Hardwood Highlight of the Night: High-low action leads to easy layup

The most versatile frontcourt player for the Toronto Raptors is undoubtedly Patrick Patterson.

Patterson is routinely thought of as nothing more than a floor-stretching big capable of luring power forwards out to the 3-point line. Given that Patterson is shooting 41.3 percent from deep, his reputation as a lethal gunner is well deserved.

But Patterson is more than a just a shooter. He's a high-IQ player who understands how to exploit defenses with his cutting, passing and his shooting ability. 

He cleverly leverages his quickness on offense. Opponents understand that they need to account for his jumper, so they like to pressure pick and rolls when Patterson comes to set the screen.

However, Patterson and the Raptors will occasionally turn defensive pressure against their opponents, as they did in the second quarter of their victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

The play starts with a dribble hand-off from Greivis Vasquez to Lou Williams. Williams moves towards the middle, while Tyler Hansbrough moves to settle in along the baseline.

Without breaking stride, Williams and Patterson converge for a pick-and-roll. Sensing this danger and Patterson's propensity to pop out for jumpers, Luis Scola pressures the action, preventing Patterson from being able to pop out to the wing.

However, that's when Patterson slips the screen and slides into the elbow. Williams then finds him with a quick pass, which leaves Ian Mahinmi in the uncomfortable situation of guarding both Patterson and Hansbrough. 

Mahinmi fully commits to the play after Patterson rises for what appears to be a jumpshot. 

With Mahinmi out of the picture, Patterson slips a pass to a wide open Hansbrough for a easy lay-in.

The play in its entirety can be seen below.

(Courtesy: TSN)