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Courtside

Game plans

Sunday, April 5

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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Kings at Warriors

How the Kings beat the Warriors

  1. AttackAttack the paint26.4% of Kings shots come in the paint (1st most), and the Warriors allow 47.0% there (26th of 30).
  2. AttackAttack midrange15.1% of Kings shots come from midrange (1st most), and the Warriors allow 43.1% there (26th of 30).
  3. 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%).
  4. Take awayTake away the corner 313.4% of Warriors shots come from the corners (4th most) and they make 39.5% (8th). The Kings defense there ranks 17th (39.0% allowed).

How the Warriors beat the Kings

  1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 336.3% of Warriors shots come from above the break (3rd most), and the Kings allow 37.6% there (30th of 30).
  2. AttackAttack the rimThe Warriors shoot 68.9% at the rim (4th), and the Kings allow 69.8% there (28th of 30).
  3. Take awayTake away the paint26.4% of Kings shots come in the paint (1st most) and they make 45.7% (9th). The Warriors defense there ranks 26th (47.0% allowed).
  4. Key scorerKey scorer: Zach LaVineLaVine (19.2 points per game): best from the corners (45% on 55 shots, league 39%), worst from midrange (40%, league 42%). 37% on the left side, 45% on the right; push him left.
FG% by zone. Offense rank: 1st = best shooting. Defense rank: 1st = lowest FG% allowed, 30th = most.
ZoneSAC offenseGSW defenseGSW offenseSAC defense
At the rim68.2% (6th)67.8% (22nd)68.9% (4th)69.8% (28th)
Paint45.7% (9th)47.0% (26th)43.4% (21st)48.7% (29th)
Midrange41.8% (16th)43.1% (26th)39.5% (23rd)43.7% (27th)
Corner 335.1% (28th)40.9% (27th)39.5% (8th)39.0% (17th)
Above-the-break 333.7% (25th)34.4% (13th)34.1% (24th)37.6% (30th)

02Matchups on Sun, Apr 5

11 games
  • Raptors at CelticsFinal

    How the Raptors beat the Celtics

    1. 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 Raptors defense there ranks 2nd (33.7% allowed).
    2. AttackAttack midrangeThe Raptors shoot 44.1% from midrange (6th), and the Celtics allow 42.5% there (21st of 30).

    How the Celtics 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 Celtics defense there ranks 7th (64.8% allowed).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Wizards at NetsFinal

    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.

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Suns at BullsFinal

    How the Suns beat the Bulls

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 334.9% of Suns shots come from above the break (4th most), and the Bulls allow 36.6% there (29th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Suns play at 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes (24th in pace), the Bulls at 101.9 (2nd). Make it a half-court game.

    How the Bulls beat the Suns

    1. TempoPush the paceThe Bulls play at 101.9 possessions per 48 minutes (2nd in pace), the Suns at 96.3 (24th). Run and make them keep up.
    2. AttackAttack the rim36.1% of Bulls shots come at the rim (2nd most), and the Suns allow 67.9% there (23rd of 30).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Grizzlies at BucksFinal

    How the Grizzlies 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 Grizzlies defense there ranks 23rd (39.6% allowed).

    How the Bucks beat the Grizzlies

    1. AttackAttack midrange12.6% of Bucks shots come from midrange (3rd most), and the Grizzlies allow 43.1% there (24th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the corner 3The Bucks shoot 42.9% from the corners (2nd), and the Grizzlies allow 39.6% there (23rd of 30).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Pacers at CavaliersFinal

    How the Pacers 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 Pacers

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Cavaliers shoot 44.5% from midrange (4th), and the Pacers allow 45.4% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the paintThe Cavaliers shoot 47.8% in the paint (4th), and the Pacers allow 47.1% there (27th of 30).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Hornets at TimberwolvesFinal

    How the Hornets beat the Timberwolves

    1. AttackAttack the corner 3The Hornets shoot 42.8% from the corners (3rd), 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 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 Timberwolves defense there ranks 4th (33.9% allowed).
    2. TempoPush the paceThe Timberwolves play at 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes (9th in pace), the Hornets at 96.1 (26th). Run and make them keep up.

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Magic at PelicansFinal

    How the Magic 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 Magic

    1. AttackAttack the rim40.4% of Pelicans shots come at the rim (1st most), and the Magic allow 67.5% there (21st 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%).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Jazz at ThunderFinal

    How the Jazz 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. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Thunder force turnovers on 14.0% of plays (2nd) and the Jazz give it away on 12.8% (24th of 30).

    How the Thunder beat the Jazz

    1. AttackAttack midrangeThe Thunder shoot 48.1% from midrange (1st), and the Jazz allow 44.1% there (28th of 30).
    2. 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%).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Lakers at MavericksFinal

    How the Lakers beat the Mavericks

    1. AttackAttack the paintThe Lakers shoot 48.8% in the paint (1st), and the Mavericks allow 45.5% there (24th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack midrangeThe Lakers shoot 44.4% from midrange (5th), and the Mavericks allow 42.7% there (23rd of 30).

    How the Mavericks 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 midrange12.4% of Mavericks shots come from midrange (4th most), and the Lakers allow 44.7% there (29th of 30).

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Clippers at KingsFinal

    How the Clippers beat the Kings

    1. AttackAttack the rimThe Clippers shoot 69.4% at the rim (3rd), and the Kings allow 69.8% there (28th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the paint21.5% of Clippers shots come in the paint (6th most), and the Kings allow 48.7% there (29th of 30).

    How the Kings 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 Kings play at 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes (16th in pace), the Clippers at 95.6 (28th). Run and make them keep up.

    2025-26 so far

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Rockets at WarriorsFinal

    How the Rockets beat the Warriors

    1. AttackAttack the paint23.5% of Rockets shots come in the paint (2nd most), and the Warriors allow 47.0% there (26th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack midrange12.8% of Rockets shots come from midrange (2nd most), and the Warriors allow 43.1% there (26th of 30).

    How the Warriors 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 Warriors defense there ranks 26th (47.0% allowed).

    2025-26 so far

    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.