The Mavericks have entered the embryonic stage of forming a defensive presence.

Now the hard part starts.

Starting tonight against Utah's Deron Williams, they face the two toughest, most offensive-minded point guards in the league in a 24-hour span. On Wednesday, they visit Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.

Enter Jason Kidd. And Quinton Ross. And J.J. Barea. Maybe even Shawn Marion and Roddy Beaubois.

Williams, who went to high school at The Colony, and Paul have pretty much incinerated the Mavericks every time they have played them. But this is a different Mavericks team defensively.

They hope.

"For J-Kidd, the one thing I love about these two games is that he'll take the personal challenge," assistant coach Darrell Armstrong said Monday. "He looks forward to it. They're probably the two top point guards in the league – after J-Kidd. I guarantee you he's looking forward to that challenge."

Armstrong was a savvy defender against point guards in his day, so he knows how tough it's going to be for Kidd, who will get help.

Kidd has started the season in fine form when it comes to passing the ball (9.0 assists per game) and defending (2.0 steals per game). His next steal will put him into sixth place on the NBA all-time list.

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Mavericks point guards Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea will have their work cut out when they take on Deron Williams' Jazz and Chris Paul's Hornets.

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But Kidd knows that part of defending tough point guards is making them work at the other end. And he has not been happy with his shot. He's 1-of-10 from 3-pont range and 4-of-16 overall through three games.

He sought out Brad Davis after the Clippers game to help him work on his shot.

"I was just taking up space out there," he said of his game against the Clips.

That's not entirely true, unless you consider 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals "just taking up space."

Kidd knows the task of guarding Williams and Paul is tough. But so is guarding LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, and Kidd has volunteered for those assignments in the past.

And there's no doubt he'll have help.

"That's as tough as it comes, those two guys," Ross said. "They're two All-Stars and it's going to be tough. They got young legs. But Jason knows how to guard. He'll do fine."

And if he doesn't, Ross or somebody else will get the call. And there's always the zone defense if needed.