Dallas Mavericks 2014-15 Offensive Sets
If the NBA Playoffs started today the Dallas Mavericks would be the 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a record of 30-17. Much of Dallas’ success is owed to their potent offense that ranks at the top of the NBA in many important offensive categories. The Mavericks offense is paced by their two leading scorers, Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki, and is surrounded by other key pieces. Rajon Rondo is a 2-time NBA Assist King, Chandler Parsons is a dead-eye 3-point shooter and Tyson Chandler creates many offense opportunities for himself and others with his rim rolls.
The Dallas Mavericks are averaging 107 points per game, good for 3rd in the NBA, and scoring at a rate of 1.10 points-per-possession(PPP), 2nd best in the league, according to NBA.com. Their effective field-goal percentage (eFG%) is 4th in the NBA while they are averaging almost 2 assists for every 1 turnover with an assist-to-turnover ration of 1.86, ranking 2nd in all of the NBA.
In the following YouTube video you will see 10 different offensive sets that the Dallas Mavericks have run to varying degrees throughout the season. Rick Carlisle is often considered one of the most innovative X’s and O’s coaches at any level of basketball. As you will see, he is masterful in manipulating the defense and moving the help in order to create open shots for his team, mainly future Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki.
The first set features a rub screen for Nowitzki who then enters in a side ball screen as the screener. The ball handler comes off the screen and reverses the ball to the middle of the floor where they then receive a step-up screen from Tyson Chandler. Chandler’s subsequent roll forces Nowitzki’s defender to help at the rim leaving him open for the drag pass and a jump shot.
In the second set Chandler gets the ball at the pinch post after being freed with a down screen. He then reverses the ball to the other pinch post and goes to set a follow for the ball-handler. Due to the fact that the ball screen is so low, the screeners’ defender has to be cognizant of the ball-handler which allows Chandler to roll to the rim. Again, Nowitzki’s defender has to help on the roll due to him technically being on the weak side of the floor. The drag pass leads to another jump shot for Nowitzki.
The third set is a shuffle cut for Nowitzki who curls off towards the rim forcing other defenders to help.
In the fourth set Nowitzki reverses the ball and the guard on the opposite block elevates to the perimeter. A shooter is always positioned in the weak side corner. The guard clearing the floor leaves room for Nowitzki who then flex cuts into an open lane for a layup.
The fifth set has a trailing Nowitzki set a down screen right above the charge circle for a guard. Nowitzki’s defender has to help on the down screen and ends up on the high side. With his defender out of position Nowitzki then gets a cross screen from Chandler on the right block where comes free for an open jump shot.
In the sixth set you’ll a very unique action where Chandler and Nowitzki are positioned at the weak side pinch post. The ball is entered into the opposite pinch post which triggers a cut by Monta Ellis. Monta curls off Chandler and Nowitzki and at the end of his curl sets a down screen on Nowitzki’s defender. Chandler then screens the defender extended and Nowitzki pops behind them for the shot.
The seventh set is a stagger screen for Nowitzki where he zipper cuts to the perimeter for a shot. As you can see the guard sets the first of the stagger screens so the defense cannot switch the second screen.
In the eighth set, Nowitzki is involved in a very popular NBA set commonly referred to as “floppy.” In this set Nowitzki starts under the rim, screeners are positioned on each block and he can decide which screen to use.
The ninth set is simple flex action that you see at various levels of basketball throughout the country. The ball is entered at the pinch post opposite of the block where Nowitzki is positioned. Nowitzki then sets a cross screen and gets a down screen for a shot.
In the tenth set you will see that both the Lakers and Timberwolves are playing a zone defense. The Dallas Mavericks send cutters through the baseline and reverse the ball. Once the defender drops to bump the cutter through the ball is reversed again back to Nowitzki for a wide open jump shot.
John Zall BIO
Coach John Zall just completed his first season as an Assistant Coach at Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. This past season Franklin Pierce University won 20 games and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Zall arrived at Franklin Pierce after spending the past 3 seasons as the Associate Head Coach/Head JV Coach at O’Bryant High school in Roxbury, MA. During his tenure at O’Bryant the program improved from 4 wins to 12 wins and qualified for the MIAA State Tournament twice.
Coach Zall also has experience as an AAU Head Coach for the Boston Warriors. As Head Coach for the Warriors his team won the 2011 16U State Title and twice competed in AAU Nationals down in Orlando, FL. On top of being a student at Northeastern University, Zall was named Head Coach of the Men’s Club Basketball team for the 2012-13 season. During his lone season as Head Coach, Northeastern finished second in the Northeast Regional Tournament featuring colleges from throughout the East Coast. Coach Zall has also spent time as a Head Coach in the Bay State Games where his team won the Bronze Medal in 2012 and at various camps including: Five Star, Boston Celtics, NIKE, Franklin Pierce University, Hoop Group and The Elite 75.
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