Jason Kidd and Rick Carlisle: Will They Boom or Bust in Dallas?

Clearly, the Jason Kidd trade has failed miserably in terms of making the Mavericks a title contender, and getting them over their demoralizing playoff failures and meltdowns in the past few seasons. 

To be fair, the Mavs' former coach, Avery Johnson ("The Little General"), clearly had a schizophrenic, reactionary approach to how to best utilize Kidd—if, in fact, he wanted him there at all. 

It seemed that no point guard from Jason Terry to Devin Harris, and ultimately Jason Kidd, could entirely satisfy him, and the only true solution was for Avery to suit up and save the day. 

Despite this, Kidd did his yeoman's best to try and fit in, albeit among (what we've later learned) was almost a complete team mutiny and desired desertion from this sinking ship that was the Mavericks during the closing months of the 2007-08 regular season. 

Rick Carlisle, the newly-hired coach, initially promised to accentuate Kidd's strengths and initiate a running game into the offense. But he has had to face the fact that based on what we've seen during the Olympics, Kidd is no longer the physical force he once was. His decline has not been gradual—it's been shockingly sudden. 

Kidd cannot effectively keep up with the young-gun point guards in the Western Conference—Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker.  He can still be a physical presence defensively against older, slower point guards and shooting guards, which was evident last season with his excellent defense on Steve Nash.

This was further acknowledged by Avery Johnson, who termed his play that night as "excellent". 

It's a known fact in sports—or in any other physical endeavor for that matter—that life is cruel. When a player reaches supreme mental acuity and understanding of the game, it's the same time when his or her body fails them.

This is what's happened to Jason Kidd.  And, this is what Rick Carlisle has to deal with effectively. 

Both Kidd and Carlisle are in Dallas seeking some sort of redemption.  Kidd wants to obliterate, once and for all, the tag on him as being a "coach killer".  Kidd also wants to change the perception that he's difficult, a pouter, and a chronic malcontent, who plays the passive-aggressive game of undermining his coach's authority. 

Carlisle wants to change his perception that has been manifested fairly or not throughout his coaching career that he's non-communicative, rigid, and overly controlling—especially on offense. 

Kidd is playing for an extension, and Cuban (correctly) wants to see what kind of performance he can offer to warrant giving him one.  Carlisle wants to prove that Cuban's assessment of the situation has been the correct one, and that Avery Johnson was largely the problem, in his failure or refusal to utilize Kidd in the correct manner.

Carlisle has an uphill battle, because he knows better than most what most coaches already know—that Kidd is just about washed up and his best days are behind him.  But, Carlisle, unlike Avery Johnson, is much smarter, both tactically and strategically, in best utilizing his players in terms of their individual and collective strengths and weaknesses. 

Carlisle can get better production from Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Erick Dampier, DeSagana Diop, Gerald Green, Brandon Bass, and finally, Jason Kidd.  He can and will institute a running game, with Kidd throwing those outlet and cross-court passes to Howard, Green, Diop, Dirk—and yes, even the oven-mitt hands of Dampier—to great effect. 

Carlisle will institute plays that have Kidd drawing in defenders into the paint and either putting in the layup himself, or passing off to Howard, Bass, Dirk, or Green on the interior. 

As far as Kidd's shooting percentage—or lack thereof—Carlisle has to remove Kidd's mental timidity or just plain refusal to go for it. Carlisle has to make it clear, albeit in a more persuasive fashion than Avery, that the team will live with whatever results might be, "makes or misses."

However, Carlisle, unlike Avery, won't limit Kidd's impact to just being a weak-side spotup shooter.  He'll rarely ask that of Kidd, and he'll rarely put him in that position.  I believe Carlisle will seek to employ help defense in the backcourt. In addition, he will rotate defensive assignments based on the match ups of the opponent teams to minimize Kidd's lack of speed and maximize his ability to find the open man for easy points.

Carlisle's overall strategy is to outline some broad offensive and defensive principles that he wants to see from Kidd, but allow Kidd himself much more freedom to implement those concepts.  This approach will give Kidd the perception that he has more leeway and control overall, while at the same time limiting some of Kidd's recklessness, such as errant outlet passes resulting in turnovers.

In summary, I believe we'll see a totally different player from the one we saw last season.  He'll be motivated, active, and effective in running the floor and getting the best from his fellow players—who in turn, will surprise and delight Mavs fans with increased production and effectiveness. 

As long as Carlisle gets productive minutes from Kidd that wont overwork him, I believe Kidd will continue to be dominate and effective in the Mavs offensive game. Carlisle can also limit Kidd's defensive liabilities and lack of explosiveness. 

They both have a vested interest in achieving each other's success—and they both cannot afford to fail.