Toronto Raptors Fresh 24: Cross Cut Decoy

Welcome to Fresh 24, where we’ll look at the more creative, deceptive and interesting plays the Toronto Raptors execute throughout the season.

Necessity is the mother of invention. With the Toronto Raptors down three points with 1:48 left in overtime against the Chicago Bulls earlier this week, Dwane Casey came up with something ingenious.

I’ve never seen a play like this before. It actually starts before the referee ever blows his whistle. When Kyle Lowry backs up beyond the time line, he’s already drawing Jimmy Butler out of the possession:

Most teams use the player in Lowry’s position as the escape valve or as the initiator of the play, starting in the backcourt. When the play starts, the ball handler will typically receive a high screen to get them rolling downhill.

Or Lowry could have just been a decoy to make the game three on three on the inbounds, to free up space for a lob or more complex action. Coach Casey plays on expectations and creates a third option.

Starting Lowry behind the time line makes Butler a bystander. He’s not effecting the play towards the basket and since the Raptors’ two-time All-Star is so far away, Butler doesn’t perceive him as a threat, more so an escape valve if the ‘real play’ goes haywire.

When the whistle blows, DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross cross cut over Lucas Nogueria at the top of the key to create a decoy. Ross glides into the weakside (furthest) corner as DeMarre Carroll appears to be looking for DeRozan on the run into the strong side (closest) corner.