Hardwood Highlight of the Night: Raptors whip it around the perimeter for a corner 3
The Toronto Raptors saw their six-game winning streak snapped Friday night at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, the first Western Conference team to beat them this season.
It's tough to recall a night in which the Raptors struggled and DeMar DeRozan got hurt, but they came out like gangbusters, storming to a 10-0 lead that made it look like they'd run their streak to seven.
One play just two minutes into the game saw the Raps execute a spread offensive set to perfection, as four guys touched the ball in quick succession to get a clean corner look for their best 3-point shooter.
The play starts with center Jonas Valanciunas on the left block as the Raptors overload the right side. Even with one of the game's stoutest post defenders on him in Tyson Chandler, the Mavericks don't want to risk playing Valanciunas one-on-one; point guard Devin Harris slides off his charge, Kyle Lowry, to double.
Something the still-developing Valanciunas often struggles with is recognition and decisiveness in situations like this. He tends to hold onto the ball too long, watching open spaces close up around him. Here he reads the defense immediately, firing the ball to Lowry up top almost as soon as the help comes down.
Monta Ellis has to rotate off DeMar DeRozan to cover for the doubling Harris, and DeRozan pops up to the right wing. Meanwhile, swingman Terrence Ross, who started the play under the pretense of setting a pin-down for DeRozan, slips the screen and starts floating into the right corner.
Chandler Parsons jumps up to challenge DeRozan, who flips the ball to Ross without hesitation. The timing is basically perfect: Ross catches the pass at the same time as he sets his feet behind the 3-point line, and the rotating Harris can't get there in time to contest the shot.
Ross finishes off the play by splashing a triple, putting the Raptors in business early.
(Courtesy: TSN)
Unfortunately they'd be out of business soon afterwards. The Mavericks closed the first quarter on a 26-11 run and never trailed again.