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 1 (3 Points) – Alvin Gentry/Phoenix Suns

This set starts with Steve Nash bringing up the basketball, and as that happens, Robin Lopez shows as if he is setting a ball screen for Nash.

However, at the last second Lopez turns around and ends up setting a pindown screen for Vince Carter.  Carter curls off of the screen and gets a pass from Nash.

Carter quickly gets the ball right back to Nash, and after that he continues his curl around the three point line, eventually getting a backscreen from Channing Frye at the weakside elbow.

As the screen gets set, Dirk Nowitzki is in correct help position.  However, because Channing Frye is the man setting the screen, Nowitzki needs to get up on Frye to make sure he doesn’t pop out for an open three pointer.

This frees up the middle of the paint, opening up a passing lane for Steve Nash to hit a wide open Vince Carter.

Carter makes the catch and goes up for the easy dunk before the help can get over.  Here is the play in real time:

What makes this play work is the man setting the backscreen, Channing Frye.  As I already mentioned, you need to respect Frye and his ability to pop out for the three pointer, meaning that the help defense in the middle can’t be there too long.  You actually see Nash holding onto the basketball waiting for Nowitzki to return Frye.  Once that happens, Nash hits him with a pinpoint pass.

Updated Standings (Previous)

1. Erik Spoelstra – 19 points (1st)
2. Doc Rivers – 12 points (2nd)
3. Frank Vogel – 12 points (3rd)
4. Phil Jackson – 10 points (5th)
5. Gregg Popovich – 8 points (4th)
6. Tom Thibodeau – 7 points (6th)
7. Rick Adelman – 6 points (8th)
8. Alvin Gentry – 5 points (13th)
9. Nate McMillan – 5 points (7th)
10. Monty Williams – 5 points (9th)
11. Jerry Sloan – 4 Points (10th)
12. Lionel Hollins – 3 points (11th)
13. George Karl – 3 points (12th)
14. Rick Carlisle – 2 points (14th)
15. Byron Scott – 2 points (15th)
16. Stan Van Gundy – 2 points (16th)
17. Scott Brooks – 2 points (17th)
18. Larry Drew – 1 point (18th)
19. Flip Saunders 1 – point (19th)
20. John Kuester – 1 point (20th)
21. Keith Smart – 1 point (21th)

As you probably noticed, there was only one play chosen today.  With the lack of games (only two) yesterday, there was simply not enough quickly post-timeout sets.  So Gentry gets the three points today, gaining on the top 5.