WASHINGTON – Mike Woodson finally pulled the trigger and has benched struggling Jason Kidd for tonight’s game vs. the Wizards.
Kidd’s offense has flat-lined the past few weeks and it has finally cost him a spot in the starting lineup. James White will start at small forward as Kidd heads to the bench, breaking up the Kidd-Raymond Felton-Iman Shumpert alignment that has been in place since Jan. 17th.
It is unclear if the move is for just one night or if Woodson wants to see it over the long-term. Kidd has been a horror show on the offensive end shooting-wise. He was scoreless Wednesday vs. Golden State, going 0 for 4. He has been scoreless in three of the last five games, scoring 9 points total.
Woodson said before Friday night’s game he likes White for his defensive prowess and said this will give Kidd more of a chance at point guard. He’s been playing off the ball with Raymond Felton.
“ I want him more with the ball in his hands to run this team,’’ Woodson said of Kidd.
Woodson considered Chris Copeland and White, who is the better defender.
“I want him,’’ Woodson said of James. “Just from a defensive standpoint, we were going against (Martell) Webster. It’s better matchup for Webster.’’
White, who played in the Italian League last season, has gained his reputation as a defender and Woodson may be dusting him off for Sunday’s Miami showdown vs. LeBron James. White handled James nicely in the last meeting in Miami in December when Carmelo Anthony was injured.
White said he’s fine with his vastly different roles – cheerleader to starter. “I’m used to it,’’ White said of his changing roles. “It’s about staying ready the whole time. You never know when you’ll get the call out there and play.’’
“I know what he wants me to do,’’ White added. “He wants me to go out there and play defense. Whatever else I can do he’ll be happy with it. But he needs someone to go out there and play defense right now.’’
With Kidd playing backup point guard, that will reduce the role of Pablo Prigioni, the third-string PG. “I’m going to try to fit Pablo in too,’’ Woodson said. “It’s a lot of players.’’
“Just going in a different direction,” Woodson added. “Nothing against Kidd. He’s still gonna play, and he’ll get in there with the second unit. Just changing it up a little bit. He’s a point guard, and I’ve got to put him in a position to be more successful. I don’t think I’ve done a good job in that area.”
Woodson has long threatened to break up the Kidd-Felton-Shumpert trio because the Knicks were getting off to slow starts. Neither Shumpert or Kidd have provided offense.
Kidd is shooting an abysmal 20 percent from the floor and 16 percent from 3-point range in the Knicks’ 11 games in February.
