Jazzketblog
Friday, May 25, 2007
Would Jason Kidd be an MVP...
if he were on the Suns now? I am a Steve Nash fan but how well would an experienced Jason Kidd, even after microfracture knee surgery, fit with D'Antoni's system and roster? For several seasons in New Jersey Kidd has been surrounded by talented but flawed players who do not play team ball. Vince Carter puts up big numbers but falls in love with the 3 point shot when he should be courting the lane, driving to the basket, and getting to the foul line. Richard Jefferson has only this season become a decent outside shooter and I don't think of him being particularly good in the clutch.
Nash and Kidd are both excellent ballhandlers and can deal with the press easily. Both can recognize when a quick outlet pass deep will lead to an easy bucket for a teammate. Even now Kidd may still be quicker down the court. Nash is a much better shooter. But Kidd is a great rebounder for a PG and really is a better rebounder than a lot of small forwards.
So if you drop Jason Kidd in Phoenix right now under the D' Antoni system what happens? I think the Suns would stay at a high level. Because Kidd is not a good shooter (and some nights he is waaaay off) Raja Bell, Barbosa, and Jones get a few more shots. And with Kidd doing some good work on the glass you would get some high-quality second-chance shots from a quick pass to an open player lurking just outside the lane.
Nash feeds Stoudamire a lot of easy buckets. I think Kidd would do the same for Shawn Marion, delivering him the ball for that little 8 foot hop shot he does so well. Kidd could easily have an MVP season working with these guys.
And if Steve went to the Nets? He'd have to play a lot of minutes and take more shots and would not get the rest breaks he does in Phoenix. Plus he would have to deal with Vince Carter's hoops petulance. Even though I like Steve Nash I think the Nets would slide a little bit. He is the two-time MVP, a great player, fun to watch, works hard to get his teammates involved, and seems like an overall good dude. But he is in the perfect system for a true point guard with skills, a classification fitting Kidd as well. Regardless, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Go Suns!
Nash and Kidd are both excellent ballhandlers and can deal with the press easily. Both can recognize when a quick outlet pass deep will lead to an easy bucket for a teammate. Even now Kidd may still be quicker down the court. Nash is a much better shooter. But Kidd is a great rebounder for a PG and really is a better rebounder than a lot of small forwards.
So if you drop Jason Kidd in Phoenix right now under the D' Antoni system what happens? I think the Suns would stay at a high level. Because Kidd is not a good shooter (and some nights he is waaaay off) Raja Bell, Barbosa, and Jones get a few more shots. And with Kidd doing some good work on the glass you would get some high-quality second-chance shots from a quick pass to an open player lurking just outside the lane.
Nash feeds Stoudamire a lot of easy buckets. I think Kidd would do the same for Shawn Marion, delivering him the ball for that little 8 foot hop shot he does so well. Kidd could easily have an MVP season working with these guys.
And if Steve went to the Nets? He'd have to play a lot of minutes and take more shots and would not get the rest breaks he does in Phoenix. Plus he would have to deal with Vince Carter's hoops petulance. Even though I like Steve Nash I think the Nets would slide a little bit. He is the two-time MVP, a great player, fun to watch, works hard to get his teammates involved, and seems like an overall good dude. But he is in the perfect system for a true point guard with skills, a classification fitting Kidd as well. Regardless, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Go Suns!
Labels: jason kidd, mvp, steve nash, suns
Rooting for the Jazz and Suns on principle
I've been rooting for the Suns ever since they decided to go run and gun with D'Antoni at the helm, and now that Nellie is back in Golden State I am pulling for the Warriors to succeed as well. The Spurs and Detroit might be better teams but their brand of basketball is like a coffee from Li'l Cricket - works to keep you awake, barely, and isn't very tasty. Defense might win championships, but a final score 80-75 means a big steaming cup of sucky basketball for fans... or at least to me.
To a lot of folks the NBA's peak was the era of Magic and Bird where games could have both teams scoring over 100 points with good defense in the 4th quarter making the difference. To its credit the NBA recognized the product was getting ponderous and made two key adjustments: reducing how much hand-checking happens on the perimeter, and adding the confusing yet still beneficial defensive 3 seconds rule. But there is one thing left that needs to be addressed IMHO - the isolation play. To watch a player dribble the ball for 15 seconds at the top of the key, then go one-on-one against the defender while his teammates scratch and stare... well, it's just plain irritating. Passing to catch the zone in rotation, creating mismatches with the pick and roll, guards driving and dishing to an open shooter, or a quick entry pass to a big man who goes to work inside is good basketball both fundamentally and visually. But since the isolation play is within the rules, and can be effective for teams that rely on a star player, how do you discourage coaches from calling it ad nauseum? I think some sort of 5 second rule would be a great idea to keep the game moving.
To a lot of folks the NBA's peak was the era of Magic and Bird where games could have both teams scoring over 100 points with good defense in the 4th quarter making the difference. To its credit the NBA recognized the product was getting ponderous and made two key adjustments: reducing how much hand-checking happens on the perimeter, and adding the confusing yet still beneficial defensive 3 seconds rule. But there is one thing left that needs to be addressed IMHO - the isolation play. To watch a player dribble the ball for 15 seconds at the top of the key, then go one-on-one against the defender while his teammates scratch and stare... well, it's just plain irritating. Passing to catch the zone in rotation, creating mismatches with the pick and roll, guards driving and dishing to an open shooter, or a quick entry pass to a big man who goes to work inside is good basketball both fundamentally and visually. But since the isolation play is within the rules, and can be effective for teams that rely on a star player, how do you discourage coaches from calling it ad nauseum? I think some sort of 5 second rule would be a great idea to keep the game moving.
Labels: basketball, offense, suns, warriors
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