"I often think of halfcourt scoring, sideline out of bounds plays, baseline out of bounds plays, things of that nature... as exercises in problem solving. Sometimes it's an expression of dominance, of sheer offensive talent and the like, but when a team is missing that over-the-top talent, the MVP x All NBA two man partnerships, it becomes about alignment and sequencing."
"The Raptors came into the game against the Pacers as the NBA's #2 halfcourt offense (per cleaning the glass, and their highest ranking in franchise history) and as the NBA Kings of BLOB & SLOB points per possession. They don't have the dominating offensive talent to simplify everything, they have a mish mash of players that require a bit more mindfulness when it comes to their usage."
"It was a major test then, to face the Pacers who employ Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell, both of whom can badger and prod at guards, forcing teams to initiate offense from different positions to save the trouble of that pestering. The Raptors had to go elsewhere for initiation and offense initially. Brandon Ingram & Scottie Barnes provided the bulk of the Raptors scoring in an offense starved first quarter."
The Raptors entered the game ranked as the NBA's #2 halfcourt offense and led the league in BLOB and SLOB points per possession. The roster lacks a single dominant offensive superstar, so alignment, sequencing, and shared contributions drive offensive execution. Coach Darko and a mix of role players emphasize innovation, egalitarian ball use, and mindful shot allocation. Facing the Pacers' disruptive guards Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell forced initiation away from perimeter guards. Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes shouldered early scoring, but shooting struggles and limited assists left the offense stagnant in the opening quarter, exposing transition and initiation shortcomings.
Read at Raptors Republic
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