Friendly Bounce Playbook: How the Tulsa Shock beat the Chicago Sky with a barrage of three-pointers

After a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Lynx on opening night Friday, the Tulsa Shock were back in action on Saturday for their home opener against the Chicago Sky. This time, they didn’t let a big lead slip away, and despite 40 points from Elena Delle Donne, the Shock took home their first victory of the season.

Odyssey Sims had 23 points, and Skylar Diggins finished with 20 points and 8 assists, but it was a barrage of three-pointers that lead the way for the Shock. They went 10-14 from deep, for 30 of their 101 points, the most the team has scored during their time in Tulsa.

So how did the Shock knock down so many threes? Let’s take a closer look in this Friendly Bounce Playbook.

Penetration off the dribble

A number of Tulsa’s open looks came from penetration off the dribble by Sims and Diggins, who were able to get into the paint at will.

Here we will see a number of instances in which the two Shock guards get past their initial defenders and cause problems for the Sky. The penetration completely preoccupies the defenders, with four or even all five Sky players turning to worry about the ball, leaving shooters wide open for easy looks.

Transition

In addition to getting open looks from penetration in the half court, the Shock also got a few good looks out in transition by pushing the ball with pace.

In this first example, Odyssey Sims gets out on the break and beats a number of Sky defenders down the court. Meanwhile, Skylar Diggins floats out the the corner to spot up.

Sims moving swiftly down court, coupled with Plenette Pierson’s strong rim run, sucks in the two Sky defenders that are back. Diggins is left wide open, and Sims finds her with a beautiful one-handed pass.

This next example comes from a little later in the game, but again shows the importance of a strong transition game. Here, Riquna Williams, after getting a steal on the other end, uses her tremendous speed to get down court. Although a number of Sky defenders are able to get back, Williams forces them to sprint back in a hectic manner.

As Sims cuts to the corner to spot up, the Sky become confused defensively. Jessica Breland points for someone to take Sims, but there is no one there but herself. As such, Williams flings a pass to Sims, who knocks down an open look from the corner.

Set play: elevator doors

After being popularized by the Golden State Warriors, the elevator doors play has become a rather common play across the NBA. And last night, we saw the Shock run the play to perfection.

It starts with Sims controlling the ball on the wing, while Hooper cuts from the baseline up to the top of the key. Meanwhile, Pierson and Courtney Paris are holding the elevator doors open near the three-point line.

After Hooper darts between the two, they slam the doors shut, setting her free for an open look.

The Sky, specifically, Elena Delle Donne, do not realize what is happening quickly enough. Without Delle Donne stepping up, Hooper’s three is uncontested… and straight cash.