There were two really good games with some nice execution late.  The first game that we are going to take a look at is the Lakers-Raptors game from yesterday.  The Lakers had the lead lake, but two plays for the Raptors that lead in fouls were able to help the Raptors get the win.

The Shooting Threat Of Bargnani

The great thing about being a great three point shooter is the way that the defense plays you.  Defenses need to close out hard because they respect the shot, and if you have an ability to attack the basket, this gives you a great advantage.  When you are a shooting threat from the center spot, it is even better, because you are usually matched up against guys who don’t really know how to close-out properly.

Here Pau Gasol is in help position as the pick and roll between Chris Bosh and Hedo goes on.  Hedo then makes the pass to Bargnani.

As Bargnani makes the catch, he doesn’t even need to pump fake, because Pau Gasol is already closing out on him real hard.  Bargnani rips the ball through and has Pau on his hip.  This gives him a lane right to the basket.

The help actually comes on time, but Bargnani is able to avoid it, take the ball under the basket, and hit the reverse lay-up while getting fouled.

The Play To Get Hedo Fouled

Here, the Raptors run a pick and roll late with the goal to isolate Pau Gasol on Hedo (because, as we talked about in the past, most teams switch any screens in the final moments of the game).

The pick gets set and the switch is made.  Hedo explores the right side, but there is nothing there, and he crosses over and goes back to the middle.

Hedo uses another screen from Bosh.  Here, the Raptors actually gave the Lakers a chance to switch back.  Pau and Ron Artest choose not to though.

Because they don’t switch the screen, Hedo is able to use is athletic advantage on Pau to get him on his hip.  He does just that and starts his drive to the basket.

Hedo gets into the lane and as he attempts a lay-up, he is fouled.  He knocks down the two foul shots and the Raptors come away with the win.

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The next game that we arre going to look at is the Magic-Bobcats game from Saturday.  This was another good game (until it got into overtime), but instead of good execution, it was a defensive breakdown that almost cost the Magic the game

Outside Opening Inside

Before we get to the late game play, I just wanted to show what makes Orlando so dangerous.

As the clock winds down to end the quarter, Marcin Gortat sets a screen for Vince Carter.  Look how the court is spread out.  The Magic have 4 legitimate outside threats with the one center.  A great way to stretch the court out.

After he sets his screen Gortat dives to the basket.  This serves two purposes, the first is that it may suck a defender in and allow for an open shot.  The second purpose is that if/when the Magic shoot a three, Gortat diving to the basket makes himself available for an offensive rebound.

As Carter swings the ball to Jameer Nelson, there is a problem.  Stephen Jackson has to decide to go defend Rashard Lewis (who is wide open right now) or stay on Gortat.

Jackson chooses to go out on Lewis, leaving Gortat open.  Nelson makes a great look-away pass to get it to Gortat down low.

Gortat makes the catch in the paint with the defense on his back.  He is able to finish strong with the dunk.

The Defensive Breakdown

Now we get to the defensive breakdown.  This to me looks like a lack of communication either in the huddle or on the court (Maybe both).

This is a nice play run by the Bobcats.  Boris Diaw is going to quickly make himself available, and after the pass is made, Stephen Jackson is going to come off a backscreen set by Raymond Felton.

After Felton sets the screen, he is going to come and get a handoff from Diaw.  For the Magic, this is where the breakdown happens.  You can see Nelson pointing (and most likely yelling) to Vince Carter.  Nelson wants Carter to switch and cover Felton as he covers Nelson.

However, Vince Carter doesn’t here him (or chooses to ignore him), so now the Magic have two defenders on one, and Boris Diaw (it ends up being Diaw because the handoff turns into a screen, and that gets switched by Dwight Howard)  is going to be open.  In this hectic-ness, Carter and Nelson need to figure out who is going to go out on Diaw.  Instead of just one defender going out on Diaw, both do.

This leaves Stephen Jackson wide open under the basket.  Jackson is actually open for a really long time here, but Felton can’t see him, because Dwight does a good job of getting big and closing the court down.  He doesn’t allow for Felton to see how open Jackson is.

As Felton uses his speed to turn the corner, he is able to finally see Stephen Jackson who is still wide open.  Jackson shouldn’t still be this wide open, but again Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson can’t figure out who is going to run to Jackson.  Nelson, decides he is going to stay with Diaw, and this forces Carter to try and cover a longer distance to get to Jackson.

He is unable to do so, and Felton makes the pass to Jackson, and he is able to finish right at the basket, tying the game, and sending it into overtime.