--The discussions between Jason Kidd and Rick Carlisle have harkened back to a few point guards who enjoyed success under the first-year Mavs coach. It became obvious that Kidd and Avery Johnson always didn't see eye-to-eye.
"He talked about Mark Jackson and Anthony Johnson, and how they ran the team (in Indiana) and he has no problem with guys that he trusts that can run the team," Kidd said of Carlisle. "He said he will call plays at some point, but first will look to get easy baskets. He wants to have a sense of 'just playing.' Being structured, but playing, because when you get to the Finals, it's not so much about the plays, but being able to play. I'm excited to play for Rick." It's fair to say Kidd is looking for more freedom.
"For me it's just about starting from the beginning and being more comfortable," he said. "I have to look for my shot a little bit more, but I also have a lot of weapons out there. The way we can make the team better is with me scoring and being more aggressive.
"That's what Rick has also talked about. Everybody was playing catch-up the second half of the season. We all needed to start over."
--Rick Carlisle officially announced his coaching staff with assistants Dwane Casey, Terry Stotts, Mario Elie and Tom Sterner. Popeye Jones and Brad Davis return as player development coaches.
"This rounds out what I believe is a very strong staff," Carlisle said. "We have an excellent mixture of playing experience, head coaching experience, on-court teachers and technical knowledge.
"It has been a busy and productive summer for us connecting with our players individually and during the summer league environment. We now look forward to a productive remainder of the summer and the beginning of training camp."
Casey and Stotts are both former head coaches. Elie is the lone holdover from Avery Johnson's staff. Sterner comes to Dallas after coaching stints with Orlando and Golden State.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It shows that basketball is getting bigger all over the world. It used to be a smaller sport, but now everybody plays it. The NBA has fans all over the world. It's becoming a global game." -- F Dirk Nowitzki, on the five NBA flag-bearers at the Olympics.
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