How To Come Out Of A Timeout Effectively | NBA Playbook

How To Come Out Of A Timeout Effectively

Part of what makes Kevin Durant’s stretch of 25 point games so incredible is that teams are keying on the guy and he is scoring.  Some of it is just incredible talent (he has one of the smoothest strokes in the game), some of it is savvy and awareness (the way he gets to the line), and some of it is the playcalling.  That is what we are going to talk about today.

In the fourth quarter of a really good game, the Thunder are coming out of a timeout under their own basket.  Everyone in the building knows that the Thunder want to get the ball to Durant, and somehow they still get him an open lob-pass.

The play starts with the lane being real crowded.  You have 3 guys in there already, and as a result there are 4 defenders in the paint. It looks like the Thunder are going to go away from the paint to a corner, away from the defenders.

As the ball gets handed to James Harden, Kevin Durant starts to the opposite block, as if he is going to set a backscreen for Russell Westbrook.  Also, Serge Ibaka is setting a screen for Eric Maynor (this is going t o be important later).

Once Durant reaches the opposite block, he quickly spins and heads towards the basket.  Grant Hill isn’t in proper position to defend him because he was overplaying Durant, trying to cut him off.  Also, Channing Frye isn’t in proper position either.  Usually he would be farther down in the paint to prevent a backdoor cut, but with the pick action going on at the top of the key, Frye needs to be in position to help defend Maynor if he comes off a screen.

Harden throws a perfect pass, and Durant uses his size (and the free space given from Frye not being in proper position) to make the catch and finish at the basket.  Channing Frye tries to get back in time, but he doesn’t make it, so he ends up committing the foul.  Another 3 easy points for Kevin Durant and the Thunder.

24
Feb 2010
POSTED BY admin
POSTED IN Inbounds Play OKC Thunder Xs & Os
DISCUSSION 10 Comments
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  • Geraldo

    Love the anaylisis Seb. This helps people understand the mecanics behind this game when the game is reaching it’s end point. Keep it up, btw pick up the lakers last second plays where Kobe drills the three.

  • Flow

    Good deception drawn up by the Thunder. Look at Westbrook just standing at the corner with his hands on the hips in all for snapshots.

  • http://www.dailythunder.com/2010/02/thursday-bolts-2-25-10/ Thursday Bolts – 2.25.10 | Daily Thunder.com

    [...] If you don’t check NBA Playbook on a regular basis, you should be. Sebastian Pruiti does awesome breakdowns there, like the inbounds play OKC ran against Phoenix the other night. [...]

  • diddy

    god i love your site.

  • http://bullsbythehorns.com/?p=1691 Guest post: Vinny and Timeouts » By The Horns

    [...] The OKC Thunder, as you might expect, badly wants to get the ball to Kevin Durant, and especially in the latter stages of close games. Of course every opposing team knows this, and so it isn’t easy to get the ball to KD out of a timeout when he is in a good position to shoot a high-percentage shot. So, with that in mind, take a look at this recent Thunder play, broken down nicely at the NBA Playbook site. [...]

  • http://givemetherock.com Nels

    Awesome analysis. My first time to the site and I’m already commenting.

    Also, @Flow: I didn’t notice that, but I bet the play would be even more effective if Westbrook pretended like he might actually get the ball.

  • http://gravityandlevity.wordpress.com Brian

    Please don’t actually get a stats writer for this site. It would only dilute what is already an excellent and refreshing blog. The level of insight that can currently be provided by statistics is too far below what you are already doing.

  • http://www.drivebasketball.com Pasha Bains

    No I dont think Westbrook having his hands on his hips affects the play. Dudley has to stay close to him because hes one pass away from a corner 3. Hes got a nice seat to a good play!

  • http://www.drivebasketball.com Pasha Bains

    And as mentioned by Seb, Durant looks like hes going to cross screen Dudley.

  • http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/04/12/the-thunder-continue-to-struggle-late/ NBA Playbook – A Look At The Playcalling In The NBA Through Videos, Pictures, & Words » The Thunder Continue To Struggle Late

    [...] doesn’t mean the Thunder haven’t been successful late, but those successes came from quick hitters, and when Durant is used as a decoy.  However, the Thunder really seem to struggle (especially [...]