Steve Nash Is Clutch, Jason Kidd Is Not

I told you this game should have been nationally televised. The Suns pulled out an amazing 161-157 double overtime win in New Jersey, behind a career high 42 out of Steve Nash. Before addressing the ridiculous trade suggestion proposed by my fellow blogger The Big Lead, let's go over some of the key plays from this incredible game.

At the end of regulation, Suns down three, Nash comes off a screen and drains a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game and send it into OT. Worth mentioning that with about eight and a half minutes left in regulation, Nash and Mikki Moore got into a little shouting match which resulted in the meaningless double technical. Always nice by the way to read the lips of NBA players and see them clearly shouting obscenities at each other. Nash ended up scoring 13 points to finish the quarter, including the aforementioned game-tying shot. As Mark Jackson said during the telecast, that's probably the wrong guy to get angry at you at that stage of the game.

At the end of the first OT, Kidd had a chance to win it, but his 20-foot jumper banked in and out. Sorry wife-beater, but we only remember the game winners that actually go in, not the ones that barely miss. In the second OT though is where Kidd single-handedly blew this game for the Nets.

With the game tied and about 30 seconds remaining, Boris Diaw got the ball, and was being guarded by Kidd one on one. Kidd received no help from his teammates, and allowed Diaw to dribble for about a half hour and back him down for an easy layup. Now this one isn't all Kidd's fault; someone should have come over to double Diaw or at least challenge the shot. The next play however, was all on Kidd.

Nets down two with the ball and 14 seconds remaining, Kidd gets the ball and goes to make his move, and proceeds to ... dribble the ball off his foot! Way to not even get a shot off, loser. Barbosa ended up with it, Nash got fouled on the ensuing inbounds play, MADE both free throws, ballgame.

Now to address The Big Lead's assertion that the Nets should trade Kidd. Like all trade rumors this season, Kevin Garnett's name was thrown out as a possibility because of similar salaries. Forgetting the fact that TBL is considering Marcus Williams as a viable replacement for Kidd based off of two games against the Suns, let's ask ourselves this question: who would want Kidd? TBL cites tonight's box score as evidence that Kidd's "still got it," but let's not forget that it took double overtime to achieve those numbers. Kidd's a defensive liability with shaky shooting abilitites and, as evidenced in tonight's game, is not a clutch performer. Sounds more like Smush Parker than someone a team would give up $18 million in salaries for. I agree with TBL that it may be in the Nets' best interest to deal Kidd, the reality is that I don't see any takers.