NFL
By: Stephen Garner
Happy holidays! Week 10 is wrapping up as we enter Christmas weekend with a, hopefully, full slate of games to entertain us tomorrow. Ahead of then, here’s my weekly Friday Five’s.
1.) Chris Paul Low Man Assessments 
One of the NBAs best passers and ball handlers ever, Chris Paul also brings in the dynamic of being one of the games most heady players ever.
Oftentimes it seems as if he sees things in double or triple-time, far faster than others process scenarios in the present moment.
For Paul, he has a stable of staples in his arsenals in all contexts but especially as a passer.
He is one of the best ever at blending all of his dynamics, and using them in reverse knowing defenders are attempting to stifle him. More often than not, they’re playing checkers via film, while he’s playing chess in real-time.
Two instances of note occurred this week with Paul using one of his heralded skills in reading the low man (defender responsible for protecting the rim on opposite side drives to the basket or helpers on roll men in pick and roll).
Paul has mentioned before that when on the floor, once blowing past his initial match-up, they’re not even a thought. His mind goes directly to locating whose man is coming from where, who he then has unoccupied, and what’s the best decision at that time.
All being processed in fractions of seconds, he makes the correct decision more often than anyone in the league.
Watch here as he waits for Lakers lowmen Ariza, then Thomas, to make their decision in committing to his drive or staying home on Suns corner shooters.
Chris Pauls 1st in apg (10.0), potential apg (18.6), & assist points created (25.2). Easy to overlook bc of his consistency but his ability to see & make passes that put ultimate stress on defensive rotations makes him an all-time great. Like these, reading low men
via @nbastats pic.twitter.com/OeHQSmR8ik
— Stephen PridGeon
(@StayTrueSDot3) December 24, 2021
Both would make the same decision, and Pauls velocity plus accuracy allowed for his cornermen to finish the play.
It’s a read he’s perfected and made thousands of times, and it’s become so commonplace that it’s overlooked when watching him night in and night out.
Days later he’d seemingly intentionally involve Thunder rookie Josh Giddey in his precarious web of smarts.
CP3 picked on Giddey as the low man yesterday
· Clip 1: Watch Cam J. lift as Giddey anticipates CPs drive, generating an open 3
· Clip 2: Looks like Spain with a Crowder flare to the corner before DAs screen for CP. The pass is fired as Giddey settles in rotation
via @nbastats pic.twitter.com/ogBfubi847
— Stephen PridGeon
Just one subsegment of his greatness, however his premier playmaking highlights one main reason the Suns halfcourt offense is so deadly at 97.4 Points Per 100 possessions (presently ranked 4th per Cleaning The Glass).
2.) Draymonds Defensive Acknowledgement 
It goes without saying but Draymond Green is the league’s most valuable defender.
What he does, from every defensive role, against every position 1-5, all while in a 6’6 (6’7 with thick insoles), makes him invaluable.
This is “slightly” similar to number 4 in last week’s post but such loud defensive outbursts that don’t garner enough attention will do that.
Draymond had 16-11-10 on Tuesday which was very impressive, but its his consistent ability to play every role defensively that stands out. Past counting stats, watch his activity initiate break after break. DPOY.. again, if you ask me
pic.twitter.com/hJM0OYiJgv
— Stephen PridGeon
He is ½ of chip that is responsible for the Warriors dominance over the last decade. For all that the Curry dynamic brings offensively, Draymond brings a very similar dynamic in presence and impact to the less glamorous end of the floor.
Watch him here as he closes out to (and beyond) the 3-point line, runs shooters off the line and play from behind, defend at the level of the screen, tag and drop, play two-on-the-ball, play center field, and be the low man in rim protection vs Memphis last night.
How he goes about his nightly efforts, with great consistency, is a lot like the greatness of other players who have skills that are highlight-worthy and get the attention of the masses, like a jumper or shifty handle.
However, the nightly exertion of energy he has to exude as the focal point of, on the verge of yet another, all-time great defensive unit, has to garner more attention.
To play defense the way he does, and the way Kerr wants them to schematically, is equally as (if not more) daunting of a nightly task as any 1-man centric offense is.
