Floor General

Everything looks easy when you have a skilled and, above all, intelligent point guard. Chris Jones possesses a tremendous basketball IQ. Nobody can dispute that, and the way he has kicked off the season shows that this is an ideal pairing for both the club and the player himself. His confidence is off the charts, and he benefits immensely from playing alongside a roster that seems tailor-made for him.

Jones doesn't need to put up huge scoring numbers to make an impact. Once he finds his rhythm, he constantly looks to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He dished out seven assists in the opening quarter alone. Highlighting his basketball intellect, the American-born Armenian international immediately looked to set up Christian Koloko for his first points. Throwing him an alley-oop on the very first possession set the tone right away. He consistently makes the right call, giving the Red-and-White faithful total peace of mind whenever he has the ball in his hands dictating the tempo.

Many terms could describe his style. While "Point God" is usually reserved for hyper-athletic floor leaders, "Floor General" fits him like a glove. Like a tactical general, he commands Zvezda's offense. Right now, everything Jones touches turns to gold, which is invaluable for this team. Codi Miller-McIntyre was outstanding for the Red-and-Whites, especially last season. If compared to drummers, Miller-McIntyre is Keith Moon—loud, explosive, and flashy. Jones, in this case, is Ringo Starr: calm and understated, yet the Beatles simply would not have been the Beatles without him.

With weapons like these surrounding him, Jones has no trouble finding the right pass. This team boasts every player archetype imaginable: Jordan Nwora and Ognjen Dobrić make sharp cuts along the baseline, shooters are stationed at every spot, and rim-running lob threats will flourish alongside him. Ebuka Izundu and now Koloko will be served scoring chances on a silver platter, ensuring the Red-and-Whites are in very safe hands.

VIDEO Just joined and already dominating: Watch Koloko's monster block!