DBP Newsletter #16
Offensive Glass, Cooper Flagg, and Notes
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Offensive Glass
Duke posted offensive rebounding rates of 47.7% against Florida State, and 46.2% against Wake Forest. The Blue Devils currently rank #23 in the country in OR% at 35.8%. Duke posted a combined +31 in second chance points (43-12) over the last two games.1 Let’s take a look at some second chance opportunities.
Duke misses two three-point attempts and a shot inside, but retains possession each time with Kon and Khaman battling underneath. On the fourth chance, the Blue Devils demonstrate good poise. Mason skips it across to Isaiah - he could put up another three but instead, Evans probes the defense before reversing it back around to Gillis. Mason shot fakes, drives into the lane, shot fakes again, and is fouled. Next, Pat does nice job deflecting the hit ahead pass in transition, resulting in an open three for Isaiah. Mason tracks down the long rebound and finds Darren Harris open beyond the arc. Kon grabs the second miss and, at this point, the FSU defense is concentrated in the paint. As the clip freezes, notice how both Darren and Isaiah have their hands ready to catch and shoot again - Isaiah’s feet are in excellent position as well, and he knocks it down this time. Early in the second half, Khaman is able to tip away the miss from Sion after Flagg saves the loose ball. James comes up with it and finds Evans - he gives a shot fake and side-steps to his left, drilling the triple.
Khaman elevates for the offensive rebound in transition and, almost in one motion, kicks it out for another three - this time from Tyrese. Next, Knueppel finds Proctor open in the right corner. Kon is able to keep the miss alive and it finds Sion - he attacks and absorbs the contact, but is unable to finish. Maluach gets the offensive rebound and kicks it out again. Tyrese is ready to swing it to Kon on the right wing for the three-pointer. Then, it is Ngongba’s turn to tip out a miss for another extra possession. Cooper drives and draws two defenders in the paint - he pivots and passes to an open Sion for the corner three. Finally, Kon tracks down the missed three from baseline out of bounds. Duke resets before Kon takes a hand-off from Pat out top - Ngongba rolls hard and Gillis lifts on the left wing. Mason shot fakes and, as he drives into the lane, Pat seals his defender to prevent the help.
I love Duke’s effort on the offensive glass - these clips show multiple guys getting their hands on misses, and tipping it out if the rebound can’t be controlled. The extra possessions provide clean looks from three, and the guys stay confident and ready to shoot.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 stocks (steals + blocks) in only 19:39 against Florida State. He followed that up with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 stocks against the Demon Deacons. Coop was +52 over the two games with just 1 turnover. The next two clips focus on Flagg’s passing and transition offense.
Flagg pushes the ball up and gets a brush screen from Khaman for an easy layup - the key here is, this was after a made basket. Cooper puts constant pressure on the defense by not walking the ball up the floor. Then, Cooper demonstrates good patience. Instead of using the initial ball screen, he sends Maluach back into the paint, reverses the ball to Kon, and follows to set the ball screen. Flagg receives it on the short roll and, as the clip freezes, Khaman and Sion’s defenders turn their attention to the paint - both guys are now open. Coop throws it up to Maluach for the slam. The next assist looks fairly simple - Ngongba sets the down-screen for Kon on the left side. Kon reads the defense going over the top of the screen and fades toward the corner. Cooper’s pass must be both on time and on target for Knueppel to get the shot off. FSU still gets a late contest, but if the pass had been a little off, the shot wouldn’t have been there. Next, we see Cooper push it up again, this time off a defensive rebound. I can often see the lob developing before it happens, but not this one. Flagg lofts a left-handed pass on the run for the dunk, gets back to block the shot (the broadcast missed it), and Kon completes the three-point play as Cameron erupts. Leading 66-40, Cooper brings it up after a missed free throw by FSU. Ngongba sets a high screen with Harris, Foster, and Gillis spacing on the opposite third of the floor - this creates a ton of room for Flagg to operate. He attacks the paint and finishes on the opposite side of the rim, avoiding the second help defender. Finally, Cooper passes up the open corner three to get an even better look for Isaiah Evans, then lurks above the ACC logo as Kon and Khaman defend the ball screen on the left wing. Flagg steps in the passing lane for the steal, and steps through two defenders to finish on the other end.
Cooper again demonstrates good poise - Wake Forest defends the floppy action well, and knocks the ball away as Flagg splits the defense. With the shot clock moving under 10 seconds, Cooper regains possession and works into the paint. Instead of forcing an attempt with the late clock, he pivots among three defenders and finds Sion at the rim. With about a minute left in the first half, Duke runs floppy action again, into a ball screen with Cooper and Khaman. Sion is spacing in the right corner, but his defender must help on Khaman’s roll - Flagg rises and finds James for the open three. Then, similar to the assist to Kon in the FSU clip, this dime to Isaiah looks simple. Evans sets the ball screen and slips out to the right wing - notice when the clip freezes, the Wake defender is still in relatively good position to contest the shot. If Flagg’s pass was a little late or a little off target, the defender could close the additional space. And, of course, Isaiah’s quick release makes this shot possible as well. I love this next play from baseline out of bounds. Tyrese lobs it in to Cooper at the top of the key - Ngongba sets a ball screen, and Rese steps in to set a back-screen on Ngongba’s defender. This leaves Proctor’s man to help on Flagg’s drive instead of the bigger defender on Pat. Then, Cooper is out in transition off of Ngongba’s defensive rebound, using a subtle change of pace to avoid the lone defender and hammer it home. The final play of this clip is a defensive gem - it ends with Cooper blocking the shot and a tough transition finish by Tyrese. But the best part is, as the clip freezes, Wake has Flagg sealed to prevent him from helping on the drive. The score is 79-47; it’d be easy for Cooper to take the play off. Instead, he spins around the screen, and his block serves as the outlet pass for Proctor.
I had to include one more Cooper Flagg clip. Wake Forest has a disruptive defense, creating some individual iso situations for Flagg. The first two are tough shots, and excellent individual skill from Cooper: a one-legged fade away near the elbow and a jab-step, one-dribble pull-up three. Next, he passes quickly out of a double team to Gillis and gets it right back. Before Wake can load up their help defense again, Flagg attacks the open space, ending with a lefty finish between two defenders - he misses the free throw, but Ngognba snags the offensive rebound. Cooper backs his defender down and finds Gillis for an open three - this one misses but Pat keeps the rebound alive again (excellent effort). With the shot clock winding down, Ngongba ghosts a ball screen for Cooper. Wake runs a second defender at Flagg as he rises for the free throw line jumper.
Notes
With Duke leading 47-38 at the 16:32 mark of the second half, Wake Forest only managed 2 made field goals over the next 9:24. Duke outscored Wake 30-9 during that span.
Against Florida State and Wake Forest, the Blue Devils were a combined +46 in points in the paint (84-38), and +32 in fast break points (45-13).2
The Blue Devils have scored 50+ second half points in 5 of their last 6 games.3
Thanks for reading, Go Duke!
Second Chance Points: Duke 17 Florida State 5; Duke 22 Wake Forest 7
Points in the Paint: Duke 46 Florida State 18; Duke 38 Wake Forest 20
Fast Break Points: Duke 25 Florida State 7; Duke 20 Wake Forest 6
2nd Half scoring: vs. Stanford - 57; at Virginia - 37; vs. Illinois - 56; at Miami - 50; vs. Florida State - 53; vs. Wake Forest - 53
Sources