How to guard Jason Kidd

[arthurracoon]

Am I stupid or is everyone else stupid? :

In order to guard Kidd, you play defense on his teammates.
You stick with the other 4 men like glue, and don't let them out of your sight.

Have 1 man guarding Kidd (DO NOT DOUBLE TEAM HIM - he will find the open man). Make the defender shake his arms like a wild man in order to deflect any passes. Pressure Kidd, and force Kidd to take jump shots - no penetration.

It's this simple

 

[notakiddfan1]

It's really not that simple at all. First of all, he's not a bad enough jump shooter that you can just sag off of him. He'll make the jumper if you just let him stand around and shoot. Even so, if he isn't making his jump shot, with one guy on him, he can drive by that guy and find the open man when the defense reacts.

Still, forgetting all about that, Jason Kidd is best in the open court. He's nearly impossible to guard when he's pushing the ball on the fast break. Then, when he's coming full speed at you, it doesn't matter if it's a 1 on 4 or a 3 on 1, you pretty much can't guard him.

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by notakiddfan1

It's really not that simple at all. First of all, he's not a bad enough jump shooter that you can just sag off of him. He'll make the jumper if you just let him stand around and shoot. Even so, if he isn't making his jump shot, with one guy on him, he can drive by that guy and find the open man when the defense reacts.

You would need a good defender to put the pressure on Kidd and not allow him to drive

Still, forgetting all about that, Jason Kidd is best in the open court. He's nearly impossible to guard when he's pushing the ball on the fast break. Then, when he's coming full speed at you, it doesn't matter if it's a 1 on 4 or a 3 on 1, you pretty much can't guard him.

Well then don't turn the ball over and always get back on defense

I think with a Ben Wallace, you could ask Kidd's defender to pressure Kidd and if Kidd drives ask Ben Wallace to cover Kidd and his man.

 

[notakiddfan1]

Well then don't turn the ball over and always get back on defense

That's like saying "Well then don't miss shots" as a solution to keeping Ben Wallace off the defensive boards.

I think with a Ben Wallace, you could ask Kidd's defender to pressure Kidd and if Kidd drives ask Ben Wallace to cover Kidd and his man.

I'm sure that's Detroit's game plan, essentially. I mean obviously they want to pressure Kidd, and if Kidd gets by his defender, Wallace is gonna want to cover Kidd and his man. Problem is, in the NBA, it's impossible. Sure, you might be able to, with Wallace athleticism, do it once in a while, but with Kidd's ability, he's going to make you commit to one guy or the other, and when you finally do, he'll make you pay either way.

Also, you can say that they should lag off Kidd if he's not making shots so he can't drive. That is, actually, one of the worst ways to guard Kidd. Maybe he won't stick the jumper consistently, but if you give him enough room to see the entire floor and then make a pass with either hand, he'll pick your defense apart. Even if the other 4 guys "stick to their men like glue" they'll still get open after sometime because the Nets offense is based so much on movement, back-door cuts, screens, etc. The fact of the matter is, if there is some really good way to defend Kidd, the Detroit Pistons are probably doing it right now. It's obviously not perfect, but it's the best you can do. Jason Kidd, with the New Jersey Nets around him, is just too good.

 

[arthurracoon]

That's like saying "Well then don't miss shots" as a solution to keeping Ben Wallace off the defensive boards.

Yeah, I guess

I'm sure that's Detroit's game plan, essentially. I mean obviously they want to pressure Kidd, and if Kidd gets by his defender, Wallace is gonna want to cover Kidd and his man. Problem is, in the NBA, it's impossible. Sure, you might be able to, with Wallace athleticism, do it once in a while, but with Kidd's ability, he's going to make you commit to one guy or the other, and when you finally do, he'll make you pay either way.

The key, I would think is to bring another man to cover under the hoop just after the ball leaves Kidd's hands. It might be too late, but then you would have 2 men near the hoop.

Also, you can say that they should lag off Kidd if he's not making shots so he can't drive. That is, actually, one of the worst ways to guard Kidd. Maybe he won't stick the jumper consistently, but if you give him enough room to see the entire floor and then make a pass with either hand, he'll pick your defense apart. Even if the other 4 guys "stick to their men like glue" they'll still get open after sometime because the Nets offense is based so much on movement, back-door cuts, screens, etc. The fact of the matter is, if there is some really good way to defend Kidd, the Detroit Pistons are probably doing it right now. It's obviously not perfect, but it's the best you can do. Jason Kidd, with the New Jersey Nets around him, is just too good.

If there is going to be a team that will stop the nets, its the Pistons. If coring can stay in the 70's then the Pistons win.

But of course...
We Will See

 

[SirStefan32]

You can NOT stop Jason Kidd in the open court.
In the half court offense, however, it is not that difficult.
In theory, at least, you want to make Jason Kidd a shooter and not a passer. Let him shoot 20 foot jumpers all night. More jumpers he takes, better your chances of winning are.

Stefan

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by SirStefan32
You can NOT stop Jason Kidd in the open court.
In the half court offense, however, it is not that difficult.
In theory, at least, you want to make Jason Kidd a shooter and not a passer. Let him shoot 20 foot jumpers all night. More jumpers he takes, better your chances of winning are.

Stefan

yup

 

[notakiddfan1]

Still though, what does it mean to "make Jason Kidd a shooter rather than a passer"? It's certainly not that simple. Making him shoot jump shots actually means you're letting him shoot jump shots, and that would have to mean that you're lagging off him. But this means that not only does it give him more room to shoot, it gives him more room to pass. Like I said before, there's so much movement in the Nets offense that there will be guys open, at least for a split second.

Normally, if you have a guy at least somewhat guarding Kidd in the halfcourt, he won't always find that guy who is open for a split second, and once the opportunity is gone, it's gone. However, if Jason is free to just stand around the perimeter, patiently waiting to make whatever move he may want, then he'll have a much easier time getting the ball to the right guy at the right time.

You really can't make Jason Kidd, or any superstar in the NBA for that matter, do anything. If you just sag off Stephon Marbury, will he shoot jumpers all night? If you put a red carpet down, have defenders playing only token defense, put a sign up that says, "Lane for Shawn Marion to drive to the basket, and not just hang out on the perimeter", will Shawn Marion take the ball to the basket? Maybe he will once, but the fact of the matter is, as the offensive player, Shawn will do what he wants to do, and he will stand out on the 3 pt line jacking up 3s the whole night, whether you, as the defender, like it or not.

 

[arthurracoon]

You have to treat Jason Kidd like Michael Vick.

 

[Errntknght]

Why worry over much about Jason Kidd in the halfcourt... he's not going to beat you single handedly. Just play the best defense you can against the Nets as a whole.

You can do a little bit about the transition game - have his man start guarding him as soon as your team shoots trying to prevent the quick outlet pass to him or slowing his turn upcourt if he gets the rebound himself. Whoever is near the rebounder should be looking to delay the outlet pass, too.