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Game plans

Wednesday, November 18

How each team beats its opponent: the zones to attack, what to take away, the lineup to target, the key scorer's weak spots, and the tempo and glass edges.

01Plan any matchup

Based on 2025-26, with the current roster
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Pistons at Nets

How the Pistons beat the Nets

  1. TurnoversPressure the ballThe Pistons force turnovers on 14.1% of plays (1st), and the Nets give it away on 13.7% (29th of 30).
  2. Key scorerKey scorer: Michael Porter Jr.Porter (24.2 points per game): best at the rim (75% on 227 shots, league 66%), worst from the corners (32%, league 39%).
  3. AttackAttack the paint20.8% of Pistons shots come in the paint (10th most), and the Nets allow 46.6% there (25th of 30).
  4. TempoPush the paceThe Pistons play at 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes (18th in pace), the Nets at 96.2 (25th). Run and make them keep up.

How the Nets beat the Pistons

  1. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Pistons force turnovers on 14.1% of plays (1st) and the Nets give it away on 13.7% (29th of 30).
  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%).
  3. TempoSlow it downThe Nets play at 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes (25th in pace), the Pistons at 98.3 (18th). Make it a half-court game.
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneDET offenseBKN defenseBKN offenseDET defense
At the rim66.3% (15th)67.0% (19th)63.4% (27th)61.9% (2nd)
Paint42.0% (24th)46.6% (25th)40.1% (27th)43.8% (12th)
Midrange41.9% (15th)41.2% (13th)36.8% (28th)39.7% (5th)
Corner 337.3% (20th)42.3% (30th)36.8% (26th)38.5% (11th)
Above-the-break 334.8% (19th)36.4% (28th)33.2% (27th)33.1% (1st)

02Matchups on Wed, Nov 18

12 games
  • Grizzlies at Cavaliers7:00 PM ET

    How the Grizzlies 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 above-the-break 333.0% of Grizzlies shots come from above the break (8th most), and the Cavaliers allow 36.1% there (25th of 30).

    How the Cavaliers beat the Grizzlies

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Cavaliers shoot 44.5% from midrange (4th), and the Grizzlies allow 43.1% there (24th of 30).
    2. Take awayTake away the paint22.1% of Grizzlies shots come in the paint (4th most) and they make 45.9% (8th). The Cavaliers defense there ranks 13th (44.0% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Rockets at Pacers7:00 PM ET

    How the Rockets beat the Pacers

    1. AttackAttack midrange12.8% of Rockets shots come from midrange (2nd most), and the Pacers allow 45.4% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the paint23.5% of Rockets shots come in the paint (2nd most), and the Pacers allow 47.1% there (27th of 30).

    How the Pacers beat the Rockets

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Kevin DurantDurant (26.0 points per game): best in the paint (59% on 393 shots, league 44%), worst from above the break (40%, league 35%).
    2. Take awayTake away the paint23.5% of Rockets shots come in the paint (2nd most) and they make 47.2% (6th). The Pacers defense there ranks 27th (47.1% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Bucks at Heat7:00 PM ET

    How the Bucks beat the Heat

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Giannis AntetokounmpoAntetokounmpo (27.6 points per game): best at the rim (76% on 411 shots, league 66%), worst from midrange (27%, league 42%).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Bucks play at 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes (23rd in pace), the Heat at 102.8 (1st). Make it a half-court game.

    How the Heat 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. Take awayTake away the corner 313.4% of Bucks shots come from the corners (3rd most) and they make 42.9% (2nd). The Heat defense there ranks 18th (39.0% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • 76ers at Magic7:00 PM ET

    How the 76ers 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 rim33.4% of 76ers shots come at the rim (5th most), and the Magic allow 67.5% there (21st of 30).

    How the Magic 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Bulls at Nets7:30 PM ET

    How the Bulls beat the Nets

    1. AttackAttack the corner 312.0% of Bulls shots come from the corners (6th most), and the Nets allow 42.3% there (30th of 30).
    2. TempoPush the paceThe Bulls play at 101.9 possessions per 48 minutes (2nd in pace), the Nets at 96.2 (25th). Run and make them keep up.

    How the Nets beat the Bulls

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 333.9% of Nets shots come from above the break (6th most), and the Bulls allow 36.6% there (29th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Nets play at 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes (25th in pace), the Bulls at 101.9 (2nd). Make it a half-court game.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Wizards at Raptors7:30 PM ET

    How the Wizards beat the Raptors

    1. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Raptors force turnovers on 13.5% of plays (4th) and the Wizards give it away on 13.2% (26th of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Kawhi LeonardLeonard (27.9 points per game): best in the paint (55% on 339 shots, league 44%), worst from above the break (38%, league 35%).

    How the Raptors beat the Wizards

    1. TurnoversPressure the ballThe Raptors force turnovers on 13.5% of plays (4th), and the Wizards give it away on 13.2% (26th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the rimThe Raptors shoot 67.7% at the rim (7th), and the Wizards allow 68.5% there (26th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Pistons beat the Pelicans

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Pistons grab 30.9% of their misses (3rd), and the Pelicans rank 28th on the defensive glass (71.4%).
    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 Pistons

    1. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Pistons grab 30.9% of their misses (3rd) and the Pelicans rank 28th on the defensive glass (71.4%).
    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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Hawks beat the Thunder

    1. 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%).
    2. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Hawks shoot 36.4% from above the break (4th), and the Thunder allow 35.6% there (23rd of 30).

    How the Thunder beat the Hawks

    1. TempoSlow it downThe Thunder play at 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes (16th in pace), the Hawks at 100.7 (7th). Make it a half-court game.
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Jalen JohnsonJohnson (22.5 points per game): best at the rim (69% on 397 shots, league 66%), worst in the paint (42%, league 44%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Celtics at Nuggets9:00 PM ET

    How the Celtics 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 rimThe Celtics shoot 70.5% at the rim (2nd), and the Nuggets allow 69.1% there (27th of 30).

    How the Nuggets beat the Celtics

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Nuggets shoot 37.8% from above the break (1st), 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 Nuggets defense there ranks 11th (34.2% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Warriors at Mavericks9:30 PM ET

    How the Warriors beat the Mavericks

    1. TempoSlow it downThe Warriors play at 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes (18th in pace), the Mavericks at 101.1 (4th). Make it a half-court game.
    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 Warriors

    1. AttackAttack midrange12.4% of Mavericks shots come from midrange (4th most), and the Warriors allow 43.1% there (26th of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Stephen CurryCurry (26.6 points per game): best from midrange (52% on 91 shots, league 42%), worst at the rim (68%, league 66%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Jazz at Lakers10:00 PM ET

    How the Jazz beat the Lakers

    1. 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%).
    2. Take awayTake away the paint21.5% of Lakers shots come in the paint (7th most) and they make 48.8% (1st). The Jazz defense there ranks 30th (48.8% allowed).

    How the Lakers beat the Jazz

    1. AttackAttack the rimThe Lakers shoot 73.4% at the rim (1st), and the Jazz allow 72.0% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the paintThe Lakers shoot 48.8% in the paint (1st), and the Jazz allow 48.8% there (30th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Suns at Kings10:00 PM ET

    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).

    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%).

    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.