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<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="14478721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="flatbush-misdemeanors" source="Orion">Flatbush Misdemeanors</keyword>" star Dan Perlman spoke to Insider about the show's therapist, Dr. Flowers. </li></ul><ul class="summary-list"><li>Dr. Flowers is stern with his character Dan Joseph and forces him to be accountable.</li></ul><p>Dan Perlman plays a character on "Flatbush Misdemeanors" who has a therapist that could not care less about him — and he loves it. </p><p>His character Dan Joseph on "Flatbush Misdemeanors" — a Showtime series about two friends just trying to get by in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood — is a co-dependent addict who has let his life spiral out of control. <a href="https://www.insider.com/west-point-cadet-spring-break-overdosed-fentanyl-laced-cocaine-2022-3">He overdoses</a> on narcotics and even gets called out for "tweaking" by students at the middle school where he teaches.</p><p>But his therapist, Dr. Flowers (played by <keyword id="14478723" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yamaneika-saunders" source="Orion">Yamaneika Saunders</keyword>), is "bored" by her client's problems. </p><p>"I think she is the therapist that I should have, that more of us should have," Pearlman told Insider in an interview. </p><div type="image" title="Dan Pearlman  “Flatbush Misdemeanors”" height="333" width="444" msid="92937813" hostid="261"></div><p>Dan complains about his friend Kevin, played by <keyword id="14478722" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kevin-iso" source="Orion">Kevin Iso</keyword> (who Pearlman co-created the show with), crashing on his couch in season one episode six. She tells him to "kick his ass out." When he tries to work out patterns in his behavior during a session she interrupts him and says "the last thing I want to do is listen to your ass brainstorm." </p><p>Dr. Flowers is more about actions than analysis. </p><div type="image" title="flatbush misdemeanors" height="1198" width="1598" msid="92937815" hostid="261"></div><p>"Because so much of therapy is you just go there and you tell them a problem you have. And they're like, 'No, well it's really your parents' fault.' And you're like, 'Okay,' but that doesn't help you."</p><p>Saunders doesn't just bring the character to life on screen. She also contributes to the show's dialogue by improvising and going off script. Perlman called Saunders "one of the funniest people" on the show. </p><p>"Everyone's just dying when she goes off and is just yelling at me," he added before calling her scenes "the funniest shit" from "both seasons." </p><p>Perlman is open about how his <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/dan-perlman-flatbush-misdemeanors-season-2.html">own struggles</a> with addiction have inspired the series he co-created with Iso. He said he has desired a tougher approach from his own mental health providers on occasion. </p><p>"I've sometimes wanted a little bit of Dr. Flowers where it's just like, you are fucking up, you are doing this wrong, and fix yourself. I'm bored. I'm bored by this. I think that feels like a nice catharsis there for it. And then it also just feels like a fun sort of subversion when we're making it," he said. </p><p>As terms like "love bombing" and "gaslighting" inject therapy speak into mainstream culture, the bold character subverts existing tropes about the profession.</p><p>"There's this trope going on now of the Black female therapist, who's just there to kind of like service the protagonist and the generally white character. But here, Dr. Flowers does not care about me at all. She's bored. She's, knitting, she's doing her own thing. She like could not give a fuck about my guy," said Perlman. </p><div type="image" title="Yamaneika Saunders and Dan Pearlman Flatbush Misdemeanors" height="533" width="710" msid="92937817" hostid="261"></div><p>"I love that and wish that was more of therapy." </p><p>He might love her frankness but Perlman is not entirely happy with every aspect of Dr. Flowers' care though. He finds her à la carte fees a bit much to take for his character. She insists on payment upfront and has strict guidelines on what <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lyft-removed-ride-fare-split-friends-2018-11?_ga=2.64068012.229768987.1657543886-1996747788.1647018266">ride-sharing apps</a> she will accept for offline sessions. </p><p>"I do think she overcharges," he admitted. </p><p>New episode of "Flatbush Misdemeanors" stream at 11 p.m. ET on <a href="https://www.sho.com/showtime-anytime">Showtime</a> on Fridays. The first five episodes of season two are now streaming on Showtime.</p>

'Flatbush Misdemeanors' star Dan Perlman thinks more people should have a no-nonsense therapist

<ul class="summary-list"><li><em>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</em></li></ul><p><strong>Happy Independence Day!</strong> I'm Jordan Parker Erb, filling in for Dan DeFrancesco.</p><p>Former President Donald Trump seems to think President Joe Biden's campaign is over, and he can barely contain his excitement, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-barely-contain-glee-biden-campaign-implosion-2024-7"><u>per a leaked video</u></a>. But Biden vowed again on Wednesday that he is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-crashed-call-with-staff-said-no-pushing-me-out-2024-7"><u>not dropping out of the race</u></a>. It comes amid reports that White House staffers are being told to go heads down and "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-white-house-staffers-heads-down-execute-debate-2024-7"><u>execute, execute, execute.</u></a>"</p><p>In observance of the US holiday, we have a shorter edition of the newsletter. We'll be back in full force tomorrow.</p><p>In today's big story, we're looking at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-dating-finance-guy-confessions-pros-cons-2024-7"><u>why it's such a good time to be a finance bro</u></a>.</p><p><strong><em>If this was forwarded to you, </em></strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today"><strong><em><u>sign up here.</u></em></strong></a></p><h3 id="0183891e-1bee-48f2-bdc5-4b3223a6542a">The big story</h3><h2 id="9cba1389-8670-4423-b141-5129ba9798b1"><strong>ISO: A man in finance</strong></h2><div type="image" title="man in suit, Wall Street background with hearts" height="874" width="1178" msid="111494068" hostid="261" sizebytes="43662"></div><p><strong>It's cool to be a finance bro — for now.