Game 2 of my video odyssey thru the @NoDunksInc top 10 NBA games of the season. Today's game was an 'Honourable mention' from @jeskeets & @treykerby but still a 'ripper': Nov 8th @utahjazz vs @Bucks. Starting off with this Bucks set to get Middleton a deep catch for a short J.

Here's a simple @utahjazz set that got @rudygobert27 a deep catch & a foul drawn. FWIW - If Bogdanovic had tilted angle of screen to more 'back to baseline', Lopez wouldn't have been able to slide thru as easy & contest shot. Screeners - angle back to where you want cutter to go

The main tactical chess match was how each team was going to attack the other's defensive 5s who were sagging in the paint. Here's two clips of Lopez camping in the paint, helping on penetration, forcing tough shots.

In PNR play vs Sagging or Drop coverage your screeners have to get quality contact. I use the terminology 'Hit & Hold'. If they don't get contact, the on ball defender can climb into the PNR creator and take away passing angles. See these clips - no contact on either PNR.

Compare that last clip to this one - great contact by screener creates a wide pocket for @Joeingles7 to pass thru. Also note, Ingles' PNR set up using an 'in and out' dribble with the hand closest to the screen getting even more separation from the on ball defender.

Here's another clip of screener getting contact which opens up an uncontested pass & wide passing pocket. Notice the corner doesn't shake cut hard on side of the screener - instead reading the roller is HIGH & BEHIND the ball so holds the corner so screener can shoot a floater.

The @utahjazz also used this high double drag to create seperation for PNR creator vs the Drop. @BucketsONeale00 sets a hard screen to create seperation for @spidadmitchell. Notice the screener is IN FRONT of the ball so single side is lifted to create a rolling lane for him.

Here's the set again. @MCONLEY10 shallow cuts into being first screener in double drag & gets contact enough to create seperation for PNR creator (although Bogey fumbles ball). Single side (Conley) is lifted creating rolling lane for Gobert. Results in '2 on roller' advantage.

The @Bucks moved their PNRs to the side to combat the Drop. Different screening location opened up a wider passing pocket and an angle to roll & finish on opposite side of hoop away from Drop defender. Both clips the screener times their cut perfectly to hit the gap at speed.

The @utahjazz also moved their PNRs - to the low cnr & angled them up court. The quality contact on the screens from @rudygobert27 & the spacing from the Jazz open up a driving lane for PNR creator to the middle. Than its 'dominos' time (credit to @RossMcMains for that term).

The @utahjazz combated the Drop D by not involving their 5 at all in the PNR. Instead they started going guard to Guard PNRs and picking on Kyle Korver. You can see in these clips the O5 is down in the dunker spot giving @spidadmitchell space to attack.

What was interesting when the @utahjazz went to this tacic was the difference in space created between whether O5 was in the ballside OR weakside dunker spot. See this clip, Gobert is in ballside dunker and isn't behind his defender so Lopez is able to break up the pass to him.

This time @rudygobert27 is ballside dunker again but he is BEHIND his defender and times his cut to the rim to perfection. Notice his footwork - feet facing up court, catch ball and first step together than explode for dunk with second step.

When @rudygobert27 was in the weakside dunker spot it opened up a greater 'lane' (driving lane) advantage for the PNR creator. @BBallImmersion calls these 'double gaps' and they really allow the PNR creator to get downhill.

What were some other tactics the @utahjazz used against the @Bucks Drop D? Stack PNRs. Here's @Joeingles7 getting quality contact on his rip screen, causing a reaction from his defender to help Lopez (2 on cutter adv) leading to a 'space' advantage for Ingles (to shoot).

The @utahjazz also used the Drop defender's deep position against them on the PNR by turning it into a 'Veer Pin' action. With the Drop D so deep, it gives the screener a free hit on the cutter's defender. The 'Veer' disguises the action so Drop D cant come up to help on the Pin.

In this clip, @rudygobert27 uses his defender camping in the lane and focusing on the ball to flare screen in another defender and open up the 3pt shot for @BucketsONeale00.

The @Bucks also had to be creative on offence to combat Gobert sagging in the paint to help. In this clip, the Bucks place Lopez in the ballside corner as Giannis and take advantage of Gobert over helping with a short pass and a highly efficient uncontested 3pt.

The @Bucks also used Rip screens to attack the Drop defender. See this clip of @Khris22m setting a hard screen on Gobert to create a reaction from his defender, leading to enough of a 'space' advantage for a 3pt.

Last clip, if you made it this far, enjoy this wicked front to back crossover from @spidadmitchell and the deep 3pt off the bounce.