2007 Playoffs: In Kidd We Tr(iple-double)ust
The 2007 playoffs were by no means the best playoffs of the Jason Kidd era. In Kidd’s last full season in New Jersey, the Nets failed to get out of the second round for the fourth straight year, losing to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
But in 12 playoff games – which included home games where the Nets handed out “In Kidd We Trust” shirts – Jason did something that only Oscar Robertson had ever done: he averaged a triple double for the postseason. 14.6 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, and 10.9 assists per game. While 12 games isn’t a huge sample size, it’s still an impressive feat and a large enough sample that Kidd couldn’t have one Toko in Springfield-esque game that carried him to those averages.
The best of the triple-doubles came in Game 3 against the Cavs, when Jason Kidd had 23 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in the first of only two Nets victories in the series. He even spent some time guarding James, who was limited to 18 points, at the time his lowest offensive output in 20 career playoff games.
Kidd ended his career with the second most playoff triple doubles (11) of all time, ten of them coming with the Nets. In the regular season, Kidd finished third with 107 triple doubles, 61 coming in a Nets uniform.
