06/12/2026
Alvarado’s Skill IQ is on full display here.
Alvarado isn’t reacting to Wemby in real time - he’s placing a bet on how Wemby must guard him based on the situation.
The key is that he never betrays the technique.
Driving and stopping require different step lengths. The step used to accelerate isn’t the same step used to stop. In other words, you can’t stop in the middle of a step that was placed down to drive.
To stop efficiently, you have to know you’re stopping before the foot hits the floor.
That’s what makes this so effective. Alvarado commits to the drive technique long enough to force the defensive response, then transitions at exactly the right moment.
Skill isn’t just ex*****on. It’s ex*****on without revealing your intentions.