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Game plans · Friday, February 12

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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Knicks at Grizzlies

How the Knicks beat the Grizzlies

  1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Knicks grab 29.3% of their misses (5th), and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
  2. AttackAttack midrangeThe Knicks shoot 44.9% from midrange (2nd), and the Grizzlies allow 43.1% there (24th of 30).
  3. AttackAttack the corner 313.6% of Knicks shots come from the corners (2nd most), and the Grizzlies allow 39.6% there (23rd of 30).
  4. Take awayTake away the paint22.1% of Grizzlies shots come in the paint (4th most) and they make 45.9% (8th). The Knicks defense there ranks 17th (44.2% allowed).
  5. TempoSlow it downThe Knicks play at 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes (26th in pace), the Grizzlies at 100.8 (5th). Make it a half-court game.

How the Grizzlies 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. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Knicks grab 29.3% of their misses (5th) and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).
  3. Take awayTake away the corner 313.6% of Knicks shots come from the corners (2nd most) and they make 41.6% (6th). The Grizzlies defense there ranks 23rd (39.6% allowed).
  4. 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%).
  5. TempoPush the paceThe Grizzlies play at 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes (5th in pace), the Knicks at 96.1 (26th). Run and make them keep up.
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneNYK offenseMEM defenseMEM offenseNYK defense
At the rim65.8% (18th)68.4% (24th)64.1% (25th)64.2% (6th)
Paint45.2% (13th)44.9% (21st)45.9% (8th)44.2% (17th)
Midrange44.9% (2nd)43.1% (24th)40.3% (19th)39.9% (8th)
Corner 341.6% (6th)39.6% (23rd)36.5% (27th)37.8% (9th)
Above-the-break 335.3% (12th)35.2% (18th)34.8% (18th)35.5% (21st)

Matchups on Fri, Feb 12

8 games
  • Suns at Hawks7:00 PM ET

    How the Suns beat the Hawks

    1. TempoSlow it downThe Suns play at 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes (24th 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 Suns

    1. TempoPush the paceThe Hawks play at 100.7 possessions per 48 minutes (7th in pace), the Suns at 96.3 (24th). Run and make them keep up.
    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
  • Heat at Magic7:00 PM ET

    How the Heat 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 paint21.9% of Heat shots come in the paint (5th most), and the Magic allow 45.3% there (23rd of 30).

    How the Magic 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 Magic play at 99.3 possessions per 48 minutes (12th 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
  • Nets at Wizards7:00 PM ET

    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.

    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.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Cavaliers beat the Raptors

    1. 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%).
    2. Take awayTake away the rim31.2% of Raptors shots come at the rim (8th most) and they make 67.7% (7th). The Cavaliers defense there ranks 4th (62.6% allowed).

    How the Raptors 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.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Timberwolves at Celtics8:00 PM ET

    How the Timberwolves beat the Celtics

    1. TempoPush the paceThe Timberwolves play at 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes (9th in pace), the Celtics at 94.2 (30th). Run and make them keep up.
    2. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Timberwolves shoot 36.5% from above the break (3rd), and the Celtics allow 35.7% there (24th of 30).

    How the Celtics beat the Timberwolves

    1. TempoSlow it downThe Celtics play at 94.2 possessions per 48 minutes (30th in pace), the Timberwolves at 99.8 (9th). Make it a half-court game.
    2. AttackAttack the corner 3The Celtics shoot 41.8% from the corners (4th), and the Timberwolves allow 40.7% there (26th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Clippers at Grizzlies8:00 PM ET

    How the Clippers beat the Grizzlies

    1. AttackAttack the rimThe Clippers shoot 69.4% at the rim (3rd), and the Grizzlies allow 68.4% there (24th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Clippers play at 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes (28th in pace), the Grizzlies at 100.8 (5th). Make it a half-court game.

    How the Grizzlies 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. TempoPush the paceThe Grizzlies play at 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes (5th in pace), the Clippers at 95.6 (28th). Run and make them keep up.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Rockets beat the Pelicans

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Rockets grab 34.8% of their misses (1st), and the Pelicans rank 28th on the defensive glass (71.4%).
    2. AttackAttack the paint23.5% of Rockets shots come in the paint (2nd most), and the Pelicans allow 47.9% there (28th of 30).

    How the Pelicans 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. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Rockets grab 34.8% of their misses (1st) and the Pelicans rank 28th on the defensive glass (71.4%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Nuggets at Lakers10:30 PM ET

    How the Nuggets 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. AttackAttack midrangeThe Nuggets shoot 44.8% from midrange (3rd), and the Lakers allow 44.7% there (29th of 30).

    How the Lakers 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 Lakers shoot 73.4% at the rim (1st), and the Nuggets allow 69.1% there (27th of 30).

    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.