Jason Kidd finally unlocks Mavericks' most polarizing figure at the perfect time

Through two games of the regular season, one of the Dallas Mavericks' most disappointing players was D'Angelo Russell after he only played a combined 24 minutes in his first two appearances and failed to even look like a player who could contribute to a struggling Mavericks roster. While things were looking dim for Russell's future in the NBA, the Mavericks made a clear statement to the league in their third game of the regular season after beating the Toronto Raptors 139-129.

Not only would the Mavericks combine for 70 points in the paint after witnessing Cooper Flagg take over in transition, but the Mavericks would also let Russell let loose and shoot a total of 18 shots in Sunday's win. There's no doubt that Russell's first two appearances in a Mavericks uniform were rough to watch, but he completely flipped the script with a critical 24-point outing.

For Russell, one of the factors that made him unstoppable against the Raptors was Jason Kidd's ability to give him the ball in the half-court, allowing him to work off screens and find open cutters, which in turn freed up plenty of movement for the Mavericks' offense and Russell. To make things even more impressive, Russell would go on to miss his first seven shot attempts, but after the first quarter, he would score all 24 of his points.

Giving Russell the reins to shoot opened the Mavericks' offense

It's uncertain if it was a pregame adjustment out of Kidd and his coaching staff, but there was a deliberate attempt to give Russell the ball and allow him to shoot more shots within the flow of the offense after being the first player to check into the game off the bench. One of the major reasons Russell had struggled up until that point was that he did not look like himself on the floor, and this was the first sign of life out of Russell that he could be a contributing factor for the Mavericks this season.

On the offensive end, Russell was able to dish passes to wide-open cutters by using his great dribble penetration and forcing the defense to react to him. Not only was Russell dishing passes, but his scoring capabilities were what truly separated the Mavericks against the Raptors, and it was clear by halftime that the Mavericks needed a reliable guard who could score consistently.

Russell would not only finish with his 24 points, but perhaps the most impressive statistic on Russell's box score was his plus/minus of +26. Russell not only clearly made it a point of emphasis to get himself more involved, but in return, it opened the Mavericks' game plan and allowed for an impressive 39-point third quarter for the team.

Not only would Russell make his presence known on the offensive end of the floor, but Russell's active hands on defense gave him three steals, which resulted in transition opportunities for the Mavericks. One of the most important facets of Russell's game that he needs to hone in on is his defense, and seeing an impressive effort against the Raptors has to be a sight to see for the Mavericks' coaching staff.

It's unclear how long of a leash Russell will have with Kidd, but clearly, allowing the 10-year veteran to get comfortable in his own game paid off for the team. There's no doubt that Russell had an impressive breakout game in Dallas, but he must maintain a consistent level of taking shots within the flow of the offense and smart playmaking if he wants to ensure his role on this year's Mavericks squad.