why they seem to give up leads as they try to use clock and it hurts them. Golden State being able to set up their defense. Their defense wasn't that bad unless you have a low post player. A player that can be physically imposing like a Duncan or Boozer can overcome the quick hands and speed the Warriors had. Deron Williams also did matchup well with Baron Davis as he could match his size and speed. Also you gotta mention that the Warriors were on fire to end the season. Just a perfect disaster waiting to happen.

If you go back and look at the utah/gsw series you will see they didn't pound the ball down the GSW's throat they ran 'em. Because the GSW's transition D is so horrid they got easy baskets after easy baskets.

We played right into their hands by trying to pretend we were the spurs.. Avery should have been fired the next week.

mavsfan1000 · 03-10-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

If you go back and look at the utah/gsw series you will see they didn't pound the ball down the GSW's throat they ran 'em. Because the GSW's transition D is so horrid they got easy baskets after easy baskets.

We played right into their hands by trying to pretend we were the spurs.. Avery should have been fired the next week.

Maybe but Boozer was being a beast in the paint. Saying Dirk is a power player is a flat out lie. He is a finesse player and it's harder to expose small ball with that style. Simple logic. And I agree that Dallas should've pushed the ball but you gotta give Golden State the credit for helping each other out and maybe some animosity with our Mavericks as well. They were definitely driven.

dude1394 · 03-10-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Maybe but Boozer was being a beast in the paint. Saying Dirk is a power player is a flat out lie. He is a finesse player and it's harder to expose small ball with that style. Simple logic. And I agree that Dallas should've pushed the ball but you gotta give Golden State the credit for helping each other out and maybe some animosity with our Mavericks as well. They were definitely driven.

Maybe nothing. If your ko'ach calls for the play to be at the top of the key then you go to the top of the key. If he calls a play to get it to you in the post, you set it up to get it in the post.

If your point guard (jet) can't get it across the 10 second line without being afraid of losing it and your other point (devin) can't shoot and doesn't know how to throw a decent entry pass...what is dirk supposed to do about that.

Who said dirk is a power player, no one, nice strawman there budda'. But he certainly took kmart and anyone and everyone else onto the block in the denver series. I also think boozer played great as well, but of course he has a coach who knows his rear end from a hole in the ground and he has a pretty nice point guard. Hmm...come to think about it, he had other players who could step up so boozer couldn't get double-triple teamed.

I'm not slighting GS at all, they had a great gameplan and it worked perfectly against our idiot ko'ach, who had shown himself not able to handle game changes already.

purplefrog · 03-10-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

If you go back and look at the utah/gsw series you will see they didn't pound the ball down the GSW's throat they ran 'em. Because the GSW's transition D is so horrid they got easy baskets after easy baskets.

We played right into their hands by trying to pretend we were the spurs.. Avery should have been fired the next week.

Amen to that....

dalmations202 · 03-10-2010, 02:50 PM

If I remember that GSW series, Dallas didn't have a chance. The Good Luck just wasn't with them. GSW had players throwing up half court shots, time expiring shots, and all around trash at the rim, and everything was going in.

Dallas couldn't get the ball to Dirk down low, and NO ONE else stepped up to shoulder any of the load. JET couldn't hit anything, and JHo forgot how to drive. Next thing you know Avery was making JHo the #2 scoring option and asking him to shoot jumpers. Things went downhill quickly.

Basically GSW sold out to keep Dirk from beating them, and won when everything they threw up went in.

dmavs1980 · 03-10-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalmations202

If I remember that GSW series, Dallas didn't have a chance. The Good Luck just wasn't with them. GSW had players throwing up half court shots, time expiring shots, and all around trash at the rim, and everything was going in.

Dallas couldn't get the ball to Dirk down low, and NO ONE else stepped up to shoulder any of the load. JET couldn't hit anything, and JHo forgot how to drive. Next thing you know Avery was making JHo the #2 scoring option and asking him to shoot jumpers. Things went downhill quickly.

Basically GSW sold out to keep Dirk from beating them, and won when everything they threw up went in.

Agree with the Jho part but he was the best mavs player in that series. He kept the mavs at least somewhat close. Mavs let an early 7 pt, 9 pt lead etc go at the end of almost every quarter. GS would make a 3, get a steal and make another 3 at the end of the quarter( game 4 especially) which gave them momentum and got them right back in it

CadBane · 03-10-2010, 04:00 PM

Mavsfan1000 makes Horse look like f'ing Einstein.

