The play that helped send the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Finals | Game 6 Film Breakdown
Stack Pick & Roll
- After a huge run to end the 3rd quarter, Kawhi Leonard was resting to start the final frame. Toronto ran a pet play – “Stack Pick & Roll” – 4 times on their way to 7 points (1.75 points per possession).
- The aim of the Stack Pick & Roll is to eliminate the typical help defense that nullifies advantages gained by an offense after a normal Pick & Roll. To do this, a 3rd player will back-screen the main help defender.
- This action gave the Bucks a lot of trouble, as it produced uncertainty and disorganized switching that allowed for Van Vleet to lay the ball in, Powell to shoot an open corner three-pointer, and for Siakam to loft a floater over Lopez’s head.
Bonus: Then & Now
- In early November of 2014, a young Kyle Lowry was defending a crucial possession in the 4th quarter. Lowry ripped the ball away from the offensive player and chased the loose ball down the court. As Lowry does, he beat everyone to it. Rather than laying the ball up, Lowry slowed himself down and looked behind. He found a trailing DeMar DeRozan streaking for a dunk that proved to be pivotal in winning the game.
- Four and a half years later, Kyle Lowry found himself in a similar possession. Once again, he was defending on a crucial 4th quarter possession. Once again, he forced the ball to pop loose, tracked it down, slowed down, and looked behind. However this time, he found a trailing Kawhi Leonard streaking for a dunk that proved to be pivotal in winning the game.
- Lowry isn’t the star that throws down the dunk that will be on posters for years to come. Lowry is the star that is the common thread in every winning moment in Raptors history.
