Out of the Timeout: Tiago Splitter creates an open shot for Matt Bonner
In this week’s Out of the Timeout, we look at a play from last night’s Spurs win over the Clippers. On this particular play, a Tony Parker-Tiago Splitter pick-and-roll creates up a wide-the-heck-open 3-point opportunity for Matt Bonner.
To start, Tony Parker (1) brings the ball up on the right side of the floor. Kawhi Leonard (3) is on the same side of the floor as Parker and Leonard goes across to set a screen for Matt Bonner (4). A lot of times, the Spurs do these screen-the-guy-who-is-about-to-set-a-screen things to get the defender who is defending the pick-and-roll off balance. For instance, it’s going to be harder for the guy defending Matt Bonner to hedge on Tony Parker coming off a pick if the guy guarding Bonner is fighting through a pick himself.
Tiago Splitter (5) heads down to the opposite block and James Anderson (2) stands there. Over there. You know, out of the way.
After setting a pick for Tony Parker, Bonner takes himself to where he is especially useful: the corner. Kawhi Leonard goes to where he’s not quite as useful, but he’s at least not in the way, in the opposite corner. Tony Parker dribbles off of Bonner’s pick and probes the lane to see if he can find something, but eventually settles at the top of the key. James Anderson? Still there.
Once Parker’s at the top of they key, Tiago Splitter runs up to set a pick for Parker and they run a little two man game. Everybody else is frozen.
Tiago Splitter rolls to the basket after setting the pick for Parker and Tony hits Matt Bonner in the right corner for 3.
The key to this is the roll by Tiago Splitter. As is apparent to all of us after watching Tiago Splitter for some time, he’s not the most gifted offensive player. He is, however, great at running the pick-and-roll. He floats to the basket quickly and easily, and displays some deft touch around the rim. Though he’s better with Manu Ginobili feeding him passes (aren’t we all), he’s still a threat on the roll when Tony Parker is setting him up.
As you can see here, Splitter’s roll to the bucket draws in the defender who was assigned to Bonner in the corner. When Tony Parker fires the pass, Bonner’s defender has both feet in the lane trying to discourage any attempt at a pass to Splitter. This being the regular season, Bonner has more than enough time to get off a shot from the corner.
James Anderson? He’s still there.
Here it is at game speed, people.
