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 Sunday, December 19
Kidd had 2 triple-doubles over weekend
 
By Bob Baum
Associated Press

  PHOENIX -- Phoenix's perpetual-energy point guard is tearing up the competition, despite the injuries, illness and turmoil around him.

On Friday night in Portland and Saturday night at home against Sacramento, Jason Kidd pulled off triple-doubles, the first to do that on consecutive nights since Grant Hill in April 1997.

Jason Williams
Jason Kidd, right, got the best of Kings guard Jason Williams, center, on Saturday.

In his previous two games, Kidd missed a triple-double by a rebound in one game and an assist in the other. He is averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in his last four games.

"He's playing as well as I've ever seen him play," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. "I think the thing you love about him is when he gets down on the offensive end on a break, he's really under control. Now he's making that 15-, 16-foot jumper off the dribble, and he's a handful."

His Friday totals: 32 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds. On Saturday: 27 points, 14 assists, 14 rebounds. In 82 minutes on the court, Kidd had three turnovers.

"He's really taking care of the ball," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "The guy's got the ball in his hands every time down the court. He's going to make some turnovers, but the last two nights he's been great taking care of it, and that's why we're getting good shots."

The Suns are 3-0 since Danny Ainge abruptly quit, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. The job went to Skiles, Ainge's fiery top assistant and a former point guard who holds the NBA assist record at 30.

Skiles is emphasizing a fast-paced style that fits Kidd perfectly.

"Right now we're playing aggressively and up-tempo and taking care of the ball," Kidd said.

While the team dealt with the unexpected coaching change, the number of players dwindled.

Penny Hardaway, who is supposed to team with Kidd in what the Suns call "Backcourt 2000," has missed seven games with a sore right foot and probably won't be back for at least another week. Luc Longley has a bad back and rookie Shawn Marion, a starter earlier in the year, remains on the injured list with a bad knee.

Then after the victory Friday, Tom Gugliotta had a seizure on the team bus. While all test results were normal, he won't be back until doctors are confident there is nothing wrong with him.

With just nine players available, the Suns went out and hammered the Kings.

"Either we have a really deep team that can kind of patch things up with four starters out, or you can put any four guys out there with Jason Kidd," Rex Chapman said. "The guy's unbelievable."

More and more players and coaches are acknowledging that Kidd is the best point guard in the game. He was first team all-NBA last season. He has 28 career triple-doubles, tying him with Michael Jordan as sixth all-time. The serious flaw in his game early in his career, the inability to shoot from outside, has been rectified by hours and hours of practice.

At 26, his best years should be ahead.

"I'm going to shoot or pass or do something to get the team going," Kidd said. "My role isn't going to change with a full team or if we've got only seven players. The biggest thing is for me to keep the style of play that I've been playing all my life."

In an era of young point guards who shoot first and pass second, Kidd is a throwback.

"My job is to get guys involved, set the tempo, play hard and have fun," Kidd said.

For his teammates, playing alongside Kidd is definitely fun.

"You love to play with somebody who's constantly pushing the ball up the floor looking for open guys for easy buckets," said Cliff Robinson, who scored 23 against Portland and a season-high 33 against Sacramento. "If you've played with him for a while, and you know how to read him, he'll definitely find you."
 


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