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Game plans

Monday, November 23

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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Pelicans at Warriors

How the Pelicans beat the Warriors

  1. AttackAttack the rim40.4% of Pelicans shots come at the rim (1st most), and the Warriors allow 67.8% there (22nd 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%).
  3. Take awayTake away the corner 313.4% of Warriors shots come from the corners (4th most) and they make 39.5% (8th). The Pelicans defense there ranks 5th (37.0% allowed).
  4. AttackAttack the corner 3The Pelicans shoot 39.2% from the corners (9th), and the Warriors allow 40.9% there (27th of 30).

How the Warriors beat the Pelicans

  1. 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.
  2. Key scorerKey scorer: Trey Murphy IIIMurphy (21.5 points per game): best from the corners (49% on 59 shots, league 39%), worst in the paint (38%, league 44%).
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneNOP offenseGSW defenseGSW offenseNOP defense
At the rim62.8% (29th)67.8% (22nd)68.9% (4th)66.7% (18th)
Paint38.0% (30th)47.0% (26th)43.4% (21st)47.9% (28th)
Midrange33.7% (30th)43.1% (26th)39.5% (23rd)40.9% (12th)
Corner 339.2% (9th)40.9% (27th)39.5% (8th)37.0% (5th)
Above-the-break 333.2% (26th)34.4% (13th)34.1% (24th)34.3% (12th)

02Matchups on Mon, Nov 23

10 games
  • Grizzlies at Hornets7:00 PM ET

    How the Grizzlies beat the Hornets

    1. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Hornets grab 30.5% of their misses (4th) and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. 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 Grizzlies defense there ranks 18th (35.2% allowed).

    How the Hornets beat the Grizzlies

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Hornets grab 30.5% of their misses (4th), and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. AttackAttack the corner 3The Hornets shoot 42.8% from the corners (3rd), and the Grizzlies allow 39.6% there (23rd of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Trail Blazers beat the 76ers

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Trail Blazers grab 31.3% of their misses (2nd), and the 76ers rank 26th on the defensive glass (72.5%).
    2. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe 76ers force turnovers on 12.8% of plays (8th) and the Trail Blazers give it away on 14.0% (30th of 30).

    How the 76ers beat the Trail Blazers

    1. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Trail Blazers grab 31.3% of their misses (2nd) and the 76ers rank 26th on the defensive glass (72.5%).
    2. TurnoversPressure the ballThe 76ers force turnovers on 12.8% of plays (8th), and the Trail Blazers give it away on 14.0% (30th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Thunder at Pacers7:30 PM ET

    How the Thunder beat the Pacers

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Thunder shoot 48.1% from midrange (1st), and the Pacers allow 45.4% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the paintThe Thunder shoot 46.1% in the paint (7th), and the Pacers allow 47.1% there (27th of 30).

    How the Pacers 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Bucks beat the Raptors

    1. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Raptors force turnovers on 13.5% of plays (4th) and the Bucks give it away on 13.3% (27th 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 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 Raptors defense there ranks 14th (38.6% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Nets at Timberwolves7:30 PM ET

    How the Nets beat the Timberwolves

    1. AttackAttack the corner 311.5% of Nets shots come from the corners (9th most), and the Timberwolves allow 40.7% there (26th of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Anthony EdwardsEdwards (28.8 points per game): best from the corners (46% on 54 shots, league 39%), worst from midrange (44%, league 42%).

    How the Timberwolves beat the Nets

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Timberwolves shoot 36.5% from above the break (3rd), and the Nets allow 36.4% there (28th 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Cavaliers at Bulls8:00 PM ET

    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).

    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).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Suns beat the Pelicans

    1. 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.
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Trey Murphy IIIMurphy (21.5 points per game): best from the corners (49% on 59 shots, league 39%), worst in the paint (38%, league 44%).

    How the Pelicans beat the Suns

    1. AttackAttack the rim40.4% of Pelicans shots come at the rim (1st most), and the Suns allow 67.9% there (23rd of 30).
    2. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Suns grab 28.9% of their misses (7th) and the Pelicans rank 28th on the defensive glass (71.4%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Clippers at Rockets8:30 PM ET

    How the Clippers 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 Clippers defense there ranks 10th (43.5% allowed).

    How the Rockets 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 Rockets shoot 36.1% from above the break (7th), and the Clippers allow 35.6% there (22nd of 30).

    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
  • Spurs at Kings10:00 PM ET

    How the Spurs beat the Kings

    1. AttackAttack the rim32.3% of Spurs shots come at the rim (7th most), and the Kings allow 69.8% there (28th of 30).
    2. Take awayTake away the paint26.4% of Kings shots come in the paint (1st most) and they make 45.7% (9th). The Spurs defense there ranks 7th (42.5% allowed).

    How the Kings beat the Spurs

    1. AttackAttack midrange15.1% of Kings shots come from midrange (1st most), and the Spurs allow 42.5% there (22nd of 30).
    2. Key scorerKey scorer: Victor WembanyamaWembanyama (25.0 points per game): best at the rim (75% on 389 shots, league 66%), worst from midrange (39%, league 42%).

    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.