</strong></p><p>Thanks to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@girl_on_couch/video/7363742421588512043?embed_source=121374463%2C121442748%2C121439635%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_name&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=www.billboard.com%2Fbusiness%2Frecord-labels%2Fman-in-finance-tiktok-sound-creator-label-deal-1235692123%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7363742421588512043"><u>a song in a viral TikTok video</u></a>, finance bros have entered a period of resurgence. If you're even remotely online, you'll recognize the lyrics: "I'm looking for a man in finance. Trust fund. 6'5. Blue eyes."</p><p>The video, posted by user Megan Boni, has raked in around 54 million views since being uploaded. It's become a cultural touchstone for the summer, seemingly telling viewers it's officially acceptable to be a man in finance — and if you can date one, that's even better. (Though some women say <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-dating-finance-guy-confessions-pros-cons-2024-7"><u>it's not all it's cracked up to be</u></a>, writes Business Insider's Maria Noyen.)</p><p>But that wasn't always the case for Wall Streeters.</p><p>Before moving to New York City, I was impervious to bankers and their various quirks. But it didn't take long to discover that finance bros were often the butt of the joke. I quickly learned to knowingly roll my eyes at the swarms of Patagonia vests in downtown Manhattan.</p><p>The finance-bro revival has benefited, at least in part, from America's short-term memory. Following the 2008 financial crisis, working on the Street wasn't viewed with such high esteem. Plenty of Americans felt resentment toward financial workers, blaming them for the economy's meltdown.</p><p>In the years since, attention has shifted to a new cohort: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-sam-altman-new-era-tech-villian-chatgpt-safety-2024-5"><u>tech bros</u></a>. They're easy to poke fun at for their meme-worthy antics (I'm looking at you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-mark-zuckerberg-surfing-with-tons-of-sunscreen-memes-2020-7"><u>Mark Zuckerberg's sunscreen</u></a>).</p><p>And they can also be easy to hate when employing dubious or flat-out criminal business practices. (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4"><u>Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos</u></a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-bankman-fried-sentenced-prison-ftx-alameda-research-2024-3"><u>Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX</u></a> are recent examples.)</p><p>So finance bros may be enjoying a moment in the cultural sunshine — but it likely won't last forever.</p><h2 id="f0c94eee-2726-469e-9d0c-3f41bde00c30"><strong>In other news</strong></h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/voters-world-elections-against-ruling-parties-analysis-2024-7"><u>Forget right or left. Voters are sick of whoever's in charge</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-and-democrats-cant-decide-blame-for-disastrous-debate-2024-7"><u>Biden and the Democrats can't decide what to blame the disastrous debate on</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-ozempic-linked-to-rare-cases-of-blindness-2024-7"><u>Patients on Ozempic are developing a rare form of sudden blindness, doctors say</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-costner-horizon-box-office-numbers-break-even-2024-7"><u>Kevin Costner's self-financed movie was a box-office flop. Experts say he's 'going to lose a lot of money.'</u></a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/piece-of-evidence-can-now-scuttle-trump-hush-money-conviction-2024-7"><u>Just 1 piece of evidence could scuttle Trump's hush-money conviction and force a time-sucking retrial</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-apple-new-battery-life-how-long-improvement-why-2024-7"><u>Hey, Apple! We want much more battery life in the new iPhone 16</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/democratic-megadonor-biden-misplaced-trust-cabal-of-aides-2024-7"><u>An influential Democratic donor says Biden has 'misplaced trust' in a 'cabal' of 3 top aides</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saks-neiman-marcus-tie-up-with-amazon-fend-off-lvmh-2024-7"><u>Two luxury rivals are joining forces — and Amazon is getting in on the action</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-debate-prep-started-at-11-and-included-afternoon-nap-2024-7"><u>An 11 a.m. start time and an afternoon nap: Report reveals Biden's debate prep schedule</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vintage-photos-coney-island-fourth-of-july"><u>Vintage photos show what Coney Island's 4th of July celebrations used to look like</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-popular-chef-best-coleslaw-recipe-photos"><u>I tried coleslaw recipes from Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, and Sunny Anderson, and the best one called for raisins and apples</u></a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hawk-tuah-girl-viral-fame-meme-plans-merch-hailey-welch-2024-7"><u>'Hawk Tuah Girl' has our attention. Next, she would like our money</u></a>.</li></ul><h2 id="b11d3064-9709-4991-8d21-b57fe434eb94"><strong>What's happening today</strong></h2><ul><li>The UK general election will be held. The Conservatives led by Rishi Sunak — who called the election amid a downpour in May — face an uphill battle to defend their seats.</li><li>Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest will go on without its longtime star, Joey Chestnut. Chestnut <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nathans-eating-contest-joey-chestnut-plant-based-hot-dogs-2024-6"><u>was barred from competing due to a sponsor conflict</u></a>.</li></ul><p><strong>The Insider Today team: </strong>Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.</p>

It's cool to be a finance bro — for now

