Another week of NBA action, another set of tidbits in the film room. As we think about what we're thankful for this holiday season, I'm very thankful for Synergy, the video and statistical service that allows us to quickly and neatly dive into these tidbits.
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While this week has a heavy emphasis on offensive sets and individual tendencies, we are diving into those niche categories that often can fall under the radar.

Simple yet effective. That's how you describe the Phoenix Suns "blade cut." New coach Monty Williams and first-year Suns point guard Ricky Rubio have been helpful additions, but so too have competent screeners and improved team chemistry overall. That's resulted in a better scheme for star Devin Booker and complementary scorer Kelly Oubre Jr.

Coach Adam “Spins” Spinella of Dickinson College details how Phoenix is running a seemingly basic action designed to punish defenses for taking away baseline drives from Booker and Oubre Jr., both of whom are dangerous just about anywhere on the court. By starting a multi-player circle action spinning invertedly versus a corner cut across the defender's face, the Suns are getting some easy baskets.
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And then come the disguises and counters:

Coach Adam “Spins” Spinella of Dickinson College breaks down how the Toronto Raptors held Joel Embiid scoreless (in 32 minutes played!) during their 101-96 win on Monday. Embiid went 0-11 on the night and was held scoreless for the first time in his career, even as the Sixers tried to change their offensive approach at halftime to free him up.
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Nonetheless, the Raptors were a couple of steps ahead with their defensive scheme. It got so frustrating that Embiid even wound up being benched for a long stretch of this contest between to Eastern Conference contenders:

Coach Adam "Spins" Spinella of Dickinson College breaks down how Bradley Beal consistently beat a Sacramento Kings defense that was specifically designed to shut down the Washington Wizards' star during their 113-106 loss on Sunday. Though the Wiz came up on the wrong end of the scoreboard, Beal once again showed how he's been able to make the right decisions all season despite an undermanned roster that includes just enough shooting.
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Beal posted a triple-double with 20 points and 8 assists on the night as Washington gave Sacto all it could handle

The beauty of watching film is that the film never lies. What it tells, though, depends on what you're looking for.

Whether a new, innovative form of offense, a trend that a team is utilizing, a scouting nugget or some great player tendencies, we can learn so much from keying in on the minutia. Here are five small but significant musings from recent NBA action, all backed up by the beautiful evidence of film.

An Inverted Horns Look in Milwaukee

Mike Budenholzer's motion offense has been mighty successful in the games he's coached for the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo morphed into an MVP within the structure, and the Bucks' combination of shooting at all positions around him—as well as the roster's structural ability to pinpoint mismatches wherever they want—have all contributed to his rise.
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Their mismatch-hunting is nowhere more evident than when they'll send a point guard or a shooter—whoever is guarded by the smallest defender—to set a middle ball screen for Giannis. Antetokounmpo is so quick, long and powerful that he can overwhelm the slightest miscommunication or misplaced step, barreling his way to the rim.

Coach Adam "Spins" Spinella of Dickinson College breaks down how the Milwaukee Bucks thwarted the Portland Trail Blazers' defense whenever they went to double-team Giannis Antetokounmpo in the post during Thursday's 137-129 home win.
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Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double with 24 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, despite the Blazers' best efforts to contain him:

Unorthodox in nearly every manner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Oklahoma City Thunder in scoring early in the year, a massive leap after putting up 10.8 points as a rookie.

The move to Oklahoma has given him a new chance to prove himself, not just as a wiry mismatch slasher, but a focal point. His shot attempts have doubled, he's taking way more threes and has supplanted Chris Paul as the top option late in games.
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And, hey.... Gilgeous-Alexander is just wildly enjoyable to watch:

Ten games is a small sample size. It's a little early to be hitting a panic button. Unfortunately, it might be apt in the case of the Orlando Magic.

Through ten games, the Magic are nearing record incompetence in terms of scoring.

It took them until game eight of the year to top the century mark and score 100 points. They are dead last in 3-point shooting percentage (28.2). Yet, this all comes while Evan Fournier is off to a great start following his triumphant showing during international competition this summer. He is shooting 40 percent from three on five attempts per game and is second on the team in scoring.

According to Synergy Sports Tech, the Magic are dead last on unguarded catch-and-shoot jumpers, making a putrid 30.2 percent. For reference, last year's worst group, the Los Angeles Lakers, made 35.8 percent. The gap between Orlando and the Lakers is akin to the one between the Lakers and eighth place a season ago.
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Are the Orlando Magic failing to score because of just poor shooting, or is their structure and framework to blame? How much of their shooting production is likely to change? As always, the answer is a combination of all factors.

Scouting reports are especially vital at the highest levels of basketball.

They prepare players for personnel tidbits, identify an opponent's best or most frequent sets, and unify the team in a direction for how to attack both. Those reports will have a video and written component most times, so different learners can digest the information differently.

With dozens of advance scouts, video coordinators and assistants looking ahead to future opponents, there's a great deal that goes into these reports.

While these reports are glancing overviews that include only the most relevant information, some minutia is important as well. Games are won and lost in the details, so the teams that can best win those moments and be prepared for them gain an edge. That's why player and team tendencies are so well-documented and thorough on websites such as Synergy.
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Thanks to the help of Synergy's technology, we're able to bring you inside a few of the smaller tidbits that need to make their way into an NBA team's preparations. Here are five tendencies from just the first two weeks that should be mentioned at some point within the detailed scouting report:

As someone who loves X's and O's and the tactical side of basketball, I've always been fascinated by one point: If most teams in the NBA all run the same plays, why are they still so successful?

The answer to that question lies in how the versatility of a set design takes away defensive pressures that can be levied upon it. Perhaps no portion of an action that's been implemented by nearly every team league-wide is more versatile than Slash.

No folks, this isn't the guitarist for Guns 'n Roses. Slash is a common NBA term that refers to a pick-and-pop where the player who catches the ball off a pop immediately dribble handoffs to the opposite side.
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Slash is less of a call and more about teaching NBA players how to space the floor, read their teammates and organize themselves when a play breaks down. It's an element of a play, not a play itself.