There’s a secret to Jason Kidd’s success this year, in his 16th season manning the NBA point.
It’s one of the world’s most common resources and can be found almost anywhere.
It’s water.
As ESPN’s Jeff Caplan writes, J-Kidd has been rejuvenated by water:
"Jason Kidd has apparently found the fountain of youth in 12-ounce plastic bottles.
The Dallas Mavericks’ iron-man point guard is racking up big minutes this season, in particular during the team’s eye-opening 5-1 run since the All-Star break."
Caplan notes that Jason’s stats are jumping, just as most players are gasping for air in the dog days of the season.
He’s averaged 14.2 points during the stretch, pouring in double figures in each game, while knocking down 45 percent of his 3-pointers (18-of-40), not bad for a guy who hasn’t averaged double-digit points since the 2007-08 season. During the six-game stretch, Kidd has also dished out 9.0 assists, grabbed 6.3 rebounds and made 16 steals, mostly by anticipating the passer’s intention and picking it off."
But as Jason told Caplan, he’s feeling as good now as he ever has. He’s been rejuvenated by the youth around him. Dirk Nowitzki has certainly noticed the difference:
"I think he just knows that after the [All-Star] break you have to step your game up. He’s been around for so long and he’s just taking it a little further, taking his game to the next level after the break," Nowitzki said. "He’s been phenomenal. He looks energized, he’s pushing the ball. He’s battling big guys in the paint, so he’s been great."
The Mavericks have made a commitment to winning, as evidenced by the trade that brought Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Dallas from Washington and Jason is enjoying this season like few before it and feeling, pardon the cliché, like a Kidd again, as he told Caplan:
"I feel as if I’m 20-something years old. I mean, I don’t have any aches or pains when I wake up, nothing’s really sore," Kidd said. "I’ve just been doing my same routine I’ve been doing for the last some-odd years."
For a player who has missed just eight games in the last six-plus seasons, there’s nothing terribly scientific or cutting edge about Kidd’s maintenance program.
"After games I sit in the ice tub for 15 minutes," Kidd said, "shower, go home, have something to eat."
Jason did note, however, that he’s picked up one thing different from Mavericks trainer Casey Smith:
"The biggest thing Casey has helped me with is to drink water," Kidd said matter-of-factly. "He started with baby steps, getting me to three bottles a day and now I drink a lot more than that and it’s made me feel a lot better.
"It’s funny how you take things for granted, but water has helped me."
Nowitzki chuckled at the notion when Caplan informed him, but made note that, if it works, it works.
"Water?" Nowitzki said, chuckling. "All right, sweet. Whatever it takes."
NEXT UP
J-Kidd and heavily hydrated Mavs head East for a Friday night battle with the Atlanta Hawks tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST and the game can be seen on ESPN.
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Daily Dime (ESPN.com, February 24, 2010)
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100224/daily-dime