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="6361805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBA">NBA</keyword> is flush with dominant point guards.</li><li>We ranked the best point guards, determining the list with the help of B-R's position splits.</li><li><keyword id="112378" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="LeBron-James">LeBron James</keyword>, the best player in the NBA, is also the league's best point guard.</li></ul><p>Point guards in basketball are like quarterbacks in football: they run the show on offense, and it can be tough to win without a good one.</p><p>The league has arguably never been so flush with talented point guards, so we decided to rank them.</p><p>Defining positions in an increasingly position-less NBA is tricky, so we used Basketball-Reference's play-by-play splits, which determine how often a player plays at which position.</p><p>Check out our ranking of the 15 best point guards in the NBA right now.</p><p><em>Honorable mentions: Jamal Murray, Malcolm Brogdon, Mike Conley, Fred VanVleet</em></p><h2><div type="image" title="ja morant" height="1282" width="1709" msid="82122394" hostid="261"></div>15. Ja Morant</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Memphis Grizzlies</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 21</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 44.7% FG, 26.9% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Morant is one of the most electric players in the NBA with the ball in his hands. Few players have as quick of a first step, are as fast from end to end, and elevate above the rim instantly like Morant. He's a good scorer without a reliable jumper and a dazzling, creative playmaker. If/when his defense and jumper (two serious weak spots as of now) come around: look out.</p><h2>14. Kemba Walker</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Boston Celtics</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 30</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 39.7% FG, 34% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Walker is having one of his worst statistical seasons, and doubts persist about the status of his left knee. Still, Walker is a three-level scorer and solid playmaker who remains a tough guard for anyone, thanks to his water-bug quickness. He is something of an X-factor in Boston as a player who could potentially take the Celtics to the next level if he regains his All-NBA form from 2018-19.</p><h2><div type="image" title="jrue holiday" height="1125" width="1500" msid="82122395" hostid="261"></div>13. Jrue Holiday</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Milwaukee Bucks</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 30</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 50.5% FG, 39.9% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Holiday is one of the rare players who is perhaps the perfect fit for any team. He can play on or off the ball, spread the floor or knife into the lane, and lock up opposing guards and forwards alike. JJ Redick and Kevin Durant mused that he might be the best defender in the league. The Bucks traded five draft picks for him. He hasn't made an All-Star team since 2013, but he's one of the most well-rounded, impactful players in the NBA.</p><h2>12. De'Aaron Fox</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Sacramento Kings</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 23</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 47.8% FG, 32.9% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Fox is sometimes overshadowed because he is on a perennial lottery team in Sacramento. But he has raised his scoring average and efficiency each year. He may be <em>the</em> fastest player in the league, and he can surprise opponents with his explosiveness around the rim. He is learning the nuances of leading a team. If you could pick any point guard to build around, Fox, at 23, would be a good choice.</p><h2>11. Russell Westbrook</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Washington Wizards</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 32</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 43.9% FG, 30.6% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> This is Westbrook's <em>fourth</em> season averaging a triple-double - a feat, it feels safe to say, that will not be accomplished again. Despite Westbrook's numbers, however, his impact on winning has waned as he's gotten older, and he ranks as one of the least efficient scorers on volume in league history. The former MVP has plenty left in him for a strong late stage of his career, but he may need to adjust his game to maximize his impact.</p><h2><div type="image" title="trae young" height="1125" width="1500" msid="82122396" hostid="261"></div>10. Trae Young</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Atlanta Hawks</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 22</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 25.4 points, 4 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 43.5% FG, 36.1% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Young is often criticized for his relative weaknesses - his efficiency, his defense (though it's improved slightly), his turnovers, his ability to lead a playoff contender. Perhaps not enough praise is given for his otherworldly offensive talents. He has unlimited range and can go on scoring binges that alter games. He's also an underrated passer; his court vision is impressive considering his size. Young is putting up elite numbers at 22 and is the best player on a team that is 4th in the East at the time of this writing.</p><h2>9. Kyle Lowry</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Toronto Raptors</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 35</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 43.7% FG, 39.1% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Often described as "the ultimate competitor," Lowry is one of the rare players you can spend an entire game watching. Sure, he's a good scorer, playmaker, and defender, but he also does little things that rarely show up in the stat sheet: timely screens and cuts, getting in scrums for rebounds, helping and recovering on defense. His time in Toronto appears to be ending, but he looks as if he can be a high-level contributor to a championship team for years to come.</p><div type="image" title="ben simmons kyrie irving" height="1333" width="1778" msid="82122397" hostid="261"></div><h2>8. Kyrie Irving</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> <keyword id="785198" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Brooklyn-Nets">Brooklyn Nets</keyword></p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 29</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 27.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 51.6% FG, 39.8% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> It sometimes feels like Irving can do whatever he wants on a court. Irving's canvas is anywhere from the three-point line to the rim. He turns opponents inside out with dribble combos, hesitations, fakes, and spins that must be infuriating to defend. He's averaging a career-high in points on career-best efficiency this season. There isn't a lot of proof that Irving can function as the best player on a championship contender, but luckily for him, he has <keyword id="581561" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="James-Harden">James Harden</keyword> and Kevin Durant on his team, freeing him to be a scoring assassin.