Reading the Pick-and-Roll Like Chris Paul – A Guide to Decision-Making
The pick-and-roll is the most important offensive action in modern basketball — and nobody manipulates it better than Chris Paul.
But what makes Paul so lethal in the PnR isn’t speed or athleticism. It’s his mental framework: He doesn’t just react, he dictates.
🧠 What Makes Chris Paul a PnR Maestro?
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Deceptive Pace: Paul never rushes — he controls timing to freeze defenders.
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Reads All 5 Defenders: Not just his own defender and the big — but corner help and tags.
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Elite Mid-Range Pull-up: Forces bigs to step up.
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Pass Timing Mastery: Bounce, pocket, lob — all delivered split-second perfect.
📊 PnR Scoring by Play Type (Chris Paul 2023–24)
| Option | FG% | PPP (Points Per Possession) |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range pull-up | 51.2% | 1.02 |
| Lob to roller | 74.3% | 1.29 |
| Kick-out 3 | 39.5% | 1.18 |
Paul’s most efficient outcome is still the lob — but it only works because he threatens the pull-up first.
🎥 Film Breakdown: Suns vs. Bucks (2021 Finals – Game 1)
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CP3 brings Ayton up for high PnR.
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Jrue goes over, Lopez stays back → Paul snakes middle.
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Shot fake to freeze the drop → bounce to Ayton in stride = dunk.
That’s manipulation, not just reaction.
📌 Key Concepts for Running the PnR Like CP3
1. Tempo Control
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Delay a dribble. Hold a defender hostage.
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Dictate help rotation timing.
2. Angle Manipulation
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Change the angle of the screen to force coverage breakdowns.
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Re-screen to flip the defense.
3. Body Shielding
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Keep your back to trailing defender while scanning the help.
4. Pre-Read Corners
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Know where the help comes from before the play unfolds.
🧠 Drills to Train Decision-Making
• 2-on-1 Read Drill:
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Handler reads big’s drop or switch and responds with pull-up or lob.
• Delay & Drag Drill:
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Practice holding your dribble after turning the screen.
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Teaches patience like CP3.
• Live PnR w/ Coach Cue:
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Coach yells “Drop”, “Switch”, or “Hedge” mid-play → you must adapt instantly.
🏁 Conclusion
Chris Paul doesn’t win the PnR battle with athleticism — he wins it with intelligence and precision. If you want to control the game like a true floor general, master the reads, the pace, and the decision trees. The pick-and-roll is a conversation — and Paul always has the last word.