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Game plans · Wednesday, December 2

How each team beats its opponent. Where to attack, and what to take away.

Plan any matchup

Based on 2025-26, with the current roster
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Cavaliers at Bulls

How the Cavaliers beat the Bulls

  1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 333.3% of Cavaliers shots come from above the break (7th most), and the Bulls allow 36.6% there (29th of 30).
  2. AttackAttack midrangeThe Cavaliers shoot 44.5% from midrange (4th), and the Bulls allow 43.1% there (25th of 30).
  3. Key scorerKey scorer: Norman PowellPowell (21.7 points per game): best in the paint (51% on 159 shots, league 44%), worst from the corners (33%, league 39%).
  4. TempoSlow it downThe Cavaliers play at 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes (13th in pace), the Bulls at 101.9 (2nd). Make it a half-court game.

How the Bulls beat the Cavaliers

  1. Key scorerKey scorer: Donovan MitchellMitchell (27.9 points per game): best in the paint (55% on 309 shots, league 44%), worst at the rim (64%, league 66%). 39% on the left side, 45% on the right; push him left.
  2. AttackAttack the corner 312.0% of Bulls shots come from the corners (6th most), and the Cavaliers allow 40.1% there (25th of 30).
  3. AttackAttack the above-the-break 332.3% of Bulls shots come from above the break (9th most), and the Cavaliers allow 36.1% there (25th of 30).
  4. TempoPush the paceThe Bulls play at 101.9 possessions per 48 minutes (2nd in pace), the Cavaliers at 99.1 (13th). Run and make them keep up.
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneCLE offenseCHI defenseCHI offenseCLE defense
At the rim67.2% (11th)65.0% (8th)62.7% (30th)62.6% (4th)
Paint47.8% (4th)42.4% (6th)44.0% (18th)44.0% (13th)
Midrange44.5% (4th)43.1% (25th)41.0% (18th)42.4% (20th)
Corner 337.6% (18th)37.4% (7th)37.3% (22nd)40.1% (25th)
Above-the-break 335.4% (11th)36.6% (29th)34.9% (17th)36.1% (25th)

Matchups on Wed, Dec 2

9 games
  • Grizzlies at Pistons7:00 PM ET

    How the Grizzlies beat the Pistons

    1. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Pistons grab 30.9% of their misses (3rd) and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Cade CunninghamCunningham (23.9 points per game): best from midrange (49% on 174 shots, league 42%), worst at the rim (61%, league 66%).

    How the Pistons beat the Grizzlies

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Pistons grab 30.9% of their misses (3rd), and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. AttackAttack the rim36.0% of Pistons shots come at the rim (3rd most), and the Grizzlies allow 68.4% there (24th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Nuggets at 76ers7:00 PM ET

    How the Nuggets beat the 76ers

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Jaylen BrownBrown (28.7 points per game): best in the paint (50% on 434 shots, league 44%), worst from midrange (40%, league 42%).

    How the 76ers beat the Nuggets

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Nikola JokicJokic (27.7 points per game): best from midrange (57% on 109 shots, league 42%), worst from above the break (37%, league 35%).
    2. AttackAttack the rim33.4% of 76ers shots come at the rim (5th most), and the Nuggets allow 69.1% there (27th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Hornets at Celtics7:30 PM ET

    How the Hornets beat the Celtics

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 337.3% of Hornets shots come from above the break (2nd most), and the Celtics allow 35.7% there (24th of 30).
    2. Take awayTake away the above-the-break 338.5% of Celtics shots come from above the break (1st most) and they make 35.6% (10th). The Hornets defense there ranks 17th (35.1% allowed).

    How the Celtics beat the Hornets

    1. Take awayTake away the above-the-break 337.3% of Hornets shots come from above the break (2nd most) and they make 36.3% (5th). The Celtics defense there ranks 24th (35.7% allowed).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Brandon MillerMiller (20.2 points per game): best from the corners (42% on 71 shots, league 39%), worst from midrange (37%, league 42%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Magic at Mavericks8:00 PM ET

    How the Magic beat the Mavericks

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Magic shoot 43.0% from midrange (10th), and the Mavericks allow 42.7% there (23rd of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Cooper FlaggFlagg (21.0 points per game): best in the paint (46% on 360 shots, league 44%), worst from above the break (30%, league 35%).

    How the Mavericks beat the Magic

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Paolo BancheroBanchero (22.2 points per game): best from the corners (44% on 52 shots, league 39%), worst in the paint (35%, league 44%).
    2. AttackAttack the paint21.5% of Mavericks shots come in the paint (8th most), and the Magic allow 45.3% there (23rd of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Knicks at Bucks8:00 PM ET

    How the Knicks beat the Bucks

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Tyler HerroHerro (20.5 points per game): best in the paint (58% on 165 shots, league 44%), worst from midrange (36%, league 42%).
    2. AttackAttack the corner 313.6% of Knicks shots come from the corners (2nd most), and the Bucks allow 41.1% there (29th of 30).

