Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Michigan's play that "shouldn't have had time added back" took less than 9 seconds to run -- from snap until the defender touched the ball. The officials were right to put time back on the clock. Watch it with a basketball-style countdown: 4135
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 11/06/2026Awesome design by the Spurs on the final play. Everyone thought the ball would go to Wemby, so used him as a back screener with the rest of the Spurs lifted. Castle was open on the lob. But the Knicks very smartly put KAT on the ball and he deflected the inbounds. What a game. 070
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 07/06/2026📽️ Why the Knicks' viral “beautiful game” play is actually a perfect encapsulation of the incredible tactics and high-level chess match that have defined the Finals Sound ON 🔊 031
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Favorite Arizona set that I talked about on the pod – here is it 7 times against Kansas. Swing → DHO into a P&R (Miami action) with the 2nd screener shallow cutting or setting a cross screen for a post-up. Also a screen-the-screener option for a shooter. 020
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Leak out after the contest. Lendeborg sprints in transition. Cadeau hits-ahead. Play out of a broken floor. 6 passes. 2 dribbles. All 5 players touch the ball. Layup. 1150
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 23/03/2026Also interesting... Jonathan Safir, Florida assistant, created a guide for fouling when leading with @kenpom.com in 2020. If Florida had fouled Stirtz, it wouldn't have been the right call according to Safir and Ken's chart: 6396
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 16/03/2026Re-watching Michigan-Purdue... what is a moving screen anymore? 4315
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 14/03/2026📽️ The Play Michigan Used to Beat Wisconsin Sound On 🔊 1171
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Michigan kept going back to Spain pick & roll sets in the 2nd half at Iowa — scoring out of the action 4 times: 2152
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 06/03/2026📋🏀 Dusty May drew up an Aday Mara fake ball screen backdoor for the game winner — the same play Michigan ran to close the first half. Worked to perfection against Iowa's off-ball denials. 0252
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 01/03/2026Seeing this, Michigan adjusted. This is the next BLOB, in the 2nd half. Now, Michigan has Yax guard the inbounder -- Wagler -- while Mara takes his usual matchup in Ivisic. Wagler can't isolate on Mara and Illinois runs regular offense, ending with a contested three. 050
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 01/03/2026Michigan defends baseline out of bounds (BLOB) plays with its Center guarding the inbounder to prevent easy passes and quick-hitting looks. Mara is guarding the inbounder, Wagler. Illinois takes advantage, immediately passing back to Wagler so he can isolate on Mara & he creates a 4-point play. 120
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Is this the 2025 season?? Michigan scoring 4 baskets from the 4-5 Pick & Roll in its huge road win at Purdue: 060
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Illinois scored 7(!) baskets directly targeting Conor Enright to get him switched onto David Mirkovic. If Illinois finds a matchup it likes, it will hunt it relentlessly. Versus Indiana, Enright was the target. 042
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 15/02/2026In DC, one week from tonight (ranks via @kenpom.com) 2180
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 31/01/2026📽️ How Dusty May led Michigan to basket after basket down the stretch in its massive road win at Michigan State: Sound ON 🔊 0456
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 21/01/2026Michigan’s first 5 minutes of defense vs. Indiana was as dominant as you’ll see at *any level* of basketball. Indiana only got to the paint one(!) time — 4:30 into the game — and didn’t score all 5 minutes. Watch how Michigan did it: 0142
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 05/01/2026Game plan ➡️ in-game execution "Guys, remember shot fakes. They're going to jump at everything in the paint. Our eyes have to be up. If you can finish, dunk on their head. If it's not there, shot fake it and go through them..." 0181
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 01/01/2026Diabolical timing for @kenpom.com to drop a new feature on the site — average 2-point attempt distance. Michigan ranks 27th in average 2PA distance on offense and (unexpectedly) 1st on defense. 4356
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 10/12/2025But Cason’s original man stays with him, too. Cadeau sees this, quickly inbounds to Morez and sprints to the front of the rim. Great pass from Morez for the easy bucket. 170
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 10/12/2025That brings us to last night. Villanova had the set well-scouted. The inbounder defender — Lewis — switches onto Cason as he cuts off the screens to prevent the corner 3. 130
