Podium Game Playbook: How the Spurs used a simple back cut to get an easy bucket

Last night’s triple overtime thriller between the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs was one of the best regular season games in a long, long time. There were big time performances like Zach Randolph’s 21 point and 21 rebound outing, and huge shots from Marc Gasol and Tim Duncan. In the end, the Grizz came away with a huge 117-116 win, a victory that could prove very worthwhile down the road.

But today, I wanted to take a quick look at a play that was probably forgotten in all the madness. I wanted to take a quick look at how the Spurs used a simple back cut to get an easy bucket late in the second overtime.

It starts with Manu Ginobili giving the ball to Marco Belinelli, and cutting through.

As Ginobili cuts down towards the baseline, Tim Duncan sets a screen for him to use. Ginobili will use the screen, which will turn him around, back up towards the top of the key.

After setting the screen, Duncan receives the pass from Belinelli out on the extended post. Ginobili meanwhile, has used the screen and begins to cut towards the top of the key. But before getting to the free throw line, Ginobili puts on the breaks and makes a hard back cut towards the basket. Courtney Lee, Ginobili’s defender, had flown around the screen after him, and when the pass goes to Duncan, Lee relaxes for a split second. This is all the time it takes for him to get burned.

As Ginobili pops open, Duncan throws him a perfect pass right to his hands, allowing Ginobili to make a quick finish at the rim before Lee can recover. Marc Gasol, who was guarding Duncan, even has both hands up to defend against a pass. But as he often is, Duncan was just too good on this play.