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) – Doug Collins/Philadelphia 76ers

Here, Doug Collins uses a standard cut off the post, one that looks like it is creating an ISO on the block, to create a wide open shot in the lane.  The play starts with Spencer Hawes getting the basketball in the post from Jodie Meeks.  After Meeks makes the pass, he cuts through.  However, instead of going to the opposite corner (which is what normally happens in these situations), he sets a screen for Thaddeus Young.  Young comes off the screen, gets the ball in the middle of the paint, and knocks down the easy floater.

Play 2 (2 Points) – Rick Adelman/Houston Rockets

On this set, the Houston Rockets run a nice misdirection.  Here, Courtney Lee brings up the basketball and gets it to Kyle Lowry at the elbow.  It looks like the Rockets are running a play for Lee coming off of a backscreen, but the real action is taking play at the opposite side of the court, with Kevin Martin curling off of a Luis Scola post up.  The reason why this works is because Scola is posting up instead of setting a screen (this is something the Rockets do often).  This prevents Scola’s man from hedging out on Martin, because Scola still is a threat to catch the basketball.  In this case, the result is an easy basket for Martin.

Play 1 (3 Points) – Doc Rivers/Boston Celtics

Here, the Boston Celtics run a nice BLOB set that we have seen featured here before.  Here, Rondo enters the ball to Garnett and gets it back, coming off of a staggered screen.  This allows Rondo to get in the paint and forces the Grizzlies to use an extra defender to hedge on Rondo.  So when Ray Allen comes off of three screens (one from Pierce, and a staggered from Green and Garnett), there is one less defender focused on this.  The reason why I like this play so much is that teams know it is coming, but it is impossible to stop.  Case in point, the man chasing Allen around screens is Tony Allen.  Tony has probably seen this play a million times, and he still can’t keep Ray from getting a wide open look.

Updated Standings (Previous)

1. Doc Rivers – 36 points (1st)
2. Erik Spoelstra – 30 points (2nd)
3. Gregg Popovich – 21 points (3rd)
4. Monty Williams – 18 points (4th)
5. Rick Carlisle – 13 points (5th)
6. Frank Vogel – 12 points (6th)
7. Phil Jackson – 12 points (7th)
8. Alvin Gentry –  11 points (8th)
9. Tom Thibodeau – 10 points (9th)
10. Rick Adelman – 9 points (10th)
11. Nate McMillan – 6 points (11th)
12. Larry Drew – 6 points (12th)
13. Scott Brooks – 6 points (13th)
14. Avery Johnson – 6 points (14th)
15. Jay Triano – 5 points (15th)
16. Jerry Sloan – 4 points (16th)
17. Ty Corbin – 4 points (17th)
18. Doug Collins – 3 point (25th)
19. Lionel Hollins – 3 points (18th)
20. George Karl – 3 points (19th)
21. Scott Skiles – 3 points (20th)
22. Mike D’Antoni – 3 points (21st)
23. Byron Scott – 2 points (22nd)
24. Stan Van Gundy – 2 points (23rd)
25. Flip Saunders – 2 points (24th)
26. Paul Silas – 1 point (26th)
27. John Kuester – 1 point (27th)
28. Keith Smart – 1 point (28th)
29. Vinny Del Negro – 1 point (29th)

With the win, Doc Rivers extends his lead against Erik Spoelstra to six points.  Meanwhile, Adelman extends his lead over 11th place as Doug Collins jumps from 25th to 18th.