Inside The Run: The Bobcats Dominate Overtime
After the Wizards hit a three pointer to send the game into overtime, I thought that the Wizards were going to be able to use that momentum to steal the game from the Bobcats. However, the exact opposite happened as the Bobcats outscored the Wizards 13-4 in the final 5 minute period.
The key seemed to be the Bobcats willingness to attack the basket. The Bobcats seemed determined to get themselves inside the paint every possession of overtime. Each time, it resulted in one of two things; a trip to the foul line or an easy basket:
Possession 1 – Gerald Wallace Gets To The Line Using A Screen
On this play, the Bobcats set up what looks to be an ISO set for Gerald Wallace. At the last moment, Tyson Chandler comes up and sets a screen for Wallace. Wallace uses the screen and gets all the way to the rim, where he is fouled.
Possession 2 – Raymond Felton Attacks
This is yet another screen and roll, and this time, the defense is at fault here. Javale Mcgee sits too far back, allowing Felton to use his full head of steam to get to the rim. He gets the ball on the backboard, when Mcgee goaltends, giving the Bobcats the 2 points.
Possession 3 – Gerald Wallace Gets To The Line Again
Again, the Bobcats use a pick and roll (this time on the wing) and again, Javale Mcgee’s soft hedge is what allows Gerald Wallace to get inside the paint, where he is fouled.
Possession 4 – Diaw Bullies Singleton
Here, the Bobcats run a neat little play to get Diaw open on the wing. Instead of settling for the jumper (which is what you come to expect from Diaw), he takes it to the hole strong, just kind of bullying his defender out of the way, and giving him room to make the hook shot. I think this play pretty much sums up the Bobcats strategy in overtime, as even the Bobcats least aggressive player is taking it to basket aggressively.
Possession 5 – Getting Stephen Jackson Free
Until this play, Stephen Jackson wasn’t really involved in the Bobcats offense. Here though, Larry Brown calls a play that is designed to free up Stephen Jackson. After setting a screen on the baseline, Jackson comes off of a double screen at the top of the key. This play is nice because it gives Jackson plenty of options. Jackson could make the catch and pull up for the shot, but because his defender remains on his hip as he comes off the screen, he just curls it and gets into the lane. Jackson forces help to come and is able to find Tyson Chandler for the easy dunk.
Possession 6 – Wizards Remain Passive
The Bobcats really used the pick and roll to their advantage in this overtime period. The Wizards weren’t really defending it properly, and what I mean by this is that the defenders responsible for “hedging” on the man coming off the pick played it too soft. They allowed the man with the basketball to comfortably come off their screen, keep their dribble, and pick out a lane to attack. That is exactly what happens here.
Possession 7 – Bobcats Spread Everyone Out And Get One Last Drive
With a 9 point lead, the Bobcats simply spread the court and passed it around as the Wizards tried to get a trap on. Eventually, as the shot clock was winding down, the ball ends up in Boris Diaw’s hands, and he once again attacks the basket strong, drawing the foul.
