Re: Kidd

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Kidd is a fine player without question but I think Pierce is getting a bit
of disrespect.  Let's remember that Paul has led his team to taking 3 of 4
from the Nets.  In fact, we came VERY close to sweeping them this year if
you would recall the early season game where the Nets hung on at the end.

In these games, Paul has taken his scoring to the highest level, averaging a
whopping 37 ppg on 45% shooting.  And some of those shots were from WAY
downtown.  Kidd has a certainly respectable 21 ppg on 39% shooting.

Now obviously, we know Paul is the better scorer, but Kidd was ineffective
during crunch time, for the most part, while Paul was simply unstoppable.

The other aspects of Kidd's game are solid and he has had a supreme impact
on the success of the Nets.  But I do not see how his impact on that team is
any more measureable than what Pierce has given us.

I am willing to bet that the Nets hope to meet someone other than the C's in
the playoffs.

Cecil



----- Original Message -----
From: <Tammo29@AOL.com>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 1:54 PM
Subject: Kidd


>   I honestly can't believe this argument is even going on.  No one around
the
> NBA would argue that Kidd isn't the best point guard in the league.  He
> recently became only the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league
in
> assists three straight years joining John Stockton, 1988-96; Oscar
Robertson,
> 1964-66; Bob Cousy, 1953-60.  That's some pretty impressive company.
>   Right now Kidd is 2nd in the league in assists (10 per game), 1st in
> steals, 1st in triple doubles and 4th in double doubles.  There is no part
of
> the game on either end of the court that he doesn't contribute to his
team,
> and contribute in a positive way.
>
>   I heard Danny Ainge in a radio interview last week.  He was asked what
part
> of New Jersey's improvement could be contributed to Kidd, and how much was
> just the Nets finally being healthy and getting their act together.  Ainge
> pointed out that wherever Kidd has gone, winning followed. His high school
> team won back to back State titles and Kidd set the all time record for
> assists.  He averaged 25pts, 10apg, 7 rpg, and 7 steals, and won numerous
> player of the year awards in the process.
>  Kidd went to a Cal team that was middle of the road Pac 10 and took them
to
> the Sweet Sixteen, including a win over highly favored Duke.  He was the
> first Sophomore in the history of the Pac 10 to be chosen as Pac 10 POY,
was
> named All-American and was a finalist for both the Wooden and Naismith POY
> awards as a Sophomore.
>   He went to Dallas and the Mavericks won 23 more games his rookie year
then
> they did the year before.  He shared the ROY award with Grant Hill.
>   He went to the Suns and injured himself in his first game.  The Suns
were
> horrible before he got there, went 9-12 while he was injured and went 23-9
> and to the playoffs when he returned to the lineup.
>   It's no coincidence that when Kidd left, the Suns went down hill again.
>   And now the remarkable turn around by the Nets.   Kidd has an
astonishing
> impact wherever he goes.  It's just common sense to put two and two
together.
>    There is no bigger Paul Pierce fan on the planet than me.  I'm still
angry
> with Kidd for turning down an opportunity to play at Kansas.  But if I had
a
> vote for MVP it would be Kidd.  No one else comes close in my mind.  Now,
if
> the Celtics had one their division it may be a different story.