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How The Lakers Free Up Kobe

March 10th, 2010 Sebastian Pruiti 19 comments

With the game tied and 9 seconds left, everyone and their mother knows that Kobe Bean Bryant will be getting the basketball.  So how was he able to get free for a pretty easy (for Kobe) jumper?  Some great execution from the Lakers and some poor execution from the Raptors:

After Ron Artest inbounds it to Pau Gasol, he cuts backdoor while Kobe comes to the basketball.  The Lakers have run a play like this in the past, except instead of a backdoor cut, it was a backscreen set.  Phil Jackson chose not to go with the backscreen, and I think that is smart.  It prevents the Raptors from switching the cut and denying Kobe outright.  On the other side, Lamar Odom sets a back screen for Derek Fisher.

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