Kidd gets the point and shoots

When he finally hangs up his sneakers, Jason Kidd will be remembered as one of the greatest passers in the history of the game. That singular ability to create shots for others is the foundation of his game.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, a former point guard, understands that unselfishness. Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and the rest of Kidd’s teammates appreciate it. But getting the most out of Kidd goes beyond the 64 assists he’s piled up in just six games.

Johnson views Kidd as an all-around threat. Part of that threat involves Kidd creating his own offense. As foreign as the concept may seem – Kidd admitted that for years he wasn’t asked to score – Johnson needed more shots to come flying out of the 34-year-old hands of No. 2.

So one night after hoisting up just eight – and sitting out the final 35 seconds at San Antonio – the guy that’s been given the keys to the Mavs’ offense revved up his engines. Kidd shot 18 times against Sacramento. Message delivered.

“I heard him loud and clear,” Kidd said after scoring a season-high 21 in Friday’s 115-106 win over Sacramento.

Read the rest of this note and get a preview of the Lakers in today's notebook at mavs.com.