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) – Tom Thibodeau/Chicago Bulls

We catch this play in the middle of it (due to the Pistons broadcast showing a full-screen interview with Dennis Rodman), but here you have Kyle Korver coming off a staggered pindown screen to get a wide open look off of the screens.

Play 2 (2 Points) – Doc Rivers/Boston Celtics

Here, it looks like the Celtics are running a play for Ray Allen to come off of a few screens off of the basketball.  Instead, Allen is the one setting the screen for Jeff Green.  Green is open, makes the catch, and finishes easily.  Part of the reason why is because Ray Allen comes off of two downscreens, forcing the defense to respect that as well.

Play 1 (3 Points) – Gregg Popovich/San Antonio Spurs

On this play, George Hill eventually gets the basketball on the wing as Matt Bonner gets in position to set a screen for him.  Hill goes away from the screen, attacking the baseline, and as that happens, Gary Neal comes off of a backscreen set by Antonio McDyess.  After a quick pump-fake, Neal is able to knock down the wide open three.

Updated Standings (Previous)

1. Doc Rivers – 40 points (1st)
2. Erik Spoelstra – 32 points (2nd)
3. Gregg Popovich – 27 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. Rick Adelman – 12 points (8th)
9. Nate McMillan – 12 points (9th)
10. Alvin Gentry –  11 points (10th)
11. Tom Thibodeau – 11 points (11th)
12. Avery Johnson – 8 points (12th)
13. Doug Collins – 6 point (13th)
14. Larry Drew – 6 points (14th)
15. Scott Brooks – 6 points (15th)
16. Jay Triano – 6 points (16th)
17. Jerry Sloan – 4 points (17th)
18. Ty Corbin – 4 points (18th)
19. Lionel Hollins – 4 points (19th)
20. George Karl – 3 points (20th)
21. Scott Skiles – 3 points (21st)
22. Mike D’Antoni – 3 points (22nd)
23. Byron Scott – 2 points (23rd)
24. Stan Van Gundy – 2 points (24th)
25. Flip Saunders – 2 points (25th)
26. Paul Silas – 2 point (26th)
27. John Kuester – 1 point (27th)
28. Keith Smart – 1 point (28th)
29. Vinny Del Negro – 1 point (29th)

All three coaches who got points today stay put in the standings.  It seems that Doc Rivers has locked up the number one spot, but the most interesting aspect is whether or not Gregg Popovich will catch Erik Spoelstra for the number two spot.