</p><h2>7. Ben Simmons</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Philadelphia 76ers</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 24</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 54.5% FG, 30% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simmobe01.html">According to Basketball-Reference</a>, 100% of Simmons's minutes this season have come at point guard. But Simmons is a one-of-a-kind player - a Point Simmons. He may not look to score often, but few players put as much pressure on the rim as Simmons, who is also a force in transition. Sure, he doesn't shoot the ball, but Simmons seems happy dishing to teammates and locking up the opposing team's best scorer - two qualities we should appreciate more.</p><h2>6. Chris Paul</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Phoenix Suns</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 35</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 48.6% FG, 36.4% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> The "Point God" may have lost a step at 35, but his instinct and know-how on the court are still at their peak. Paul is still an orchestrator, finding and creating all sorts of windows to get the ball to his teammates. Over his last nine games (as of this writing), Paul has thrown 89 assists to just 12 turnovers, startlingly efficient playmaking. And he remains one of the craftiest defenders in the NBA, always capable of disrupting an opponent's possession with his quick hands and guile.</p><h2><div type="image" title="damian lillard" height="1252" width="1669" msid="82122398" hostid="261"></div>5. Damian Lillard</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Portland Trail Blazers</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 30</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 28.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 44% FG, 37.9% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Lillard's numbers have fallen in recent weeks after a Herculean effort to keep an injured Blazers squad alive. But Lillard in hero mode is still a sight to behold. Some guards dance around opponents; Lillard is much more of a straight-line player. He can blaze past opponents to the rim or feign a drive, then bury them with stepback threes. There is perhaps no other player you'd want taking the last shot: Lillard owns a 20-8 record in the "clutch" this season while leading the NBA in clutch points on a ridiculous 53-43-100 shooting line.</p><h2>4. Luka Doncic</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Dallas Mavericks</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 22</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 28.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 48.6% FG, 36.4% 3fG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> It's impressive how quickly the Mavericks realized their future revolved around: "Give Luka the ball and put shooters around him." At 6-foot-7, Doncic sees all passing windows and knows how to manipulate defenses. He is developing a LeBron James-esque ability to spot mismatches and take advantage of them. He owns a deceptive first step, unique footwork, and the most unguardable shot type in the NBA - the stepback three. That he's doing this at 22 is remarkable: he is going to terrorize defenses for a long time.</p><h2><div type="image" title="james harden" height="1182" width="1576" msid="82122399" hostid="261"></div>3. James Harden</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> Brooklyn Nets</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 31</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 25.2 points, 8 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 46.3% FG, 35.8% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> This is our one cheat on this list: Harden hasn't played a majority of his minutes at point guard this season, according to Basketball-Reference. But Harden is functionally a point guard; Kyrie Irving even told Harden earlier this year, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30897633/kyrie-irving-tells-james-harden-point-guard-going-play-shooting-guard-brooklyn-nets-settle-roles">"You're the point guard."</a> Removed from Houston's iso-centric offense, Harden can still get any shot he wants, but he is a wonder when he's searching for teammates. Whether it's sucking in defenses to throw alley-oops or kick it out to shooters for wide-open threes, Harden can beat a defense any way he likes.</p><h2>2. <keyword id="218063" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Stephen-Curry">Stephen Curry</keyword></h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> <keyword id="255097" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Golden-State-Warriors">Golden State Warriors</keyword></p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 33</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 30.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 48.9% FG, 42.2% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> Curry's game is unlike any other player on this list. He is not a ball-dominant guard who creates for others with high dribble counts. Instead, Curry is quick to give up the ball, run around screens, and relocate for open shots. Give him an ounce of space, and he'll launch a three or burn a defender and get to the rim. He is not the purest passer on this list, but no player in the NBA carries more gravity, and his unselfish ways unlock more easy looks for teammates than can be measured.</p><h2><div type="image" title="lebron james" height="1336" width="1781" msid="82122400" hostid="261"></div>1. LeBron James</h2><p><strong>Team:</strong> <keyword id="100883" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Los-Angeles-Lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</keyword></p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 35</p><p><strong>2020-21 stats:</strong> 25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 51.3% FG, 36.8% 3FG</p><p><strong>Where he stands right now:</strong> People may be sick of hearing it, but the NBA still runs through James. He has arguably lost several steps, but he is smart enough to use his body to get around defenders, and he has developed a deadly stepback three. And no player is better at rearranging the court to their liking. He hunts mismatches and knows how the smallest movement could warp the defense and create an opening. Until proven otherwise, he is the most dominant offensive force in the NBA.</p>

