Whether it be a starting pitcher or a star quarterback, the typical position of limelight for various sports falls on the athlete who handles the ball the most.

Maverick guard Jason Kidd threads the needle with a pass around Memphis rookie Mike Conley. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Basketball is somewhat different. The point guard brings the ball down the floor more times than not and initiates the offense, but the headlines range based on who's scoring the most points. Thus, even a true point that fits the position perfectly won't always show up much in game stories because they don't thin the twine like some others or wow the crowd with thunderous dunks.

The Dallas Mavericks re-acquired Jason Kidd last week from the New Jersey Nets and the future Hall of Famer was on the floor for their game in Memphis on Friday night.

Kidd didn't hardly light up the scoreboard by raining in buckets, making just 1-of-4 shots, and didn't attempt a single free throw. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old was all the talk afterward.

Keep your eyes moving along Kidd's name in the box score to get a better idea as to just what he did in guiding his squad to a victory. He totaled 15 assists, five rebounds and four steals.

"(Kidd's) basketball I.Q., obviously all the triple-double potential, makes them (better) now," Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "He's a little like Magic Johnson with all the scorers around him. You've just got to find people."

No one had nicer things to say about Kidd's performance than the young man he went up against much of the evening, Memphis rookie Mike Conley.

"He's a great point guard, really pushes the tempo, it's tough to keep up," Conley said.

Conley admitted he is still learning to adapt to running the show at the pro level, but he has always looked up to Kidd and admired his game.

"I thought he was the best player on the court tonight the way he handled the ball and distributed the ball," Conley said. "You want your point guard to be like Jason Kidd, a guy who can manage the game and doesn't have to score points. I would love to be a point guard like him one day."

The best floor generals weave in and out of traffic like a Porsche on the Autobahn. Priority No. 1 isn't to put the ball in the hole, rather it's to make all those around them better and find the athletes for open looks.

Kidd fits that model to a 'T' as he is averaging 14.3 points and 9.3 assists per game for his career. On this particular night, Dallas sank 50 percent of their field goals thanks in part to the wide-open shots for guys like Josh Howard and Jason Terry.

"A lot of that falls on the point guard and execution, giving them the ball when they want the ball in easy spots for them to score," Conley said. "When you go one-on-one there's not a lot of assists, not a lot of ball movement. People take shots they don't normally take and the result is a low shooting percentage."

Sha'Para Johnson has had a great deal to do with Shelbyville's success this season. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Look up and down the NBA standings. More times than not, the teams with the most success are the ones with innovators running things. From San Antonio's Tony Parker to New Orleans' Chris Paul to Detroit's Chauncey Billups, the methods vary but the formula is the same.

Follow the hands and feet of any dominant point and you'll find yourself looking at a winner. Check out Shelbyville Central's girls in action at home on Saturday night with a chance to return to the state tournament on the line. Four-year floor guide Sha'Para Johnson is a big reason why they're in that position yet again and have 26 'Ws' despite the toughest schedule in the state.