His efforts at the helm of Golden State’s 1st ranked offense (102.6 PA/100 possessions) and 2nd ranked halfcourt defense (87.5/100 possessions) have them operating in the same area of effectiveness as their championship garnering teams of 13-14 and 14-15.
Though with much different personnel and level of experience collectively, at their core is still a connected level of “been there, done that” guys who simply know how to get it done and have done so together.
You may not like him, but you have to respect his generational defense.
3.) Minnesota’s Floor Raiser 
If I were to ask you who I deemed as the floor raiser for the Timberwolves, you’d certainly skip over their “Big 3” and likely wouldn’t mention McDaniel’s, Vanderbilt, or even Beverly.
That’s the depth of most knowledge of this team.
However, a few seasons ago the Wolves made a trade for Malik Beasley. A streaky yet athletic G/F who has plenty upside on both ends of the floor when engaged.
Certainly not a star, Beasley is the type of ancillary player whose offensive prowess on a team who struggles to score at times (evident by their 22nd ranked offense) and devoid of creation outside of their big 3, can carve out his niche through consistency.
Beasley has high-end role player potential man. Need 2 see him reach that
— Stephen PridGeon
A tall task indeed, as in now his 7th season it’s yet to surface, but if he can be both consistent and more efficient on his touches, he can help improve their shitty offense.
If their offense is able to catch up in any way with it’s defense, we’re looking at a fringe playoff team rather than a team in the Play-In realm.
Aside from the trades they can explore in finding a primary ball-handler who can properly position and captain their talents offensively… insert Ben Simmons… and raise their ceiling, internal developments such as a Beasley returning last seasons form (44/39/85 shooting) would be an immense and immediate help.
4.) FIBA Patty?? 
A quiet quick-hitting acquisition from free agency, one that’s been as good as any in effectiveness, has been Patty Mills’ integration into this season’s Nets roster.
Few free agents have had a bigger impact on their new team than Patty Mills. Averaging career-highs in PPG & eFG% (13 on 59.6%) including 44.9% on seven 3PAs, he's the perfect guard to play second side of Durant. As a starter (15 gm's) he's up to 16 PPG on 46.5/43.1/85.7 shooting pic.twitter.com/AGbIYKDfhu
— Stephen PridGeon
In a summer that was headlined by big-name acquisitions, the Nets looked at more fits than names.
Under that mindset, Mills was an excellent signing.
He’s been asked to do much more than they planned, as the bouts Irving and Harden have had this season have seen one or both sidelined for a decent chunk of games (the entire season for the former name of that tandem).
As both of their lead guards inch closer to a return to the floor, and Mills is properly positioned again as a sixth man, his punch will grow more profound and effective playing on the second side of any primary action involving their three all-world talents.
Mills has the DNA in him from his Spurs tenure so he knows how to win and how to go about it in that role as a spark plugs. And he’s a master in time on task when his number is called.
Keep Mills name in mind as the Nets look to live up to their aspirations.
5.) Christmas Day Notes 
Tomorrow’s the unofficial start of the season to multi-sport fans as they transition from NFL to (or now split time) watch NBA games with interest.
Here’s something to watch for in each game.
Knicks @ Hawks; 11am CST, ESPN
Plenty players out in this one, including Trae Young, Derrick Rose, Clint Capela, Nerlens Noel, and Danilo Gallinari.
Key watch: Can the Hawks find a semblance of offense to give themselves a chance sans Young and Capela, their staple pick and roll tandem?
Celtics @ Bucks; 1:30pm CST, ABC
Key watch: .500 is their record and mediocrity is the most apt description of Boston this season. Can the Celtics find any rhythm offensively versus a disruptive Bucks defense?
Warriors @ Suns; 4pm CST, ABC
Key watch: Warriors set defensive (use of zone when one of Paul or Booker is off the floor) vs the Suns dynamic half-court offense.
Nets @ Lakers; 7pm CST, ABC/ESPN
Players out include Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (health and safety protocols), Anthony Davis (knee).
Key watch: Can the Lakers defend well enough against the shooters and space that a Harden-centric offense will pose?
Mavericks @ Jazz; 9:30 pm CST; ESPN
Key watch: with Doncic out due to health and safety protocols, can Porzingis draw Gobert away from the rim enough to allow their many slashers to score at the rim?
@StayTrueSdot3 
