Jason Kidd very much in the loop for Tuesday’s game against Sacramento Kings – NBA Update
Jason Kidd’s comeback is a very strong possibility for the game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. He has been missing in action in the last four games due to a strain in the right groin.
Kidd, the Mavericks point guard, might not be having the best of seasons, but such is the impact of the 18 year old veteran that the Mavs haven’t got going in his absence throughout the season.
The defending NBA champions are 8-7 without Kidd this season, but most importantly, in the last four games, they have slipped to 1-3 and are now sitting at a rather precarious 7th spot in the Western Conference, having
the same win-loss ratio as the Denver Nuggets and just one game to separate them with the ninth placed Phoenix Suns.
Kidd is essentially an on court leader at the franchise and his presence had been pivotal last season, when the Mavs went on to become the NBA champions. With just nine games left in the regular season, they however are now in
danger to miss out on the playoff spot and Jason’s comeback look more like an act of desperation.
Rick Carlisle, the Mavericks head coach, however denied the notion;
"We wouldn't put him out there if there was risk," Carlisle said. "In this situation with him coming off of being out for a week and having something that was significant, we want to phase him in the right way."
He also added that Kidd’s minutes will be controlled, which in itself is a strange thing because Kidd has not played more than 30 minutes in any game this season;
"He's not going to play a full menu of minutes but I feel that's a positive," Carlisle added. "I made it very clear to our guys, particularly our guards, he's going to play limited minutes tomorrow and they're going to have to
be ready."
Kidd’s arrival may add a new dimension to the Mavericks offense, which has failed to cross the 90 point mark in two of the last four games, but there is always a danger that the 39 year old guard can aggravate his latest injury,
his third of the season. Earlier in the season, Kidd sat out for four games with back spasms. He then had to miss six games with a strained right calf before hurting his groin last week.
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