Raptors Playbook: SLOB Slice Series
Over at the Raptors Playbook YouTube channel (@RaptorsPlaybook on Twitter), I am breaking down the X’s & O’s of the Toronto Raptors. This week, we’ll focus on their Sideline Out of Bounds (SLOB) play – Slice Punch Stagger – a quick angled cut to get a guard post position followed by some counters if that does not succeed. Watch the video embedded below alongside the summary written, and remember to follow and subscribe to never miss out on a video.
The play starts with the shooting guard typically inbounding the ball, as the point guard sets an off-ball screen for the power forward at the elbow to free them up for the entry pass. As the 4-man receives the pass, the inbounder will utilize a Slice cut that takes them from the strong side elbow to the low post on the opposite end of the floor.
While this occurs, the power forward will pass the ball to the point guard – at which point they can look to enter the ball into the post to the shooting guard. This action is commonly run by the Raptors from the sideline because it allows for DeMar DeRozan to establish post position and isolate against his defender while the remaining Raptors space the floor. This can be seen in the video starting at 0:12.
If the 2-guard is unable to properly seal or establish solid post position, the point guard can opt to not enter the ball into the low post and look to the opposite side of the floor. The two bigs will then set a staggered screen for the small forward that is positioned around the baseline. If that action frees up the wing, they are free to shoot or drive, but this action typically does not provide enough space for a possession-ending decision. Rather, the two screen-setting bigs will continue along the baseline and set a second staggered screen for the shooting guard who had previously attempted to establish post position on the opposite block. Once the ball finds its way to the second off-ball route runner, enough separation has been created to get a shot off and execute on the advantage. This can be seen in the video starting at 1:00.
Some other options are baked into this play as well, as the inbounder does not have to accept the initial screen to make a Slice cut. Depending on how the defense is playing that cut (typically a firm denial of the screen, slotting the defender between the cutter and the screen), DeRozan can opt to reject it by popping to the perimeter and accepting a screen from the power forward. This forces the assigned defender to trail the matchup and triggers a quick ball screen after the catch. This can be seen starting at 2:05.
The Raptors have toyed with going away from the post up option entirely for stretches in their annual experimental pre-season phase and had the inbounder once again ignore the Slice cut option, this time sending them as one of two on-ball screeners for the point guard – an action similar to their Wedge Stagger play. This can be seen starting at 2:17.
Note: Trying out a new software for the diagram/X’s and O’s. Hopefully this is cleaner and easier to understand than the homemade knock off I was using before.