The 15 best points guards in the NBA right now, ranked

<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Klay Thompson scored 52 points and hit an NBA record 14 three-pointers in the Golden State Warriors win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.</strong></li><li><strong>During the game, Thompson showed how effective he is at moving without the ball to get open, a unique skill that is harder than it looks.</strong></li><li><strong>The explosion also showed the Warriors' immense talent and chemistry, proving that this team is still far more talented and deep than anybody else in the league.</strong></li></ul><p><br>Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson exploded for 52 points on Monday against the Chicago Bulls, hitting an NBA record 14 three-pointers in the process.</br></p><p>It was a breakout game for Thompson, who - normally one of the best shooters in the league - had been mired in a slump, hitting just 14% of his three-pointers to start the season.</p><p>However, early on Monday, Thompson got a few clean looks from deep, hit them, and seemed to get untracked. When it was clear Thompson was going to have a big night, the Warriors began force-feeding him, going to the hot hand. That's when Thompson began to show why he's such a crucial part of the Warriors juggernaut.</p><p>There is some debate in the NBA about whether Thompson would be as good and as efficient if he were the top scorer on a team instead of the third or fourth on the Warriors. Thompson undoubtedly benefits from the attention defenses pay Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.</p><p>But Thompson also possesses a unique skill: getting open. It's a skill he shares with Curry. When defenses key in on them, they can wiggle their way back open, thanks to their incredible floor vision and shifty moves.</p><p><strong><em>Read more:&#xa0;</em></strong><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-curry-finals-scoring-running-threes-2018-6">Stephen Curry has a simple skill few others utilize that allows him to wreak havoc on defenses, and it's showing in the Finals</a></em></p><p>In the second quarter, with the Bulls well aware that Thompson was hot and the Warriors were looking for him, Thompson used his ability to "relocate" to get open. That is, he would give up the ball, squirm through and around screens, moving without the ball until he could get a clean look. In the meantime, his teammates would strategically move the ball until they could get it back to Thompson.</p><p>When players go for 52 points, it usually means they dominated the ball. Not Thompson. In the entire game, he took just 13 dribbles.</p><p>Watch below, as Thompson ran around the court, relocating to the opposite corner to get an open three. Also of importance is the quick decision by Draymond Green to catch the ball on the move and immediately find Thompson in the corner. This is the kind of chemistry that can only be built over years.</p><p><br>Moments later, Thompson got the ball on the wing, quickly gave it up, rerouted through the paint, and got to the opposite corner. Again, he was open. Also, note how Curry set a screen for Thompson in the corner before Thompson even finished moving - another sign of their chemistry.</br></p><p><br>This may seem like a simple skill, but it isn't. As <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/10/29/18035872/klay-thompson-golden-state-warriors-interview">The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor documented</a>, Thompson has dedicated countless hours to his conditioning and core strength to better wind around screens and stay balanced and ready to shoot. It also takes experience to understand how and when to move, something he's improved upon over the years.</br></p><p>Thompson has taken notes from all of the greats in the NBA on how to get open, but his back-court partner has helped him, too.</p><p><span>"I learned a lot about [stopping on a dime] from watching Steph," Thompson told O'Connor. "He doesn't use as much energy by using these shifty moves to get his man off." Whereas Thompson used to sprint to get open, he's learned how to use a change of pace and direction to get open.</span></p><p>Curry and Thompson are both elite&#xa0;players when it comes to moving off the ball. A lot of players stop moving when they give up the ball. Curry and Thompson do the opposite. When they pass the ball, they continue running, knowing defenses will monitor their every move and shift to stay with them. This, in turn, can open up opportunities for their teammates.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-curry-finals-scoring-running-threes-2018-6">Curry showed off this skill throughout the playoffs</a> and even talked about how important it is to the Warriors' offense.</p><p>"How teams guard us with all our switching and things like that, you've got to find different ways to create space," Curry said,<span>&#xa0;</span><a href="https://theathletic.com/379002/2018/06/04/five-observations-from-the-warriors-122-103-game-2-blowout-of-the-cavaliers/">via Anthony Slater of The Athletic</a>. "Isos are great, and we have guys that are capable of doing that all across the board.</p><p>"But when we keep the ball moving and keep bodies moving, good things usually happen. When we're dialed in offensively, we're really efficient with getting into the paint, kicking it out, finding an open guy, whether it's me relocating to the corner or Klay coming off a pindown or Draymond getting an open three."</p><p>Consider the Warriors' run over this past week. Last Wednesday, Stephen Curry scored 51 points in three quarters. The following game, Durant scored 25 points in the fourth quarter alone to beat the New York Knicks. Two nights later, Curry scored 35 points to beat the Brooklyn Nets, setting an NBA record for consecutive games with at least five three-pointers. Then, on Monday, Thompson exploded for 52.</p><p>The NBA has seen a slight shift in power this season, and there are some encouraging contenders throughout the league. But when the Warriors are clicking like this, they're in their universe.</p><div></div><div></div><div><div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scorpion-venom-most-expensive-liquid-in-the-world-2018-8">Scorpion venom is the most expensive liquid in the world - here's why it costs $39 million per gallon</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Two plays from Klay Thompson's explosion showed off a unique skill he shares with Stephen Curry that helps make the Warriors impossible to guard

