X’s And O’s: How Are The Raptors Scoring So Efficiently?
Toronto is perfecting its craft in order to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Playoffs.
ICYMI, the Toronto Raptors are taking advantage of roster continuity and offensive talent this season to rank as one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA. And while the typically vocal section of Raptors observers have been notably quiet about head coach Dwane Casey’s lackluster offensive playbook, there remains value in breaking down why Toronto’s offense has found such tactical success this year.
One of the most significant decisions the Raptors have made this season is to decrease the frequency of certain plays the team has run in previous years, particularly its Ram Pick and Roll series. Instead, Casey & Co. have opted for variants with more options and counters, like the Wedge Pick and Roll series.
Option 1: Wedge Pick and Pop
While this option is rarely used by the Raptors, it is the foundation for understanding how many of the team’s sets develop. The crux of the play is the angled screen-the-screener action, frequently called a Wedge Screen.
The initial screen is usually set by Toronto’s shooting guard to free the power forward. This delays the second screener’s defender from actively defending the impending pick-and-roll — specifically preventing a hedge or show, which typically limits the ball handler from driving towards the middle of the court. By doing this, the Raptors create slight moments of confusion that produce the occasional corner three-pointer.
The reason this option is not frequently used by the Raptors is because of its simplicity and ubiquity. A large portion of the league uses Wedge Screens in one way or another, and as a result, using it as the primary way to score is too easily identified to be relied upon. For Toronto, however, this action is but a starting point for a larger, unique set of play options.
Option 2: Wedge Screen and Weak Side Step-Up
Here, we see the ball handler swing the ball to the weak side of the floor, where the off-ball guard has continued to move to after setting the initial screen. Upon catching the ball, the new ball hander is immediately met with a screen — known as a step-up ball screen. Functionally, this works in much the same way as a standard pick-and-roll, aside from the timing. Because the defense has been bent in one direction after the initial Wedge Screen, the screen setter’s timing is paramount for optimal effectiveness. By making contact on the catch, the ball handler’s defender can be eliminated from the play, effectively creating a 2-on-1 advantage.
Said advantage is enhanced by the small forward swapping sides of the court along the baseline, thus precluding help defense from the corner. Given the proper offensive personnel, the resulting spacing is extremely very difficult for even the most disciplined defenses to deal with. Whether it’s missing a rotation from the weak side to tag the roll-man, wandering too far away from open perimeter shooters, or allowing penetration into the lane, this action creates a pick-your-poison situation.
Option 3 — Wedge Stagger
Another variant in the Raptors’ Wedge Series calls for a reversal in screen-the-screener responsibilities. This action has the Toronto big man — typically the nominal power forward or center — set the initial screen for a wing, instead of the opposite as described before. The wing player will screen for the ball handler and the big will flip his screen to then set a second screen for the ball handler towards the middle of the floor. The result? A Single Side Bump behind the pick and roll.
This action forces and/or encourages a defense to switch on the guard-guard screen, only to find itself caught switching on the guard-big screen immediately thereafter. Toronto’s ball handlers relentlessly attack these mismatches — to varying degrees of success — but because Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are huge threats to pull up off the dribble or finish in the paint, opposing defenses often find themselves compromised.
Either way, whether the second screener’s defender sags into the paint or aggressively pursues the Raptor guards, it’s advantage Toronto. Similarly, for defense’s that refuse to switch the second screen, the confusion that ensues often opens up space for the Raptors shooters and/or offensive rebounders.
Option 4 — Wedge Stagger and Weakside Pindown/Punch
Toronto’s other option is probably the most intricate of the bunch, but it is still rather basic in structure. The trigger is identical to Wedge Stagger, only the positions in this action mean less because a switch is not the goal.
Instead, after the pick and roll, a weak side pindown is set for the shooter in the weak side corner. Depending on the reaction of the defense, the Raptors shoot a jumper, set a side pick and roll or even try a post touch. Most defenses are preparing for Wedge Stagger and weak side defenders tend to pay less attention to their assignments in case they need to help in the middle of the floor. Knowing this, Casey’s players often spring a pindown on the inattentive defender.
The Raptors have been sprinkling in more weak side action to counter their frequently run sets — presumably (and wisely) to ward off the opposition’s supposition that Toronto will always rely upon its two best players. From a strategic perspective, this makes sense, but in the playoffs — when defenses really lock down — perfecting this action and its options should pay big dividends in the half-court offense.
Concluding Thoughts
An entire compilation of all the previous clips can be seen with additional examples in the video below.
