Kidd should be coming off the bench. I don't understand the Knicks lineups.
Kidd-Felton was working really well earlier in the year... Iman coming back was a monkey wrench >_>
The knicks perimeter D was there achilles heal though, and Shumpert was supposed to fix that. Kidd should also be stabilizing the 2nd unit. Prigioni is mediocre.
I like Kidd in the starting lineup. I think he plays an important stabilizing role for that unit. Both offensively and in terms of leadership.
I think offensively, Kidd still brings good quality to the table -- strong decision making, extra ball-handling, ball mover, better quality shots, less turnovers, ball goes where it is supposed to go more often than when others are in game. Plus, the spot-up shooting.
Knicks were the best team in the league at limiting their turnovers earlier in the year in large part due to their two guard backcourt and small-ball lineup with two SFs and one center. I think they also had the best turnover differential in the league at that time too. Again, Kidd as a starter played a huge role in that.
Sticking Shumpert in there instead of Kidd. He is too erratic. Bad decision maker. Poor shot-selection. Overly aggressive. Doesn't accept lesser role offensively. Turns the ball over to often. Ball stopper. Offense doesn't work as smoothly.
I also think Kidd's leadership is vitally important. Along with Tyson Chandler. Very important to have those type of competitors around Carmelo. Similar to the effect they had on the Dallas Mavericks. Excellent team orientated guys who like to impact the game outside of scoring. Great example for Melo and the other players. Kidd has tremendous determination and competitive spirit too. Same intensity and urgency no matter whether Kidd's team is up 10-15 or down 20. He never gives up.
The rest of the guys all respond to Kidd's leadership just like they did in Dallas and in New Jersey. That never say die attitude and team focus is very important for a Knick team that has two stars that can selfish and overly focused on shot attempts and scoring (as well as role players like Shumpert and sometimes Felton).
For me, I think 4 players have to be in the starting lineup = Tyson, Melo, Kidd and Felton. It's just a question for me of who is the final starter alongside them.