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Game plans · Saturday, February 6

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
at

Knicks at Hawks

How the Knicks beat the Hawks

  1. TempoSlow it downThe Knicks play at 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes (26th 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%).

How the Hawks 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 Hawks defense there ranks 10th (38.1% allowed).
  3. Key scorerKey scorer: Jalen BrunsonBrunson (26.0 points per game): best from midrange (51% on 296 shots, league 42%), worst at the rim (63%, league 66%).
  4. TempoPush the paceThe Hawks play at 100.7 possessions per 48 minutes (7th in pace), the Knicks at 96.1 (26th). Run and make them keep up.
  5. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Hawks shoot 36.4% from above the break (4th), and the Knicks allow 35.5% there (21st of 30).
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneNYK offenseATL defenseATL offenseNYK defense
At the rim65.8% (18th)65.2% (10th)64.9% (21st)64.2% (6th)
Paint45.2% (13th)44.2% (18th)45.0% (14th)44.2% (17th)
Midrange44.9% (2nd)42.0% (17th)42.3% (13th)39.9% (8th)
Corner 341.6% (6th)38.1% (10th)38.9% (11th)37.8% (9th)
Above-the-break 335.3% (12th)34.6% (15th)36.4% (4th)35.5% (21st)

Matchups on Sat, Feb 6

9 games
  • Jazz at Mavericks3:00 PM ET

    How the Jazz beat the Mavericks

    1. AttackAttack the paint22.8% of Jazz shots come in the paint (3rd most), and the Mavericks allow 45.5% there (24th 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 Jazz

    1. Key scorerKey scorer: Lauri MarkkanenMarkkanen (26.7 points per game): best from the corners (43% on 76 shots, league 39%), worst from midrange (29%, league 42%).
    2. AttackAttack midrange12.4% of Mavericks shots come from midrange (4th most), and the Jazz allow 44.1% there (28th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Heat at Timberwolves3:00 PM ET

    How the Heat beat the Timberwolves

    1. 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%).
    2. TempoPush the paceThe Heat play at 102.8 possessions per 48 minutes (1st in pace), the Timberwolves at 99.8 (9th). Run and make them keep up.

    How the Timberwolves 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 Timberwolves play at 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes (9th in pace), the Heat at 102.8 (1st). Make it a half-court game.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Trail Blazers at Grizzlies5:30 PM ET

    How the Trail Blazers beat the Grizzlies

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Trail Blazers grab 31.3% of their misses (2nd), and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Grizzlies force turnovers on 12.8% of plays (8th) and the Trail Blazers give it away on 14.0% (30th of 30).

    How the Grizzlies beat the Trail Blazers

    1. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Trail Blazers grab 31.3% of their misses (2nd) and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
    2. TurnoversPressure the ballThe Grizzlies 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
  • Wizards at Nets6:00 PM ET

    How the Wizards beat the Nets

    1. AttackAttack the corner 3The Wizards shoot 39.2% from the corners (10th), and the Nets allow 42.3% there (30th of 30).
    2. TempoPush the paceThe Wizards play at 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes (5th in pace), the Nets at 96.2 (25th). Run and make them keep up.

    How the Nets beat the Wizards

    1. AttackAttack the corner 311.5% of Nets shots come from the corners (9th most), and the Wizards allow 40.9% there (28th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Nets play at 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes (25th in pace), the Wizards at 100.8 (5th). Make it a half-court game.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Magic at Cavaliers7:30 PM ET

    How the Magic 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.

    How the Cavaliers beat the Magic

    1. AttackAttack the paintThe Cavaliers shoot 47.8% in the paint (4th), and the Magic allow 45.3% there (23rd of 30).
    2. 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%).

    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
  • Pelicans at Bulls8:00 PM ET

    How the Pelicans beat the Bulls

    1. 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%).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Pelicans play at 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes (11th in pace), the Bulls at 101.9 (2nd). Make it a half-court game.

    How the Bulls 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Lakers at Spurs8:30 PM ET

    How the Lakers beat the Spurs

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Lakers shoot 44.4% from midrange (5th), 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%).

    How the Spurs 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 Spurs defense there ranks 7th (42.5% allowed).

    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.