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 10/12/2025Here’s the same set for a McKenney three vs. Middle Tennessee. Michigan has run this for Nimari Burnett, too. 120
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 10/12/2025Michigan loves this “box” baseline out of bounds set to generate a 3 in the strong side corner. Here’s Trey McKenney running off screens for a 3 vs. Rutgers. 120
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 06/12/2025Michigan is now favored to win every game this season on @kenpom.com 080
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 28/11/2025📽️ In Vegas, Dusty May again showed why he is one of the best X's & O's coaches in basketball (Sound ON 🔊) 0181
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 27/11/2025Michigan’s defense is 4 points per 100 possessions better than every team in the country — and somehow it feels like more (via @kenpom.com). 030
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 25/06/2025Maluach's defensive rebounding rate (19.1%) is also low. Despite his length, he doesn’t yet control the glass or rebound outside of his area. His high center of gravity makes it easier to displace him, and his hands can be inconsistent, especially in traffic. 100
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 25/06/2025This load time shows up on offense, too. When he has space, Maluach can elevate for thunderous dunks. But in tight spaces, the extra time he requires to gather limits his attempts. Maluach often brings the ball well below his waist before powering up to finish: 100
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 25/06/2025A key limiting factor in Maluach's game is his load time off the floor. He is almost exclusively a two-foot leaper and requires time to gather. Watch how many of his block attempts involve a distinct loading motion -- bending his knees and dropping his arms before elevating: 110
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 25/06/2025Maluach is enormous -- 7'2 in shoes with a wingspan exceeding 7'6 -- moves well for his size, and showed flashes of elite rim protection at Duke. Some of his blocks are spectacular: 110
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 25/06/2025The Khaman Conundrum Will Maluach be the next great rim protecting big? Or another center with outstanding measurables that doesn’t live up to his pre-draft standing? Why the film and stats should give us pause 🧵 111
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 23/06/2025Not to toot my own horn, but correctly predicted the Finals matchup, the Champion, and only missed the Finals MVP’s total playoff points by 6 020
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 16/05/2025Shai was *rough* defensively in Game 6, including three costly plays in Denver's definitive 10-0 to end the 3Q. Playing with 4 fouls, poor show-and-recover in ball screen -> Strawther 3 Responsible for two on weak side, rotates to Russ instead of Strawther -> open 3 Falls asleep on Strawther cut 010
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 08/05/2025I don't think I've ever seen this pick & roll switch before. After Derrick White 'weaks' the P&R, sending Bridges left, Jrue Holiday switches onto Bridges from the wing. White then peels out to take Brunson. Was a read by Jrue or the designed coverage? 021
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 08/05/2025On the final possession, the Celtics ran the exact same play that created a Tatum dunk 10 seconds prior. On the second play, Knicks were more physical with Horford screening and Mitchell Robinson was able to contain the drive. Add in some amazing help defense from Bridges & OG. 020
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 07/05/2025Ty Jerome, by the way. My god. 1/14 from the field. Repeatedly targeted on defense, including getting blown by on the Haliburton drive that led to the final FTs/O rebound and allowing the game-winning Hali three. 120
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Underrated big part of that Pistons game was the Knicks were hedging & going under when Detroit used Brunson’s man to screen for Cade Cunningham had 5-6 walk-in threes off the dribble. Missed them all. Then he got spooked and wasn’t even looking for that shot Hurt Detroit’s half court O in the 4th 240
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 29/04/2025If you see people -- and there are many -- asking why Houston would dial up a Sengun iso on Draymond, ask if they criticized the prior two plays where Houston scored on the same inverted P&R. Payton ID's the play & defends FVV with physicality to avoid the switch. Draymond plays great D from there 280
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 23/04/2025It would take 2 minutes to describe everything that’s happening on this possession. Minnesota trying to keep Gobert out of the action with Luka, pre-switching, the Lakers trying to send up multiple screeners, the Wolves late clock double. I love the chess-match of basketball 000
Eric Shapiro @ericshap.bsky.social · 31/03/2025buddy foul baits a major fall, two-hand shoves an injured Johni Broome, and pushes Baker-Mazara out of bounds after releasing a pass, all in under 10 seconds 0100
