Mavs vs Wolves Game 2 Sets
All of the sets and concepts from the Mavs Game 2 win over the Timberwolves.
The Mavs are now up 2-0 on the Timberwolves, but as we have seen from the past series in these playoffs it is far from over. In this breakdown we will look at all of the sets & X’s & O’s that both teams used in game 2 to counter the defensive adjustments we have seen so far.
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Mavs Ram 1-4 Ballscreen
After we saw how the Timberwolves were guarding the Luka/PJ ballscreen in game 1 by having KAT/Reid hedge out on Luka and ignore the pick and pop, the Mavs ran it the first play with a little wrinkle.
They started out game 2 with a “Ram” screen or screening down in the middle of the floor for the ballscreener.
This is trying to create late coverage in ballscreen and when the Mavs are looking to hedge, means that KAT will be slower to get to Luka and open up a easier pick and pop look.
Next Switch To Pop
To counter this in game 2 the Timberwolves went to a “Next Switch” where the next closest player opposite is going to switch out to the pick and pop.
This has been something we have seen in the playoffs from the Pelicans taking away the pick and pop of Chet and several other teams to take away the pick and pop 3s.
Timberwolves Horns Twist
The Wolves found a ton of success with running Horns Twist with KAT/Anderson at the elbows playing small and was part of the way they extended their lead in the 2nd quarter. We can see here in the first clip when Conley comes off the first screen from KAT, the Wolves blow the coverage and he gets a wide open 3.
Next possession Conley gets downhill when PJ stays attached on KAT and then finds Anderson who kicks out to Naz Reid for a 3.
Same action and result here, but now Anderson ends up hitting the floater.
The Wolves also went to this action later in the 4th quarter with Gobert/Reid at the elbows and found Ant lifting up to attack the closeout and finish the layup.
When running this play Conley gets the choice to go off either side as well and turn it into a ballscreen, where he was able to make a floater.
I expect the Wolves to use this play more in game 3, and possibly add some wrinkles to it.
Timberwolves Oklahoma
When Naz Reid was rolling and in rhythm knocking down 3s, the Wolves ran “Oklahoma” at the end of the half where Reid/Gobert set a double ballscreen and then rescreen for Reid to get a 3.
This is a common set ran in the NBA, but usually for guards/wings like the Warriors here for Klay.
Mavs Double Fist vs Blitz
The biggest adjustment in the series so far for the Wolves is to have Gobert blitz the ballscreen instead of drop, since anytime Luka or Kyrie get downhill in the lane bad things happen for the Wolves defense.
To counter this the Mavs have used double ballscreens to create harder navigation for McDaniels and if Gobert is higher up to force him to think more about the roller than what Luka is doing.
Luka tends to draw attention, and these Double Ballscreens have been tough for the Wolves, all 3 defenders are worried about him here and the roller ends up wide open.
Lively also did a good job of slipping out of the second ballscreen to create the drop coverage and allowed Luka easier scoring chances.
One of the biggest changes for the Mavs offense late in the 4th was to give Kyrie the ball and have him come off a double ballscreen. When Gobert was aggressive in blitz he had NO shot to stay with Kyrie and it opened up a roller score and Kyrie getting fouled.
Mavs Double Fist Empty ATO
Since the Mavs had been running the double ballscreen often this game, late in the 4th ATO they used the same action but ended up emptying out one side of the floor as Luka came off.
This created a “Shake” roll where now Conley has to either tag the roll man or stay on his man, opening up the roller Lively.
Mavs Double Fist Indiana ATO
Another counter out of Double Fist is what I call “Indiana” action where a guards sets a backscreen on the first ballscreener and then comes off a downscreen. This is an ATO the Mavs have run all year and years for THJ, so the Wolves staff must have been upset to give up a layup on this play.
The Mavs ran this in game 1, but the Wolves covered it nicely with Gobert dropping and then top locking THJ coming off the screen and took the play away.
But with KAT hedging here it put two on the ball and opened up all of the other options of the play.
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Thanks,
Coach Pyper