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Christian Petersen/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Serge Ibaka has gotten frustrated with his role this season.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a roll, winning eight games in a row and keeping the Western Conference interesting.</p><p>Russell Westbrook continues to notch triple-doubles, while Kevin Durant quietly goes about his business as an unstoppable scorer.</p><p>Behind them, however, has been the improved play of Serge Ibaka, who's averaging 13 points on 56% shooting during the win streak. The numbers are an improvement for Ibaka, who has seen a statistical drop-off this season for reasons unknown.</p><p>After a 119-100 drubbing of the Toronto Raptors on Monday, Ibaka, while praising the team's improved play, aptly described their biggest flaw, and it's what has trouble them for years (<a href="http://newsok.com/article/5488117">via The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater</a>):</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"I'm gonna tell you the truth, it's hard sometimes when you play hard, you play you're (butt off). You play so hard on defense, then you come to offense and you're going to be out there in the corner for 4, 5, 6, sometimes 8 minutes and you don't touch the ball. We human, man. It's hard.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"We're playing great basketball. Russell and Kevin are doing a better job moving the ball, making us to feel a part of the team."</p><p>Despite the otherworldly talent of Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder have frequently been criticized for a stagnant, unimaginative offense. It's what partially led to Scott Brooks' firing last season, and though new coach Billy Donovan has helped guide the team to the NBA's second-most efficient offense, some of these problems still plague the Thunder.</p><p>The numbers show it, too. Yes, Westbrook and Durant average a combined 15 assists per game and the Thunder are ninth in assists per game, but that isn't indicative of team ball movement. The Thunder are 21st in assist percentage (percentage of baskets that were assisted) and according to NBA.com/Stats' tracking numbers, the Thunder are dead-last in passes made per game. They're also only 23rd in "secondary" assists - that is, passes that lead to an assist - which shows a lack of ball movement.</p><p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/okc-thunder/post/_/id/1062/thunders-kevin-durant-were-not-the-spurs-nor-should-they-be">Durant has addressed this issue</a> before, saying:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Look, we're not the San Antonio Spurs. We're not going to make 30 passes in a possession. We're not that. Of course, people want us to be that. That's great basketball, don't get me wrong. But we're not that. We've got guys that can score. We've got two guys on this team that can get a bucket. There's going to be times we gotta iso, there's going to be times we gotta be aggressive to look for our shot to make a play."</p><p>That's fine, but it's also what's bogged down the Thunder before. In the postseason, defenses have much less work to do when they know one player is going to dribble from the perimeter and try to get their own shot.</p><p>The Thunder are as talented as any team in the NBA, and while they don't have to replicate the Spurs or the Warriors, they're far more dangerous when every player is getting involved.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kareem-abdul-jabbar-ncaa-should-pay-their-athletes-2016-3">KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR: College athletes are 'being exploited'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="ZnaTUzeDrpc-3w0V-V3xRmV0rgXfQYQk" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

A Thunder player summed up the team's biggest flaw that could lead to their downfall

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Alex Brandon/AP</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The New York Knicks have been one of the NBA's most pleasant surprises this year.</p><p>At 22-22, the Knicks are firmly in the playoff race, a far departure from last season when they finished with a franchise-worst 17-65 record, second worst in the NBA.</p><p>Behind their renaissance has been the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kristaps-porzingis-is-unlike-any-player-to-nba-2015-12">explosive play of rookie Kristaps Porzingis</a>, the surprising <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arron-afflalo-contract-turned-into-steal-for-knicks-2015-12">effectiveness of Arron Afflalo</a>, but perhaps most importantly, Carmelo Anthony molding into the player the NBA world always hoped to see.</p><p>Anthony has at times carried a somewhat negative reputation amongst NBA fans for his isolation-heavy style, his frequently sticky hands on offense, his come-and-go attitude towards defense, and perhaps unfairly, his lack of postseason success. Anthony is clearly one of the most dominant scorers in the NBA, an excellent passer when he wants to be, and a capable defender, but he rarely flashed all of these skills at the same time on a consistent basis.</p><p>Coming into the season, as the Knicks shifted toward a lengthy rebuild spearheaded by Porzingis' future potential, it looked like a matter of time before the Knicks had to move on from Anthony, who at 31 years old, seemingly didn't match Porzingis' timeline.</p><p>Instead, Anthony has molded his game into the exact type of player fans always hoped to see. The Knicks offense still runs through him, but he's shown an increased willingness to trust his teammates by hitting them for open looks, while also demonstrating a renewed commitment to rebounding and playing defense.</p><p>In the Knicks' thrilling 118-111 overtime win over the Utah Jazz Wednesday night, Anthony's full repertoire was on display. He finished with a studly stat line of 30 points on 13-20 shooting, seven rebounds, and nine assists, flirting with a triple-double as he has several times this season.</p><p>Down the stretch, the Knicks didn't over-think their offense; they let Anthony face up on the wing and take what the defense gave him. At times, that meant going to his usual jab-step-happy isos to score his own baskets.