    How the Bucks beat the Knicks

    1. TargetTarget this lineupWhen Anunoby, Bridges, Brunson, Towns and McBride share the floor (91 min), they allow 129.1 per 100, against 114.1 for the team: attack it.
    2. Take awayTake away the corner 313.6% of Knicks shots come from the corners (2nd most) and they make 41.6% (6th). The Bucks defense there ranks 29th (41.1% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Lakers at Pelicans8:00 PM ET

    How the Lakers beat the Pelicans

    1. AttackAttack the paintThe Lakers shoot 48.8% in the paint (1st), and the Pelicans allow 47.9% there (28th of 30).
    2. TargetTarget this lineupWhen Bey, Murphy, McGowens, Fears and Queen share the floor (96 min), they allow 132.1 per 100, against 119.9 for the team: attack it.

    How the Pelicans beat the Lakers

    1. AttackAttack the rim40.4% of Pelicans shots come at the rim (1st most), and the Lakers allow 70.5% there (29th of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Luka DoncicDoncic (33.5 points per game): best at the rim (79% on 174 shots, league 66%), worst from midrange (44%, league 42%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Nets at Thunder8:00 PM ET

    How the Nets beat the Thunder

    1. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Thunder force turnovers on 14.0% of plays (2nd) and the Nets give it away on 13.7% (29th of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander (31.1 points per game): best from midrange (54% on 332 shots, league 42%), worst from above the break (39%, league 35%).

    How the Thunder beat the Nets

    1. TurnoversPressure the ballThe Thunder force turnovers on 14.0% of plays (2nd), and the Nets give it away on 13.7% (29th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Thunder shoot 35.9% from above the break (8th), and the Nets allow 36.4% there (28th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Kings at Suns9:00 PM ET

    How the Kings beat the Suns

    1. AttackAttack the rimThe Kings shoot 68.2% at the rim (6th), and the Suns allow 67.9% there (23rd of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Devin BookerBooker (26.1 points per game): best from midrange (46% on 314 shots, league 42%), worst from above the break (33%, league 35%).

    How the Suns beat the Kings

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 334.9% of Suns shots come from above the break (4th most), and the Kings allow 37.6% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack midrange11.7% of Suns shots come from midrange (6th most), and the Kings allow 43.7% there (27th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Timberwolves at Clippers10:30 PM ET

    How the Timberwolves beat the Clippers

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Brandon IngramIngram (21.5 points per game): best from the corners (52% on 93 shots, league 39%), worst from above the break (33%, league 35%).
    2. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Timberwolves shoot 36.5% from above the break (3rd), and the Clippers allow 35.6% there (22nd of 30).

    How the Clippers beat the Timberwolves

    1. AttackAttack the corner 3The Clippers shoot 41.6% from the corners (5th), and the Timberwolves allow 40.7% there (26th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Clippers play at 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes (28th in pace), the Timberwolves at 99.8 (9th). Make it a half-court game.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
How this works

Each plan is a short list of rules applied to both teams' season numbers. Every item shows its numbers and ranks out of 30 so you can check it. At most 5 items per team, the biggest edges first.

  • Attack: a shot zone where the team is good (top 10 in FG% or in share of its shots) and the opponent's defense there is bottom 8 in FG% allowed (bottom 10 if that finds fewer than 2).
  • Take away: the opponent's favorite zone (top 5 in share, top 8 if fewer than 2 qualify) where they are also efficient (top 10 FG%), with the team's own defensive rank there.
  • Target: of the opponent's 5 most-used lineups, the one that allows the most points per 100 possessions, with at least 100 possessions and at least 3 points worse than the team's own defensive rating. All 5 players must still be on the team.
  • Key scorer: the opponent's top scorer on the current roster (100+ shots). Best and worst zones compare his FG% with the league average there (50+ shots per zone). A side lean shows only when he has 60+ shots on each side and a gap of 6+ points. Left and right are as our shot charts draw them (rim at the bottom), and shots at the rim are left out of the side split.
  • Tempo and glass: a pace gap of 2+ possessions per 48 minutes; offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding and turnovers when one team is top 5 and the other bottom 5 (widened to 8 when fewer than 2 edges show up).

Data: team zones come from every counted regular season shot (made and missed; backcourt heaves left out; left and right corner 3s combined). Defense zones use the shots each team allowed. Lineups come from our play-by-play lineup stints. Before a team has played 10 games this season, its plan uses last season's numbers with today's roster, and lineups that no longer exist are skipped.

What it cannot see: there is no tracking data, so no defender distance, individual matchups or play types (pick and roll, isolation, post ups). Team zone numbers include every player a team used, even ones who have left. Injuries and rest are not in the plan, and season numbers can hide a recent change in form.