PROTECT THE PAINT

Jason Kidd is 36 years old. The blockbuster trade in which Dallas stole Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood while exiling Josh Howard has provided Kidd a legitimate shot to lead his team over the next 24 games for a shot at a title.

Kidd is has always possessed a knack for igniting offenses, but this current lineup possesses the best talent pool Kidd has ever been surrounded by.

That being said, I am predicting Dallas will go on a tear to finish the season, and will contend with the Lakers and Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals.

Kidd will have Mavs fans pumping fists in the playoffs. (Credit: picapp.com)

Brendan Haywood has flourished within the Mavs’ system, and as the beneficiary of some nifty Kidd passes, helped the Mavs restrain the lengthy Los Angeles Lakers, pulling out a 101-96 victory Wednesday. Haywood was a force in the middle, finishing with 5 blocks. He is averaging 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and nearly 3 blocks a game since joining the Mavs.

Once Erick Dampier returns from his freakish finger injury there will be 6 more fouls, but, a lame “Dampier-ian” game, at Dallas’ disposal to throw at the Lakers in the postseason.

The Mavs now have size and fouls they will need to pound on Gasol and Bynum. The Lakers will have to survive a beating in the paint in order to advance to the finals this year.

Kidd is playing at a level that mere mortal NBA players approaching age 37 would scoff at. He is averaging 9.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds this year. That bests the majority of point guards nearing or already in their prime. At age 36 (he turns 37 in March), Kidd ranks 5th in the league in assists. Simply mind blowing.

With a starting five of Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, and Brendan Haywood, instant offense with Jason Terry, bench depth, and Dallas already 4th in the playoff race, it’s possible the Mavericks can climb the ladder furthermore before the end of the season.

Dirk should go off with the distractions Butler will cause, and Marion will be able to pick up the scraps and hurt teams as the forgotten man on offense. And of course, Kidd will have more passing options to pick apart defenses then ever before.

Currently there is only a 1.0 game difference between Dallas and 2nd seed Denver, while only a o.5 game difference separates the Mavs from 3rd seed Utah.

Deron Wiliams recently bitched to the media how his team got weaker by trading Ronnie Brewer to Memphis for a future pick. This effectively makes Utah weaker defensively, which could cost them some crucial games down the stretch.

Denver is a great team, but when your best bench scorer is a headcase like J.R. Smith, you can never be sure what you will get on any given night.

Utah has gotten weaker, and the Nuggets have a psycho on their team, so passing these teams is realistic if Dallas gets hot.

Seeing how Kidd orchestrated the dismantling of the Lakers tonight, I can’t envision Dallas doing anything but sizzling up the rankings. Albeit unlikely, but now that Zyndrus Ilgauskas has cleared waivers, look for Mark Cuban to lead the stampede in chasing him down as well.

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