A Subtle Off Ball Move Leads To A Dagger Three | NBA Playbook

A Subtle Off Ball Move Leads To A Dagger Three

After almost pulling away from the Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks found themselves up by six points with 49.5 seconds left in the game.  A basket clinches things as the turns to a three possession game, but if the Mavericks come up empty the Clippers still have a chance.

The Mavericks are able to come away with a Jason Terry three pointer that he knocks down.  At first this looked like a defensive error, but if you take a second look, some slick off ball movement by Terry is what frees him up for the shot:

1

As Jason Kidd brings starts to break down the defense with Jason Terry standing in the corner, Terry’s man Rasual Butler seems to be in pretty solid position to defend the short corner.  But as Kidd makes his move, Terry starts along the baseline as if he is clearing out for Kidd.

2

This move towards the baseline forces Butler to open up and try to get his body in position to stop the cut.  However, Terry is only faking the cut and he returns to the corner.

3

Kidd gets Terry the basketball and he is able to knock down the three pointer before Butler can close out.  Here is the play in real time:

This is just a great little move by Terry, forcing Butler to respect the baseline cut, and then returning to the corner for the open three.

26
Jan 2011
POSTED BY Sebastian Pruiti
POSTED IN 4th Quarters Dallas Mavericks LA Clippers
DISCUSSION 7 Comments
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  • http://twitter.com/bodie32 Andrew Bodenbach

    I still think it was a defensive error. Kidd was driving to the hoop so Terry was going to do nothing even if he cut. Butler would have been better staying at home and if Terry did cut follow him. If Butler had recognized the drive along with the fake cut he could have made the play.

  • A.S.

    I don't see the little Terry move as the reason that Butler couldn't defend him. Instead, it looks to me that Butler is trying to cheat over on Kidd's drive, for some reason. Kidd hasn't been able to get to the basket in years, yet for some reason Butler tries to show on the drive instead of sticking closely on his man. Seems to me to be a defensive error, 100%. Butler ought to have stuck closely on Terry and completely forgotten about Kidd.

  • http://twitter.com/bodie32 Andrew Bodenbach

    I still think it was a defensive error. Kidd was driving to the hoop so Terry was going to do nothing even if he cut. Butler would have been better staying at home and if Terry did cut follow him. If Butler had recognized the drive along with the fake cut he could have made the play.

  • A.S.

    I don’t see the little Terry move as the reason that Butler couldn’t defend him. Instead, it looks to me that Butler is trying to cheat over on Kidd’s drive, for some reason. Kidd hasn’t been able to get to the basket in years, yet for some reason Butler tries to show on the drive instead of sticking closely on his man. Seems to me to be a defensive error, 100%. Butler ought to have stuck closely on Terry and completely forgotten about Kidd.

  • Sam

    I don't know what these fools above me saw, but Butler definitely reacted to Terry's fake cut, turning his body and starting to scramble to cut off his cut, taking away his balance and delaying his close-out on the Terry 3 ball. I mean of course he didn't play perfect defense, but it was because of a clever little move on Terry's part.

  • Sam

    I don’t know what these fools above me saw, but Butler definitely reacted to Terry’s fake cut, turning his body and starting to scramble to cut off his cut, taking away his balance and delaying his close-out on the Terry 3 ball. I mean of course he didn’t play perfect defense, but it was because of a clever little move on Terry’s part.

  • Sam

    I don't know what these fools above me saw, but Butler definitely reacted to Terry's fake cut, turning his body and starting to scramble to cut off his cut, taking away his balance and delaying his close-out on the Terry 3 ball. I mean of course he didn't play perfect defense, but it was because of a clever little move on Terry's part.