Last night against the Dallas Mavericks, the Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves down five points with 56 seconds left in the game with possession.  If the Timberwolves were able to get a basket here, it would be a one possession game they would be able to put pressure on the Mavericks with the hope of getting a stop.  Instead, the Timberwolves didn’t run much of a play and it resulted in a turnover:

This play starts with a double pindown screen to get the ball in Wayne Ellington’s hands.  However, after that there is nothing else happening.  You have the remaining three players standing around the perimeter and Anthony Randolph standing at the high post.  Eventually the ball gets to Jonny Flynn in the corner, and Flynn attacks the rim and makes a terrible decision to kick the ball out, leading to a turnover.

My problem here is this, what are the Timberwolves running?  It isn’t a straight isolation because Anthony Randolph is standing at the top of the key.  Was the ball supposed to go to Randolph?  Was there supposed to be a drive and kick?  We don’t know, and I think it is safe to say that the players don’t know either, and that is a problem.

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At the end of the Boston Celtics’ game against the New York Knicks, we saw yet another situation of a team needing a basket with less than one second left on the clock.  At risk of sounding like a broken record, we saw another example why protecting the rim and forcing a catch and shoot is the correct decision here.

The biggest debate in the comments section about this topic is whether or not executing a lob is harder than getting a clean look from three with under a second left.  I think after tonight, we have our answer.  In this case, Amar’e Stoudemire makes the catch behind the three point line, and knocks down the three pointer.  However, because there was only .4 seconds left, Amar’e was unable to get the shot off in time, and his three was disallowed.

While the Celtics didn’t play a zone here, they were very conscious of the lob and were willing to give up a catch and shoot three to prevent it:

The first precaution that the Celtics take is that they don’t put their big man on the inbounds pass.  Instead, they have Glen Davis watching the inbounds man.  Also, look at how he is positioned.  He has his back to the baseline, ready to bother any pass towards the basket and giving up any basket away from the hoop.

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The Nuggets and the Warriors seem to always play exciting games, and last night was no exception.  We even had a foul called on another half-court heave (this time in the third quarter though).  Looking at some stuff from late in this game gives an awesome insight into some late game execution:

We are going to first look at the defensive end with around 40 seconds to go in the game.  The Nuggets just got their second offensive rebound of the possession, and up by 3, if they get another bucket they can clinch the game:

As the Nuggets run a pick and roll, I want you to focus your attention on Andris Biedrins.  Right now he is attached to Nene, because he can’t camp in the lane for fear of a defensive three seconds call.

As Carmelo rolls, he has a pretty clear lane to the basket, but Andris Biedrins comes over and helps hard.  You don’t usually see this because most defenders are worried about their man getting the pass after the help.

I like Biedrins theory here.  Forget about Nene, Carmelo Anthony is dangerous with the basketball, if he passes it to Nene, he just needs to trust his teammates behind him on the rotation.  Andris Biedrins gets the block that leads to a jump ball.  So instead of being down 5, the Warriors are down 3 with a chance to get the ball.  After Carmelo tries to steal the tap, the Warriors have the ball with a chance to tie:

On the inbound, you are going to have Tolliver running to the corner and Steph Curry coming to the basketball.  As all of that goes on, Corey Maggette is just going to turn and take a step to the basketball to provide an outlet option.

Because Steph Curry is a dangerous three point shooter, J.R. Smith needs to stay with him no matter how far out he is, so when Monta Ellis makes the pass to Maggette, there is now a lane for Monta to cut through.  This is a great play design, because all of the action is happening on one side of the court, and that frees up the other side.

After Monta makes the pass, he cuts towards the open area with Andris Biedrins setting him a screen.

Monta makes the catch and pulls up from three.  Nene is there, but he doesn’t have the time to get his hands up and challenge the shot.  So Monta calmly knocks down the three.

Overtime

Offensive rebounds hurt the Warriors late in the game (on the block above, that was the Nuggets third attempt at the basket), but in overtime it hurt them the most.

As J.R. Smith pulls up for the jumper, you have Kenyon Martin (who set a pick for Smith) crashing the boards.  The Warriors have pretty good initial position with three guys on the inside ready to box out anyone who tries to get the offensive rebound.

That good position is given up as both Warriors go to box out Nene, allowing for Kenyon Martin to walk into offensive rebounding position untouched.

Kenyon Martin gets the rebound and kicks it out.

Chauncey Billups gets the kick out and knocks down a three to give the Nuggets the lead.

Stephen Curry hits a three:

The first thing to notice is that Monta Ellis is bringing the basketball up.  Late in games Steph Curry is usually the one bringing up because the Warriors want to get Ellis the ball in a scoring position.  This time though, Ellis is bringing the ball up, so you should know that there is a play in the works for Steph Curry.

As Monta gives the ball to Andris Biedrins, he then cuts.  The real action is on the other side of the court though.

Devin George cuts backdoor using two screens, and right after that cut, you have Steph Curry coming off a screen set by Corey Maggette.

As Curry comes off the screen he makes the catch and he is wide open to knock down the three.

J.R. Smith hits a three:

This final play is where the Nuggets end up taking the lead for good.

This is a play the Nuggets like to run late.  They have Carmelo setting a pick for Chauncey Billups.  As that is going on, you have a double screen being set for J.R. Smith on the weak side in case there is nothing available on the pick and roll.  That is the beauty of the play, Smith is the third option (after the roll and Billups doing something off the screen), so it is hard to focus your attention on him because if you do, Carmelo our Billups will end up with a basket.

You can see, as Billups comes off the screen, Steph Curry is staring at him.  This allows for Smith to float to an open area without Curry defending him.  Also, Martin is able to sneak in for a screen because Curry isn’t paying attention.

As Billups gets to the top of the key, there is nothing open.  Not the roll, not the shot off the pick, so he turns to his third option which is J.R. Smith popping out while getting two screens.

J.R. Smith makes the catch and knocks down the open three.