After a Raymond Felton jumper, the Charlotte Bobcats took a 74-70 with about 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and it looked like they were pulling away.  The Dallas Mavericks responded with 13-1 run over a span of three and a half minutes, turning a 4 point deficit into an 8 point lead.  I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at the key possessions of the run.

Poss. 1 – Terry Steal/Marion Dunk

After two Jason Terry free throws, the Bobcats started the ball up the court.  The Bobcats get in their set, and Gerald Wallace is actually open on the wing.  Jason Terry does a great job of leaving his man, jumping the pass, and getting the steal.  The ball ends up in Jason Kidd’s hands who quickly tosses it back up court, starting a two on one fast break that ends with a Shawn Marion Dunk.  4-0.

Poss. 2 – Stephen Jackson Missed 3

After a defensive three second call on the Mavericks, the Bobcats inbound the ball to Stephen Jackson at halfcourt.  Jackson receives the pass, comes off of a screen, and forces up a contested three point shot.  All throughout this run, the Bobcats seemed to settle for too many outside shots and one on one situations.  The ball seemed to stick at least once a possession during this run.  The ball sticking lead to bad shots, which lead to stops for the Mavericks.  This is exactly the case here.  4-1.

Poss. 3 – Jason Terry Jumper

Coming off Stephen Jackson’s missed three, the rebound gets corralled, and this is where the Mavericks really shine.  The Mavericks are so good at getting the ball into Jason Kidd’s hands after a defensive rebound, and Jason Kidd is so good at pushing the ball ahead with his passing and trusting his teammates (this was talked about at length during Sunday Night’s Mavericks game on ESPN).  Here, Kidd pushes the ball ahead to Jason Terry, who gives it up, but gets it back wide open for the jumper.  Terry is left open due to the confusion on the Bobcats’ end because the Mavs pushed the ball up the court.  6-1.

Poss. 4 – D.J. Augustin Missed Three

There is some pretty good ball movement here by the Bobcats, as D.J. Augustine enters the ball and then works off of a double screen on the opposite side.  My problem isn’t with the shooter here (Augustine shoots 35.2% from three, which is right at league average), it is with how early in the clock this shot goes up.  Augustine takes a contested three with about 14 seconds left on the clock.  You can get a contested three at any time in the clock, so why not work it around and see what you come up with?  Also, quick shots is what seems to fuel runs like this one.  6-1.

Poss. 5 – Jason Terry Runner

The Mavericks get the rebound off of Augustin’s miss and bring it up court.  They get it into Jason Terry’s hands and run a pick and roll involving Dirk Nowitzki.  The beauty of this play is involving Dirk, because as you can see, the Bobcats initially defend the pick and roll correctly with Gerald Wallace showing on the hedge.  However, Wallace needs to get back to Dirk, and when he retreats, Terry is able to get to the baseline and hit a short jumper.  8-1.

Poss. 6 – Tyrus Thomas Missed Hook

This play here is another example of the ball sticking.  Gerald Wallace uses a Tyrus Thomas screen, and as Thomas rolls to the basket, he seals Dirk and calls for the ball.  Wallace gets it in to Thomas, who holds onto the ball.  After taking two dribbles to try and back down Dirk, Thomas spins baseline and takes an awful hook shot that doesn’t even hit the rim.  Tyrus Thomas is a freakishly athletic player, buy his strength isn’t in the post.  So to run a post up play for him is kind of silly.  If this wasn’t a designed play, then it is on Thomas to understand his weakness and kick the basketball out.  8-1.

Poss. 7 – Dirk Jumper

Jason Kidd gets the rebound on Thomas’ airballed hook shoot.  After walking it up, he swings the ball to Jason Terry who comes off of a Dirk screen.  Instead of rolling all of the way to the basket, Dirk sets up in his sweet spot, right at the middle of the foul line.  Dirk makes the catch with no other Bobcat near him besides his own defender, meaning there can be no double-team.  Dirk takes his time, rises up over Gerald Wallace, and knocks down the jumper.  10-1.

Poss. 8 – Boris Diaw Missed Three

After both teams exchange empty possessions (Charlotte turned it over, then Jason Terry missed a jumper going 1 against 4), Raymond Felton jogs the ball upcourt.  Thinking he sees a lane, Felton attacks and tries to get into the paint.  A second defender comes to help, so Felton kicks it out to Boris Diaw.  Boris Diaw is a 31% foul shooter, but he makes the catch and quickly fires a three pointer with 17 seconds left on the shot clock.  He clangs it off of the backboard without even hitting the rim.  Boris Diaw is a poor 3 point shooter and it is real early in the clock, but what really makes this an awful shot is that Gerald Wallace is standing on the wing wide open.  If Diaw makes the catch and swings it to Wallace on the wing, he either has a wide open 3 (he is shooting it at a 38% clip) or if the defender closes out, he has a lane to attack the basket and end the run.  10-1.

Poss. 9 – Jason Terry Three

The Mavs bring the ball up and get it in Jason Terry’s hands once again, and once again, Terry runs off of a Dirk screen, and this time the Bobcats try to switch it.  This is a reasonable strategy, but Boris Diaw doesn’t attack Jason Terry hard on defense.  He seems passive, backpedaling, and he is unable to get a hand up to contest Jason Terry’s three pointer.  Terry knocks it down, and the Bobcats are forced to take their second timeout during this run.  13-1.