Media Conference after 2003 NBA Finals Game 1

New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd spoke with the media after game 1 of the 2003 NBA finals. The game was in San Antonio, and the Spurs won.

Q: You didn't have that strong of a shooting game this evening, how much did the long layoff have an effect on that, if any?

Jason Kidd: Well, there's no excuse for me personally. I didn't shoot the ball extremely well. That's not always what I'm on for. I just tried to pick it up and found the open guy and helped rebound. But San Antonio came out after halftime and really took it to us. I thought we became passive and then it was downhill from there.

Q: You guys played two very different halves of basketball. How important is it just to play the type that you played in the first half than the second half as the series goes along?

Jason Kidd: Well, we gave ourselves an opportunity. We were tied at halftime. We didn't take care of the ball, we didn't convert on the fast break. San Antonio came out after halftime and played their style of basketball, and again, whoever is going to be the aggressor in this series is going to come out with the W. That's what they did.

Q: Can you guys win in this series if you're not able to play better?

Jason Kidd: Well, at halftime, again, we're not shooting the ball extremely well and it's 42-42. We had some great opportunities, we turned the ball over, we took better care of the ball in the second half, but still, we couldn't put the ball in the basket. You've got to give them a lot of credit. Their defense is extremely tough, and so we've just got to make some adjustments and hopefully they are the right adjustments.

Q: After Game 1, what do you think about the challenge that the Spurs are giving you guys?

Jason Kidd: Well, they are the best team in the NBA. They have won 60-something games and they are very consistent. They have the MVP and he played like that tonight.

Q: Could you talk a little bit about the effect that Dikembe had in the first half? He has not been playing, with David playing the way he did, and obviously Tim, what does that mean to you guys to have him there and do you have a sense that you're going to need him considerably before the series is over?

Jason Kidd: I think he played extremely well. He came in, he hadn't played throughout the playoffs, so for him to come in and give the effort that he did, blocking shots and also changing shots, also giving us the opportunity on the offensive end to get a second chance. I thought from the time he was in, he did a wonderful job.

It's up to the coach. You can only do it when you're out there on the coach, so that's up to the coaching staff.

Q: Were you guys surprised by their zone because they don't play a lot of zone generally. And it seemed like the key was they made you guys take too many outside shots. What can you do to get more of an inside presence?

Jason Kidd: Well, I think the zone, again, they normally don't play zone and so to see them play zone, for us, we were satisfied with taking that first jump shot. Maybe not being aggressive and penetrating. So we'll have a look back at the tape and see what we have. If we are not making a jump shot, to be aggressive and take it to the basket.

Q: You said they did a good job on the break, why were they so effective and how were they able to get in front of you, especially third quarter?

Jason Kidd: On the fast break? Well, they had three or four guys, so they always keep the floor balanced. We had we had opportunities, but we turned the ball over in the first half and then the third quarter, we didn't really get out and run. Again, we were a little passive once they made that run to start the third quarter.

Q: 8 points for Duncan in the first half and then 24 in the second half, is there possibly something else you can come up with to defend Duncan or can he score at will when he gets touches?

Jason Kidd: Send him to the old arena, to the Alamodome while we play here. He's a talented player. He's seen it all, double-teams, triple-teams and he's spread the floor extremely well. We just have to make it tough as possible and tip our hats if he makes the shots. But if he doesn't, we have to be able to respond and get out and do what we do best.

Q: What did Tony Parker do differently in the second half and what might be -- what might you guys be able to do to neutralize him a little bit from now on?

Jason Kidd: I think we have to be able to make up more on the defensive end and not let him off the hook in that sense. Let it come to him. He played a great game. In the second half he played some tough shots but he's done that for them for the whole season, and in the playoffs. You know, he asserted himself in the second half and I thought that give them a boost.