NBA Comparison: Chris Chiozza

Strengths: Crafty, lefty, skilled point guard … Has a very quick first step … Great motor, gives 100% on both ends of the floor… Always on attack mode… Unafraid, doesn’t back down to anyone … A true scoring guard by nature … Projects to have a high ceiling offensively … Very good slasher despite his size, not afraid to drive all the way to the basket and finish plays against bigger opponents … Creative, crafty finisher at the rim, with a variety of moves  … Can finish plays at the rim equally well with either hand… Great ball handler, with a lot of hesitation moves that help him create separation … Knows how to absorb contact despite his small body when attacking the basket… Has a nice Pull Up game from mid-range and has gradually improved his range going almost all the way to FIBA’s 3-point line … Has a nice Step back and even some side step Pull Ups in his arsenal… Takes and makes heavily contested shots… Very good shooter in Spot Up situations… Equally effective playing on and off the ball … Draws a lot of fouls because he is in attack mode and is a good free throw shooter … Knows how to use a ball screen … Has shown promise in Pick and Roll actions as a scorer and as a facilitator … Better at finding a 3rd man than the roller in Pick and Roll actions for now … Very good when taking the ball in handoffs and has momentum, can take good decisions … Good rebounder for his position … Good on ball defender, with nice lateral quickness… Has active hands on defense, fills the passing lanes and makes steals …

Weaknesses: Undersized… Just an OK athlete by NBA standards, he could have problems at the next level… Has a thin frame, he has to bulk up… Not a true playmaker, more of a shooting guard in a point guard’s body … Shooting selection can be a little wild at times… Has the tendency to force things on offense, trying to find his rhythm… He might not be able to create his own shot with ease without a screen on the next level against bigger, more athletic opponents … Decision making isn’t completely there yet in Pick and Rolls, he might be too focused on scoring at times… He suffers from tunnel vision when driving to the basket, which leads to some heavily contested layups against bigger opponents … Makes at least a few “easy” turnovers from time to time… Pull Up shooting is a little streaky for now from 3-point range … Can have some problems when the game is slowing down… Despite his competitive nature and motor, he can be a target on defense in switches … Doesn’t have the size or length to defend bigger opponents in the post … Explosive guards cause him problems on defense and can blow by him … Foul prone… Gets caught up behind screens in off screen actions … Can lose concentration on defense when defending off the ball

Overall: French-Algerian Nadir Hifi is an entertaining, charismatic scoring guard … Being able to score efficiently in the competitive French League (which resembles the NBA more than any other League in the world), he was able to create some momentum … Hifi loves to attack the basket and has shown potential as a 3-level scorer … At the same time, there are some concerns regarding his size and average (by NBA standards) athleticism … If he manages to become an elite scorer, Hifi could find a role as a microwave scoring guard, who can change the pace of a game …

Stefanos Makris 6/21/23