CadBane · 03-10-2010, 04:03 PM

FYI Mavsfan1000, Dirk goes to the FT line more than ANY big man (more than Amare, Boozer, Bynum, Gasol, KG, TD, Kobe too) sans Bosh and D12.

Funny how he does that "only" on midrange shots.

Dirk also is THIRD in the NBA in points per shot on POST UP possessions. Again, funny how a ONLY midrange jump shooter is third in the NBA in post effectiveness.

And oh the irony, you mention Boozer being a beast in the post. Lol. Now that is a guy who is strictly a PnR, midrange jump shooter. Boozer almost never posts up on the low-block.

mavsfan1000 · 03-10-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadBane

FYI Mavsfan1000, Dirk goes to the FT line more than ANY big man (more than Amare, Boozer, Bynum, Gasol, KG, TD, Kobe too) sans Bosh and D12.

Funny how he does that "only" on midrange shots.

Dirk also is THIRD in the NBA in points per shot on POST UP possessions. Again, funny how a ONLY midrange jump shooter is third in the NBA in post effectiveness.

And oh the irony, you mention Boozer being a beast in the post. Lol. Now that is a guy who is strictly a PnR, midrange jump shooter. Boozer almost never posts up on the low-block.

It's because he is the best pumpfake player in the nba. Gets a lot of fouls from midrange. Plus players are always real close to him as they respect his midrange game.

kchan · 03-10-2010, 08:11 PM

Here's a miscellaneous Mavs article, primarily about Kidd:

Quote:

Steve Aschburner
A Kidd at heart: Mavs' Playmaker, at 36+, at the top of his game

The names, strung together, read like a list for a reunion, lacking only the big cheerful sign on a ballroom wall: "Welcome back, Class of 1994!"

In this case, we're talking about the NBA Draft class that graduated into the basketball job market that June. Some of the big men (and little men, too) who left campus that year: Glenn Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Lamond Murray, Eddie Jones, Jalen Rose, Aaron McKie, Wesley Person, Howard Eisley and a bunch of other guys who have slipped nicely into those "Whatever happened to...?" questions.

Then there is Jason Kidd, the No. 2 pick behind Robinson and a player who is defying both odds and precedents. The Dallas Mavericks' floor leader -- a fellow whose Hall of Fame credentials and general all-time-ness was secure several seasons ago -- is estranged from Father Time and seemingly in cahoots with Ponce de Leon as he motors along as an invaluable part of the league's hottest team.

Oh, Grant Hill, the No. 3 pick in '94 and Kidd's Co-Rookie of the Year that season, still is a key contributor down in Phoenix, as if drawing on reserves from all those games warehoused through injuries. Juwan Howard, the No. 5 pick, has been pressed into duty by the mishaps befalling Portland's big men, logging some serviceable minutes after averaging only 46 mostly minor appearances in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

But Kidd has played at another level, appearing in his 10th All-Star Game last month and posting numbers that are nearly indistinguishable from those he has put up throughout his career. Or in some cases, better: Kidd is averaging 9.4 assists and 2.46 turnovers this season, compared to his career marks of 9.2 and 3.09. He has led Dallas to its gaudy 12-game winning streak, a 44-21 mark overall and their current status as the Western Conference team most capable of keeping the Lakers out of the Finals.

Kidd also has been the Dallas player most responsible for integrating the talents of three former Washington Wizards (Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson) dropped into the Mavericks' laps over the All-Star break. He has done it with scant practice time, too, ignoring what some coaches or players would use as a crutch or alibi.

"We're too old to be practicing," forward Shawn Marion said after the Mavs beat Chicago 122-116 Saturday for No. 11 in their streak. They bumped it to 12 Monday in Minnesota. "The way we play, with J-Kidd out there forcing the tempo of the game and pushing the ball, and everybody trying to help each other, it's easier."

Marion has reunited with Kidd after benefiting from the point guard's play for two years upon his own arrival to Phoenix in 1999. "Eleven years ago. Huh!" Marion said."I always thought J-Kidd was unique, because he's the only point guard I've played with who is capable of getting a triple-double every night. And the way he does it is unbelievable -- most guards don't play both ends of the floor the way he does. He takes that challenge."

Any noticeable changes in Kidd's game? "He's shooting the three better now, but he didn't really shoot it a lot when we played together before," Marion said. "He was really aggressive attacking the basket then. Now he just ... it speaks for itself, the way he's playing."

