Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks Return To The NBA Finals

One of the greatest point guards in basketball history gets one more shot at a ring. Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, assuring one last shot for the Cal basketball great to chase down his elusive championship. 

Kidd has been an essential part of a team of championship-hungry veterans. Coupled with Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, Peja Stojakovic and Juan Barea, Dallas has managed an improbable Finals run, sweeping the two-time defending champion Lakers and now dispatching the Thunder in five in the Western Conference Finals. Kidd's numbers have actually gone up from the regular season to the playoffs, averaging around 10 points, 7-8 assists, 4-5 rebounds, and 2 steals a game. He also nailed the big shot in Game 4 to help decisively swing the series in the favor of Dallas.

Kidd was swept in his first appearance in the finals by the three-peating Shaq-and-Kobe-led Lakers in 2002, then fell to Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in six games in 2003. CGB will have open threads for all the NBA Finals games to give you the chance to root Kidd on with fellow Cal fans online. Game 1 will be on either Tuesday (if the Miami Heat wrap up the series in 5) or Thursday night at 6 PM PT/9 PM ET (if the Eastern Conference Finals goes six games or more).

GO BEARS!