Each coach has his preferences at the end of the match. Erik Spoelstra loves systems in “elevator” mode while Gregg Popovich feasts on false leads for an alley-oop.
The legendary Texan coach proved it again last night against the Mavericks. Keldon Johnson has just missed two free throws to equalize but Maxi Kleber gently returns the ball to San Antonio by attempting a much too risky throw-in, and here is the Spurs with a new chance. There are 1.8 seconds left to play.
At 121-119 for Dallas, we think that the Fort Alamo squad will try to play for the win, with a 3-pointer.
The system put in place by Gregg Popovich will also play on this fear, and above all saturate Maxi Kleber with information, in order to take the German behind his back. Thus, Keldon Johnson, on whom he is defending, will first screen for Sandro Mamukelashvili but the real trap comes then, when Sandro Mamukelashvili and Keldon Johnson seem to place a double screen for Devonte ‘Graham, in order to allow him to attempt a shot from afar.
The Dallas defense “switches”, with Josh Green and Reggie Bullock instantly switching players. Maxi Kleber is however logically attracted by the race of Devonte ‘Graham, to compensate for a possible delay of Josh Green… except that Keldon Johnson did not in fact set up a screen, sliding behind his back to go to the alley-oop.
As Gibson Pyper notes, the trap is very often used by Gregg Popovich, but also by quite a few other coaches in the NBA. It still worked anyway, even though the Mavs eventually won the game.
