Chris Paul is putting on a masterful performance in the NBA Playoffs that Killian Hayes of the Detroit Pistons should be studying.
Paul is one of the greatest point guards of all time, so any young point guard could learn a lot by watching him play, especially in these playoffs where Paul has been fantastic and is leading the Phoenix Suns into the Western Conference Finals.
In fact, the Suns should give Pistons’ fans hope that things can turn around quickly if you build around a young star and add the right pieces.
But there are specific things Killian Hayes can glean by watching the savvy veteran Chris Paul. Here are three things he can pick up from these playoffs.
Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes can control the tempo of the game
If you watch any Chris Paul film he always looks in control of the game. The speed only goes as fast or as slow as he lets it and he is brilliant at knowing when to speed things up or slow it down.
Paul isn’t lightning quick anymore, so he uses his body to shield defenders and is an absolute genius in the pick-and-roll.
Paul knows when to attack out of the p-n-r and his deadly mid-range game makes him very difficult to stop. You either have to give him that shot or allow him into the paint where he can deliver lobs or kick it out to open shooters.
Killian Hayes is not super quick either, and has shown some ability in the pick-and-roll. He is not there as a shooter (more on that later) but he is very good at the type of change-of-pace moves that Paul utilizes to make space for himself.
Killian Hayes can eventually be deadly in the pick-and-roll but there is plenty he can learn from watching Chris Paul, who runs it as well as anyone in NBA history.