Raptors Playbook: 3 Wrinkles Nick Nurse Added to Holdover Plays
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 some wrinkles Nick Nurse has added to some plays that have carried over from Dwane Casey’s tenure. Watch the video embedded below alongside the summary written, and remember to follow and subscribe to never miss out on a video.
5 Weak/Bench Flow & Added Flip PNR — Starting at 0:05
This quick hitting play has been a staple in the Raptors’ playbook for several seasons to dial up a look for their best three-point shooters. Spanning Terrence Ross’ career with the team to C.J. Miles, the Raptors have used this play with regularity.
However – the setup to this play is not reminiscent of other sets they run and is relatively predictable. When combined with years of scouting and film on this play, teams are ready to deny, overplay, and switch to deny the catch for the three-point shooter coming off the baseline screens.
To combat this, Nick Nurse has added a quick dribble handoff (DHO) between the usual shooter and the passer. Next, the 5 will set a step-up ball screen along the sideline for the ball handler to open up a lane to the rim.
This can be useful against teams that are dead-set on denying the usual shooter an open look and are willing to load up on them in order to achieve that goal, as more offensive players are now threats with the added Flip pick-and-roll option.
Iverson Series & Added Rub Screen — Starting at 0:38
The Raptors have ran their Iverson series for years and it was usually a great way to get DeMar DeRozan a catch along the wing with a defender trailing. Over the years, they added a variety of actions to keep the defense on their toes, however not one that utilized the passing ability of their big men.
When utilizing this wrinkle, the Iverson cut now does not set up a catch along the wing after the 2 cuts along the free throw line. Rather, the ball is entered to the first big at the elbow while the 2 now utilizes a quick rub screen set by the second big and dives to the rim with their defender trailing on their hip.
Motion Weak Slice Punch & Added Scissor Cut — Starting at 1:09
Unlike the previous two plays, Motion Weak Slice Punch was not often used. In exact terms, it was actually only utilized during a handful of preseason games in the 2017-18 season and then never seen again. It was a nice idea in that it ensured Jonas Valanciunas a post touch after garnering good post position (with a nice weak side option as well). However, upon entering the ball into the post, the offense stalled out and became stagnant without any scripted movement.
When the Raptors brought the play back in the 2018-19 preseason, they added an interesting wrinkle to inject movement to the play after the ball is entered into Valanciunas on the block.
The opposite big will flash to the high post and set a Scissor Cut for the guards to his left and right respectively. This action turns Valanciunas from a definite scorer and black hole, and morphs him into an initiator from the block.