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Via NBA.com/Stats</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Via NBA.com/Stats</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>More impressively, when put in these situations, Anthony can act like a quarterback in the pocket, picking apart defenses where they leave holes. Anthony had four huge assists for three-pointers in the fourth quarter and overtime.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Via NBA.com/Stats</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Via NBA.com/Stats</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>His defense on Jazz star Gordon Hayward was equally as important. Hayward finished with an impressive 27 points on 8-19 shooting with five assists, but over the final 17 minutes of the game, Anthony helped hold Hayward to 2-6 shooting with three turnovers.</p><p>This isn't groundbreaking defense, but the effort and quick feet forced Hayward into a late, critical turnover.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Via NBA.com/Stats</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Anthony's versatile play of late is reflected in the stats. While his shooting percentages are down, his advanced stats reflect his improvements across the board. According to Basketball-Reference, Anthony's rebound percentage (percentage of rebounds grabbed by a player) is 12.1%, the second highest of his career, and his assist percentage (percentage of field goals a player assists on) is a career-high 21.2%.</p><p>After a slow start to the season as he recovered from knee surgery last season, Anthony has turned it on. Since December 12, a stretch in which the Knicks have gone 12-8, Anthony is averaging a robust 22 points per game on 48% shooting, eight rebounds and five assists per game.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Kevin C. Cox/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Carmelo Anthony and his friends.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>There's an argument that Anthony shouldn't be praised for playing the game in a more sensible, consistent way than he's ever done. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14598808/who-deserves-represent-their-conference-nba-all-star-game">ESPN's Zach Lowe touched on this in his column</a>, writing:</p><p>"As for Anthony, it's almost pathetic how much squealing praise he gets for playing passable defense and passing the ball. How many breathless stories do we have to read about how this newly matured Melo trusts his teammates? Did anyone not realize that passing and defense were good things? ... Anthony playing, you know, basketball isn't a revelation, but it is helping the Knicks survive the toughest stretch of their schedule."</p><p>While it's a fair argument, perhaps the most important part of Anthony playing all-around basketball is that few players in the NBA can match his ceiling, so to speak, when he's playing like he is now.</p><p>Here's a look at players averaging at least 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game, like Melo is this season: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Blake Griffin. Pretty good company.</p><p>And here's a list of players with a PER (player efficiency rating) of at least 21, a rebound percentage of at least 12% and an assist percentage of at least 21%: Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James isn't even doing it this season.</p><p>Knicks coach <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/63933/knicks-pushing-anthony-to-expand-his-game">Derek Fisher noted</a> how important it is for Anthony to unlock all of his tools at once.</p><p>"The interesting thing for Melo is that there's this land of opportunity out there that he has not quite accessed yet. And that's what we're here to do alongside of him," Fisher told reporters. "He's a prolific scorer, no doubt about it. But I think the other parts of the game that he's capable of dominating in as well, those are the parts that will elevate him and elevate our team. That's what we're trying to do."</p><p>For the Knicks, this version of Carmelo Anthony is absolutely crucial for their success. After 12 years in the NBA, there was doubt Anthony would ever realize all of his skills and put them to use, at once, for an extended period of time. </p><p>But Anthony is doing it this year, and the Knicks suddenly look like a legitimate playoff threat whose rebuild has sped up at an unexpected rate.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/golden-state-warriors-hard-beat-small-ball-stephen-curry-nba-champs-2015-12">This is why the Golden State Warriors are so hard to beat</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="ZmOGY5eTpEOkxcI5lua6r9WLNTtCQSr9" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

13 years into his career, Carmelo Anthony has finally become the player the NBA world has been waiting for

<p>The <keyword id="630356" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBA-Playoffs">NBA Playoffs</keyword> finally start Saturday at 3 p.m. eastern.</p>
<p>We couldn't be more excited.</p>
<p>Here are our official predictions are the first round. We only picked one upset (because we're cowards), but we also only picked one sweep!</p>
<p><div class="image-container" style="width:620px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</p></div></p>
<h3><strong>Miami Heat (1) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8): Miami in 5</strong></h3>
<p>For a team that's not very good, the Bucks play the Heat weirdly tough. Miami won 3 of 4 meetings this year, but one game went to overtime and Milwaukee won another by 20+ points. </p>
<p>They don't turn the ball over, and Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings could randomly go off for 40+ points at any time</p>
<p>But, as we mentioned, Milwaukee is a pretty whomp team in general. They're just average at three-point shooting and they get can pretty iso-heavy on offense, which is basically the opposite of what you need against Miami.</p>
<p>Miami (as a big a juggernaut as they are) has never swept a team in the Big-3 era, and they've have a tendency to sleepwalk through a game or two if they think they've got a series wrapped up.</p>
<p><strong>Miami in 5.</strong></p>
<p><div class="image-container" style="width:620px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Bruce Bennett/Getty Images</p></div></p>
<h3><strong>New York Knicks (2) vs. Boston Celtics (7): New York in 6</strong></h3>
<p>The Celtics have a lot going against them.</p>
<p>They have the worst offense of any team in the playoffs, and their defense (while ranked in the 10) isn't the sort of elite unit that can win a series by itself. Kevin Garnett is hurt and has only played three games in the past month. And the only guys who played on the team that pushed Miami to Game 7 last year are Paul Pierce and KG</p>
