Here are four videos with diagrams and explanations for some of the most interesting tactical decisions that happened in Game 1.
Toronto Raptors: Dwane Casey’s In-Game Counter
Here is a video diagramming how Dwane Casey countered the Wizards’ aggressive defense against them after a timeout. The play is Double Drag Continuity Series, and Casey added a wrinkle to get Jakob Poeltl an alley oop.
Toronto Raptors: Attacking the Wizards Aggressive Pick & Roll Defense
This video shows all the different ways that the Raptors beat the Wizards aggressive pick and roll defense.
When the guard burst through and beat the trap by themselves, they used:
1) Weak Side Step Up Ball Screens
2) Early Offense Step Up Ball Screens
3) High Ball Screens
When they passed around the trap, they:
1) Short Roll 4-on-3 Pass
2) Short Roll Finish
3) Pass to the “Shake Man”
4) “Shorting” the Pick and Roll
Washington Wizards: Scott Brook’s In-Game Counter
This video shows how the Wizards re-oriented their floor spacing in the 2nd half when posting up Kyle Lowry with their guards. Toronto frequently funnels post up players into a “Baseline Double”, but this Wizards adjustment made it tough.
Washington Wizards: Sidelines out of Bounds Play
This is a nice SLOB play that the Wizards used. In the Film Room Preview, I detailed a different SLOB Zipper play. This one is a pick and roll that got Bradley Beal two scoring possessions attacking downhill.