By the time Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was Kidd's age, his playing days were long done and he was starting his seventh season as an NBA assistant coach. "I didn't have him when he was 26," Carlisle said. "But like all of us, with time we gain more wisdom, we gain a better understanding of the game. You get more of a command of the game, too. There are people who would say he's lost this or that physically, but he's got plenty in the tank, trust me."

Kidd laughed when it is noted that he's playing well at an age when most point guards are wearing suits or headsets. "I feel great. My body feels good, and mentally I'm fresh," he said. "They gave me the night off the other night [March 3 vs. Minnesota], which was nice. But I'm ready to go. I'm very lucky and thankful that I'm able to play at this high level at ... 36 1/2."

On March 23, Kidd will turn 37. But he's sticking with "36 1/2" as long as possible. "I feel 26 1/2," he said. "The biggest thing is the knowledge of the game. I know a little more than I did at 26. I'll take that any day of the week ... With the younger guys, they keep me young, they tease me. But my job is to teach Roddy [Beaubois] and J.J. [Barea] how to be successful. I enjoy that part of the game, too."

The beauty with Kidd these days, it's not just "do as I say," it's very much "do as I do." He has averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 10 assists, 2.2 steals and 37.5 minutes since All-Star Weekend, with one triple-double and six double-doubles. He has taken more pride, too, in Dallas' 12-1 record since the trade; the Mavs shot 32 percent and lost at Oklahoma City in their first game together but have purred since.

"When you get a new batch of guys, it energizes people a little bit," Carlisle said. "Jason has embraced the challenge of getting these guys integrated. We haven't been able to do a lot of play-calling because we haven't had a lot of practice time to get our plays in. So he's been a facilitator."
Said Kidd: "We're loaded with guys who know how to put the ball in the basket. We all enjoy sharing the ball and being part of a play that's successful. We've got guys who understand how to play ... It's been a perfect fit. These guys want to win. Coming from the situation in Washington, they wanted to fit in."

At this stage of his career -- with so many Draft mates retired, broken down physically, out of sight and out of mind -- Kidd has plenty of "old guy" stuff on his resume: the double-digit All-Star invites, 104 triple-doubles, 10,791 assists (second all-time), 2,317 steals (fourth all-time), 1,620 three-pointers made (fifth) and 1,157 starts (seven in NBA history).

But he also is mixing it up with the league's "new guys." Kidd, with 23, is one of only seven players this season to reach double figures in points and assists at least 10 times. The average age of the five guys behind Kidd on that list is 25.8 (Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Baron Davis).

The one guy ahead of him, with 37 such games, is Phoenix's Steve Nash; the other ageless point guard wonder.

"I've played with two Hall of Famers, basically," Dallas MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki said. "I've been very fortunate. What separates them from the rest of the point guards is they see plays develop. Some point guards get you the ball when you're open, but with Kidd and Nash, they just read plays -- their basketball IQs are out of this world -- and they see stuff going on. Obviously, there are some differences: Kidd is a bigger body, better post-up player and rebounder and defender. Nash is a better shooter. But their passing skills, they're both guys who are fun to play with."

Is Nowitzki surprised to see them both excelling so late in their careers? "Yeah, it's amazing," he said. "Both of them obviously take good care of their bodies. Kidd is in there lifting every day. Nash, he does the same thing. They eat right and do all the good things you've got to do to play long in this league. They both have fun playing -- I think that's an important thing. And they're both still chasing a dream, that's winning a championship."

In Chicago the other night, Kidd missed out on his 105th triple-double because, despite 11 rebounds and 15 assists, he took only six shots and made only two, scoring six points. Afterward, he shrugged it off.

"You have to gauge what the team needs," Kidd said. "Tonight they didn't need me to score -- guys were going and I recognized that early, so we made sure we got the ball to them. I can always find another aspect of the game to help: Rebound, play defense and try to do the little things ... That's the part of my career I came to grips with early. A lot of times I've missed a triple-double because of points. As much as I could play for stats out there, I could have taken our team out of winning the game by trying to score four more points."

Kevin McHale marveled recently that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson could dominate games on nights when they'd take just 12 shots. Kidd often is that kind of player.

"That's a very accurate and appropriate explanation for his greatness," agreed Carlisle. "A lot of times, it's not related to his scoring. Sometimes it's 1-on-1 defense on the ball. Sometimes it's help defense. Sometimes it's how he's able to instill confidence in teammates, younger guys, get them juiced up. He's had a big impact on Beaubois' play, because he's always encouraging him to be aggressive. And hey, when you're a young player and you've got Jason Kidd telling you to be aggressive, you're going to listen to that guy.