<p>So if you want to pick Boston to win this series, you have to accept one assumption — they have an extra gear that they're saving for the playoffs.</p>
<p>It's certainly possible. The Celtics have outperformed expectations in the playoffs going back to 2010.</p>
<p>But the Knicks are playing too well right now. They can score in a variety of ways, and they've shown that they can defend when they want to. Boston just doesn't have the bigs to give them trouble.</p>
<p><strong>Knicks in 6.</strong></p>
<p><table class="image-container" width="200"><tr><td><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Pool/Getty Images</p></td></tr></table></p>
<h3><strong>Indiana Pacers (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6): Indiana in 5</strong></h3>
<p>There's just no way Atlanta can score enough to stay in this series. They already have trouble putting up points (12th among playoff teams in offensive efficiency), and now they're going against the best defensive team in the East.</p>
<p>Yeah, Indiana has fallen off a bit in the last few weeks, and their bench is pretty suspect.</p>
<p>But they're still an insanely good defensive team, and their unstoppable 5-man unit of George Hill-Lance Stephenson-Paul George-David West-Roy Hibbert should get even more minutes together in the playoffs.</p>
<p><strong>Indiana in 5.</strong></p>
<p><table class="image-container" width="200"><tr><td><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Al Bello/Getty Images</p></td></tr></table></p>
<h3><strong>Brooklyn Nets (4) vs. Chicago (5): Brooklyn in 7</strong></h3>
<p>The Nets have quietly put things together in the last few weeks. They're 15-7 since March 6th, rising to 8th in offensive efficiency and 17th in defensive efficiency, which is still weak but better than where it was in the fall.</p>
<p>In that time Deron Williams has morphed back into his former self, averaging 23.3 points and 8.3 assists per game. Before that he was averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 assists.</p>
<p>Brooklyn still doesn't move the ball well or play too much defense.</p>
<p>But a shortened rotation and a revitalized D-Will should be enough against a Bulls teams that doesn't have Joakim Noah.</p>
<p><strong>Brooklyn in 7, just because one of these things has to go 7.</strong></p>
<p><table class="image-container" width="200"><tr><td><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</p></td></tr></table></p>
<h3><strong>Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Houston Rockets (8): Oklahoma City in 5</strong></h3>
<p>Houston only has one guy who plays defense in Omer Asik, and their up-and-down style plays into exactly what Oklahoma City does well. So no, there's no chance of an upset here unless Durant or Westbrook gets hurt.</p>
<p>But can they steal a game? Sure.</p>
<p>When you can score the way the Rockets can, you always have a puncher's chance. They've scored 120 or more points in 13 games this year, going 12-1 in those games. It's simply tough to lose when you go off for that many points.</p>
<p>So yeah, it's reasonable to think Houston will have one random game where they shoot 58% and Harden drops 40 points on 18 shots.</p>
<p>But not four.</p>
<p><strong>Oklahoma City in 5.</strong></p>
<p><table class="image-container" width="200"><tr><td><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</p></td></tr></table></p>
<h3><strong>San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7): San Antonio in 4</strong></h3>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-playoff-prediction-lakers-spurs-2013-4">We wrote about this at length yesterday. </a></p>
<p>In short: LA's defenses weaknesses correspond to San Antonio's offensive strengths. The Spurs can get into the paint at will and drain threes, while the Lakers can't stop anyone from getting into the paint and let up the most threes per game in the league.</p>
<p>It'll be a destruction if Tony Parker is healthy.</p>
<p><strong>San Antonio in a sweep.</strong></p>
<p><div class="image-container" style="width:620px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Doug Pensinger/Getty Images</p></div></p>
<h3><strong>Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6): Denver in 7</strong></h3>
<p>This should be the most fun series of the first round. </p>
<p>Denver plays the 2nd-fastest pace in the league and Golden State plays the 4th-fastest. Denver is 5th in the league in points per possession while Golden State is 11th. And both are middling defensive teams.</p>
<p>So basically, points!</p>
<p>Still though, the Nuggets are the clear favorite. Golden State has been a .500 team since starting the year 15-7. Their defense has fallen off, they're prone to stretches of offensive stagnation, and Jarrett Jack is their go-to guy in crunch time.</p>
<p>The only reason to question Denver's chances here is injuries. Danilo Gallinari is out, Kenneth Faried tweaked an ankle, and Ty Lawson has been slowed by a foot injury. All of a sudden Evan Fournier — who scored 45 total points in October, November, and December combined — is a significant piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>They should still be okay, but we'll hedge and say this one goes the distance.</p>
<p><strong>Denver in 7.</strong></p>
<p><div class="image-container" style="width:620px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p></div></p>
<h3><strong>Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (5): Memphis in 6</strong></h3>
<p>Here's the thing with the Clippers — they tend to adapt to the style of whatever team they're playing.</p>
<p>If you want to play fast, they'll play fast. If you want to play slow, they'll play slow. They scored 90 or less points 12 times this year, but 115 or more points 10 times. </p>
<p>You can put a positive spin on that by saying that can win in a variety of ways — they can beat you in the halfcourt with Chris Paul or out-run you in the open court with Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin.</p>
<p>But at the end of the day they tend to play however fast or slow their opponents want to play. And against Memphis, a team that wants to slow it down and grind you to death in the halfcourt, that is a huge disadvantage. </p>
<p>Transition baskets are a huge part of the recipe for beating Memphis. If you let them let their halfcourt defense get set, you're just not going to be able to score against them.</p>
<p>Memphis wins if the Clippers let them play their style.</p>
<p><strong>Memphis in 6.</strong></p>

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