Kidd for MVP

Magic Coach Doc Rivers reiterated Friday that if the season ended today and he had a vote for league MVP, he'd cast his for New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd.

"If you talk about most valuable to a team, he has to be," Rivers said.

"It's amazing what a difference one player can make," Magic forward Monty Williams said.

But, Rivers said, over the course of the season people might begin to look at Kidd's 13.8 scoring average and 36 percent shooting and start doubting his impact.

"It's not going to happen, let's be honest," Rivers said of Kidd's MVP hopes. "They're going to look at his numbers, and they're not going to vote for him."

The improved Nets are exciting to watch but not to play.

"Jason forces the issue, and that's what you love about him," Rivers said. "Jason Kidd, he's Carl Lewis. It looks like a gunshot goes off when they get the rebound. They're all racing down the court. They know whoever wins gets the ball."

Grinding to a halt

Rivers acknowledged that one of the reasons the Magic are scoring fewer points lately is that they are forced to play a slower tempo without Grant Hill.

"Last year after losing Grant, we had more athletes and could still play fast," Rivers said.

"This year, after determining that Grant was healthy, we made a decision to get skilled players, veterans. Now we can't get into a track meet. We've had to slow the way we've played down. I really don't like that style, honestly. But we have to play differently if we're going to make the playoffs."

Don't forget the coach

Lost in the hype of Kidd's acquisition and on-the-court antics is the job Nets Coach Byron Scott is doing, Rivers said.

"This is not just Jason Kidd," Rivers said while lauding the second-year coach. "I don't think Byron's getting enough credit."

Rivers also said he enjoys coaching against Scott, just as he enjoyed competing with him as a player. Scott is most known for being a standout player on those Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Laker teams.

"It's almost like competing all over again," Rivers said, adding that it's the same feeling he gets against Indiana Coach Isiah Thomas, Seattle Coach Nate McMillan and Phoenix Coach Scott Skiles. "We're all fighting to get to that ring first."