Excuse me if I don’t appropriately memorialize the 19th anniversary of Jerry Jones firing Tom Landry. Today is all about Jason Kidd’s homecoming. After getting traded by the Mavericks in 1996, Kidd was viciously booed in each of his returns to Reunion Arena. But when he takes the American Airlines Center court tonight against the lowly Chicago Bulls, I’m anticipating a standing ovation. Or two.
It’ll be Kidd’s first home game as a Maverick since Dec. 17, 1996, when an embarrassing 36-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks paved the way for him to be traded nine days later. In his last two games, Kidd II has delivered. Granted it came against Memphis and Minnesota scrubs that are a combined 25-84, but he produced a combined 32 assists and totally took over down the stretch of yesterday’s win.
He’ll sometime lose a grip on a 3-on-1 fast break and inexplicably get beat to the hoop by Marko Jaric, but Kidd can also still somehow dominate a game without the ability to dunk or, really, to shoot. Against Minnesota, he produced a couple rarities for the Mavs: the point-guard post-up and passes so sweet even Erick Dampier could catch them.
The real test begins later this week, when the Mavs launch a torrid stretch Thursday against the Spurs and a point guard named Tony Parker. If Kidd puts up 17 assists on him, we can get the former mayor on the phone and have her dig up all those parade … well, we can get excited.
Tonight should be fascinating, though I can almost guarantee you won’t see this. --Richie Whitt
