A team’s performance after a timeout may be the best way to judge a coach’s Xs & Os knowledge, and his ability to draw up plays. The Clipboard Awards is a competition where I choose the top three post-timeout plays each night, adding up the scores over the course of the season.

Play #3 (1 point)- Gregg Popovich/San Antonio Spurs

This quick hitter starts with Tony Parker bringing the basketball down the right side of the court.  As this happens, Gary Neal comes off of a screen from Antonio McDyess, heading towards the top of the key where he receives the pass from Parker.

After making the pass, Parker comes off of a backscreen set by Antonio McDyess, heading towards the middle of the paint.

Once Parker gets underneath the basket, the Spurs now run a pindown on each side of the court.  Parker comes off of a pindown set by Tiago Splitter and George Hill comes off of a pindown set by McDyess.

George Hill comes open, Neal hits him with the pass, and he is able to pull up and knock it down.  Here is the play in real time:

What I like about this play is the confusion it causes.  The defense starts to focus on Parker, as if the play is centered around him and then at the last minute, Hill quickly comes off of the pindown looking for the shot.

Play #2 (2 points)- Erik Spoelstra/Miami Heat

This play started with Eddie House inbounding the ball to Dwyane Wade, and as he takes it to the opposite side of the court.  After House makes the pass he gets to the block and becomes part of a double pindown for Mike Miller.

Once Miller comes off of the House screen, House quickly turns around and sets a screen for Chris Bosh, who was the 2nd double pindown man.  Bosh uses the screen to get to the opposite block.

Wade hits Bosh with the entry pass and Bosh is able to finish with the dunk.  Here is the play in real time:

This play sums up what Erik Spoelstra likes to do coming out of timeouts.  He seems to love misdirection sets, showing one thing and then quickly doing something else.  That is exactly what happens here.  You have to respect Miller coming off of the double screen, but then all of a sudden Bosh is getting a screen, and he’s open on the block.

Play #1 (3 points)- Jerry Sloan/Utah Jazz

This set starts with Deron Williams entering the ball into the wing to Earl Watson, and then cutting to the rim, getting a backscreen from Jeremy Evans.

After Evans sets the backscreen, he gets himself in position to run a pick and roll with Watson.  As this happens, Deron Williams gets set to come off of a double pindown screen on the opposite side of the court.

This play works because there are two things happening at the same time.  You can see in the above screenshot that the defense is really focused on defending the pick and roll, not even noticing Williams coming off the double pindown.

With nobody really paying attention to Williams, he is able to make the catch, pull up, and knock down the wide open jumper.  Here is the play in real time:

This set really is a thing a beauty.  Coach Sloan has 4 out of the 5 Nuggets’ defenders focusing on the pick and roll, and that isn’t what the Jazz are looking for.  They want to get it to Williams, and they are able to do that easily.

Updated Standings (Previous)

1. Erik Spoelstra – 9 points (1st)
2. Doc Rivers – 5 points (2nd)
3. Gregg Popovich – 4 points (3rd)
4. Jerry Sloan 3 Points (NR)
5. Rick Adelman – 3 points (4th)
6. Frank Vogel – 3 points (5th)
7. George Karl – 2 points (6th)
8. Phil Jackson – 2 points (7th)
9. Byron Scott – 2 points (8th)
10. Stan Van Gundy – 1 point (9th)
11. John Kuester – 1 point (10th)
12. Keith Smart – 1 point (11th)

Jerry Sloan finally makes his way to the leaderboard with his beautiful play from last night.  Meanwhile, Erik Spoelstra (nobody seemed to mention him as a possible winner when I announced this little competition) widens his lead.