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Game plans · Monday, December 21

How each team beats its opponent. Where to attack, and what to take away.

Plan any matchup

at

Pick two teams to see the full plan for both sides, for example 76ers at Knicks.

Matchups on Mon, Dec 21

10 games
  • 76ers at Hornets7:00 PM ET

    How the 76ers 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 76ers defense there ranks 3rd (33.8% allowed).
    2. GlassFinish possessions: box outThe Hornets grab 30.5% of their misses (4th) and the 76ers rank 26th on the defensive glass (72.5%).

    How the Hornets beat the 76ers

    1. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Hornets grab 30.5% of their misses (4th), 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 Hornets give it away on 12.8% (24th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Knicks at Cavaliers7:00 PM ET

    How the Knicks beat the Cavaliers

    1. AttackAttack the corner 313.6% of Knicks shots come from the corners (2nd most), and the Cavaliers allow 40.1% there (25th of 30).
    2. 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 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 Cavaliers defense there ranks 25th (40.1% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Kings at Magic7:00 PM ET

    How the Kings beat the Magic

    1. AttackAttack the paint26.4% of Kings shots come in the paint (1st most), 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%).

    How the Magic beat the Kings

    1. AttackAttack the rim32.6% of Magic shots come at the rim (6th 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 Magic defense there ranks 23rd (45.3% allowed).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Trail Blazers at Nets7:30 PM ET

    How the Trail Blazers beat the Nets

    1. AttackAttack the corner 312.2% of Trail Blazers shots come from the corners (5th most), and the Nets allow 42.3% there (30th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack the above-the-break 334.6% of Trail Blazers shots come from above the break (5th most), and the Nets allow 36.4% there (28th of 30).

    How the Nets beat the Trail Blazers

    1. TurnoversTake care of the ballThe Trail Blazers force turnovers on 13.0% of plays (7th) and the Nets give it away on 13.7% (29th of 30).
    2. TempoSlow it downThe Nets play at 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes (25th in pace), the Trail Blazers at 99.8 (9th). Make it a half-court game.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Bulls at Heat7:30 PM ET

    How the Bulls 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%).

    How the Heat beat the Bulls

    1. AttackAttack the above-the-break 3The Heat shoot 35.6% from above the break (9th), and the Bulls allow 36.6% there (29th of 30).
    2. 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Suns at Timberwolves8:00 PM ET

    How the Suns beat the Timberwolves

    1. AttackAttack the corner 3The Suns shoot 39.6% from the corners (7th), 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 Suns

    1. AttackAttack the rimThe Timberwolves shoot 67.4% at the rim (8th), and the Suns allow 67.9% there (23rd of 30).
    2. TempoPush the paceThe Timberwolves play at 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes (9th in pace), the Suns at 96.3 (24th). Run and make them keep up.

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Grizzlies 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. AttackAttack the paint22.1% of Grizzlies shots come in the paint (4th most), and the Pelicans allow 47.9% there (28th of 30).

    How the Pelicans beat the Grizzlies

    1. AttackAttack the rim40.4% of Pelicans shots come at the rim (1st most), and the Grizzlies allow 68.4% there (24th of 30).
    2. GlassCrash the offensive glassThe Pelicans grab 27.0% of their misses (8th), and the Grizzlies rank 29th on the defensive glass (70.9%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Bucks at Spurs8:00 PM ET

    How the Bucks beat the Spurs

    1. AttackAttack midrange12.6% of Bucks shots come from midrange (3rd 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%).

    How the Spurs beat the Bucks

    1. AttackAttack the corner 313.9% of Spurs shots come from the corners (1st most), and the Bucks allow 41.1% there (29th of 30).
    2. 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%).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

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

    How the Pacers 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 Pacers defense there ranks 27th (47.1% allowed).

    How the Lakers beat the Pacers

    1. AttackAttack the paintThe Lakers shoot 48.8% in the paint (1st), and the Pacers allow 47.1% there (27th of 30).
    2. AttackAttack midrangeThe Lakers shoot 44.4% from midrange (5th), and the Pacers allow 45.4% there (30th of 30).

    Based on 2025-26, with the current roster

    Full preview →Full plan
  • Nuggets at Clippers10:30 PM ET

    How the Nuggets 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 Nuggets shoot 37.8% from above the break (1st), and the Clippers allow 35.6% there (22nd of 30).

    How the Clippers 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 Clippers shoot 69.4% at the rim (3rd), 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.