When teams key on the Aces' post players, they flow straight into this Horns wide pindown look to get a slasher coming off a screen to receive a DHO from the post. Blog Series: Las Vegas Aces XsOs: Part 1 - Quick HItters and ATO's Part 2 - Baseline Double Cross Part 3 - Pinch Post Actions Part 4 - BLOBs and SLOBs See More
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The pinch post actions the Aces use are designed specifically to maximize the number of touches Wilson receives, many of which result in isolations for her in the elbow and mid-post areas. She is an absolutely lethal jump shooter from those areas, and is quicker than most of her counterparts which allows her to sweep and get to the rim with ease. After setting a downscreen for a slasher, Wilson finds her spot and receives the entry pass. From there, there is a handoff option, usually rejected in favor of a face up 1 on 1 play. Blog Series: Las Vegas Aces XsOs: Part 1 - Quick HItters and ATO's Part 2 - Baseline Double Cross Part 3 - Pinch Post Actions Part 4 - BLOBs and SLOBs See More
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Perhaps their most effective action, Chicago is taken straight from the Triangle offense to get a dynamic offensive player getting straight to the rim with space. In this case, that dynamic player is Kayla McBride, who is one of the premier scorers in the world. Statistically speaking, McBride ranks in the top 20 in the following categories: Points per game (8th - 18.2) Assists (17th - 3.5) FT% (91.7) 3P% (12th - 39.3%) Minutes (7th - 32.3) With a player as explosive as McBride, The Aces play at a constant advantage when she is moving downhill or coming off screens. Utilizing the Chicago action allows her to do both - come off a lateral screen from a post player and to take a handoff from another with space to her right (strong hand) to attack the rim. On occasion, McBride or Tamera Young will reject the Chicago screen, which can lead to either a double stagger for them toward the rim or the screener popping, making a one more pass to the corner player for a shot/drive decision on the closing defender. Finally, the Aces run a quick hitter to get into this same action, disguising the entry with an Iverson Cut by McBride, a pindown for Wilson, and finally the Chicago action. By running this "false" action prior to the action they actually want, they add an element of confusion for the defense, who now must contend with multiple screens prior to the scouted screens. Las Vegas Aces XsOs Breakdown Series: Part 1 - Quick HItters and ATO's Part 2 - Baseline Double Cross Part 3 - Pinch Post Actions Part 4 - BLOBs and SLOBs See More
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One of the Aces' go to sets, this pinch post series begins with a rip screen to get clean catches for players ready to attack. All the action goes to the rim with limited options or need for shooting long jumpers. Use this set to isolate a player who can face up and attack from 15 feet, your best shooter setting screens and popping, and your best slashers getting to the rim off handoffs and ball screens. Blog Series: Las Vegas Aces XsOs: Part 1 - Quick HItters and ATO's Part 2 - Baseline Double Cross Part 3 - Pinch Post Actions Part 4 - BLOBs and SLOBs See More
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SLOB to give the Aces multiple options for their best shooter (McBride), Slasher (Young), and high post threat (Wilson) to score. Blog Series: Las Vegas Aces XsOs: Part 1 - Quick HItters and ATO's Part 2 - Baseline Double Cross Part 3 - Pinch Post Actions Part 4 - BLOBs and SLOBs See More
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During Pascal Siakam's breakout season in 2018-19 as the Most Improved Player, Nick Nurse has dedicated several set-plays to leverage Siakam's unique skill set. With the Point Guard dribbling on the right wing and crossing into the middle of the floor, "4 Flip" is a pet play for Pascal Siakam to leverage his strong driving ability going to his right when the ball is flipped to him as he cross half court. See More
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With the addition of Marc Gasol's playmaking ability, Nick Nurse has reintroduced the "Elbow" series into the Toronto Raptors playbook in the 2018-19 season. Popularized by Rick Adelman as the Corner Offense, this set allows the Raptors to utilize their versatile personnel, such as Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry, in inteerchangeable roles as passers, cutters, and pick and roll ball handlers. Often times ran at the end of games, this set allows Nick Nurse to involve all of high star players at once. See More
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“Thumbs Up” is a quick hitter play run for Toronto’s shooters. Nick Nurse seemingly adapted the general concept of continuous staggered screens from plays run by Dwane Casey in previous years. This one is generally run in a normal half court scenario with the aim being to get Kyle Lowry and Danny Green good catch-and-shoot opportunities. See More
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Nick Nurse (and Dwane Casey before him) have used “62 Flip” – a play that disguises itself as a typical off-ball action but is really a ball-screen play. The Toronto Raptors debuted it in their playbook during the 2018 playoffs and have continued to use it during the 2018-19 season. A set that gets their players in motion to keep defenders moving, "62 Flip" is used in typical half court scenarios. See More
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Hammer plays are commonplace across the NBA, and Nick Nurse has several different pet plays that utilize this action. Typically run in after timeout scenarios for their best catch-and-shoot players, this play and formation is out of the “Triangle” and the Toronto Raptors' spacing reflects that. With a big on each elbow, the weak side of the floor forming a triangle with a guard in the deep corner and the other near the hashmark, as well as the ball handler initiating the play from the slot extended. See More
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This play, a staple of the San Antonio Spurs offense for years, has become a pet-play of Nick Nurse’s to start the game or half. Put into the Raptors playbook in the middle of the season, this play is used for Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, and Marc Gasol to get a post touch. The first option is for a post-up to score, but the second option/counter involves a kickout pass to leverage aggressive off-ball defense against itself. See More
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Fenerbahce ran this SLOB to get Kelsey Plum into space and downhill attacking the rim. A simple action to create an overload on the inbound side and a wide open half of the court on the other. See More
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This is a sample of the Texas Tech true motion offense. This is not a set play but a picture of the sequences of actions you will have to guard when facing them. In one possession you have to guard: a drag screen, flare screen, slipped step-up screen, a pick & pop, and one last flare screen by the 5 to empty the paint. The spacing struggles at times but they force you into uncommon situations and actions that it presents the opportunity for miscommunication and scoring opportunities. Blog Posts: Texas Tech Defense Puts Opponents on Red Alert National Championship Game Preview: Texas Tech XsOs See More
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This is a sample of the organic nature of the Texas Tech offense. It is hard to know whether or not this is a designed action after the floppy with Culver due to the constant player freedom to screen off ball at any time but this does give you a preview of the certain type of actions you will be responsible to communicate through and guard when playing vs. Texas Tech. Blog Post: Texas Tech Defense Puts Opponents on Red Alert See More
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ATO set from Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo. Play starts with a 21 DHO on the wing and a Pin Down on the weak side. As the ball is reversed, the PG clears the corner and the wing receives a chin screen for the lob. Diagram is for the traditional set up with a SG receiving the DHO, Michigan State ran this with a taller athlete on the end of a lob. Blog Post: Michigan State's Championship Identity See More
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