Raja Bell

And so including them and to some degree unlocking their ability to score the ball if they're not a ball in the hand big is like the value of that is huge.

I don't know what the multiple is, but that's super valuable because he's bought in now, he's getting a taste, he's finishing around the rim, you're including him on that end, and then on the other end, typically you just get more buy-in, more effort, more willingness to do the things that you really need him to do on the defensive end of the court.

So not only does it unlock them offensively, but it gives them a level of buy-in that would help them on the defensive end of the floor as well, not that they weren't defending.

So let's say you're a big, right?

And obviously...

you and I would have different skill levels.

You're a big that I can throw the ball to a la Nikola Jokic on a pick and pop, and you can go create it yourself, right?

I'm a big that I don't really want it all the way out there where I have to beat my primary defender, but I'm good on a short roll, meaning you can give it to me.

I can make a decision on whether or not the defender

is picking me up and then I'll make one more pass.

Or if he's not picking me up, I can go and finish that.

Right.

So that's another level.

And then let's say Howard was here and Howard is a big, they can't play in a short role.

He doesn't want the ball on a pick and pop because he can't beat his man and make decisions, but he's a lob threat.

Like he will finish it around the rim.

You as a point guard have to understand who you're playing with and where and when they want the ball, what they can do.

Aside from his skill set, James Harden's that is, he's mastered understanding who he's playing with in any given pick and roll.

From minute to minute, from substitution to substitution, he generally gets that right.

He knows where and when that big wants the ball.