One of the biggest differences between average players and elite players is processing speed. Most elite level offenses are built around the “0.5 rule” ... within half a second of catching the ball, you either shoot, drive, pass, or create another action. The defense is too athletic and too connected to hold the ball and overthink.
The game at high levels is less about who can dribble the most and more about who can recognize advantages the fastest. Slow decisions shrink spacing, kill driving gaps, and allow defenses to reset. Basketball IQ is not just knowledge... it’s speed of recognition under pressure.