As the NBA postseason approaches, we pull back the curtain on playoff preparation and walk you through the process.
Preparing for a game during the NBA regular season is much different than during the playoffs. During an 82-game season, it's impossible to have a selective plan for each game.
Having more time before the playoffs allows teams to dig deeper into their game plan for the playoffs, but that requires a lot of preparation.
The postseason requires an all-hands-on-deck approach from the front office, analytics department, advanced scouting team, and video crew.
When I was in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs, each team had an actual playoff book and prepared differently. These were not CliffsNotes, but about 100 pages of valuable information. As teams have moved into the digital world, all this information is now available on tablets and other devices.
The delivery method will change, but the content will remain the same. Team depth charts, regular season stats, season series stats, personnel profiles, play-call sheets, and effective sets are all included.
In this example of opponent playoff preparation, we will analyze the New York Knicks.
The team's advance scout provides an Excel spreadsheet with play calls that include the names and actions being performed on that set. It also includes a view of how often plays were run, how successful they were, and what kind of defense was deployed.
This is an example of a Knicks play I drew with a fictional name. Most teams use FastDraw, a software tool that includes videos and notes.
In addition to play-calling sheets, scouts provide information about a player's profile. The front office will also provide information at this time.
The analytics department plays a key role in this process. In addition to important statistics, we also contribute lineup data for the season series, i.e. the best lineups and when to play them.
Our analytics team provides breakdowns for individual players. In addition to basic stats, it includes advanced stats, shot charts, and detailed play type analysis. Player 63 percent of the time it's on the side of the floor.
Example of a player shot chart from FastScout.
The video team does the heavy lifting of preparation. This is your central hub for building your playoff book. All information flows to that group, where everything is organized, edited, and finalized.
But this book is just one part of your playoff preparation. Most teams create extensive video compilations about their opponents and display them in their sessions. This can include offensive sets, out-of-bounds actions, team actions after timeouts, free throws, and at the end of the game.
Here's the breakdown, starting with the offense.
A defensive clip is provided after this example. It shows what a team did defensively immediately after an offensive play. Did they press or play zone? How did they defend the pick-and-roll and the post?
Another component is individual player videos, which enhance everything in the personnel section of the playoff book. Here's an example of what to include in Jalen Brunson's personnel scout and edit.
• He's a crafty ball handler, so be prepared for solo spins, in-and-out dribbles, and multiple crossovers.
• Watch for pull-ups, mid-range jumpers when he comes off ball screens.
These examples are spread across multiple video sessions so players aren't overwhelmed. Attacks are accomplished one day, defenses the next, and personnel.
Scouting this type of opponent takes about a week. Organizing the books and putting together video clips for the playoffs is a lot of work, so I reserve them for the playoffs. The regular season schedule is too demanding for this detailed preparation.
The most difficult part of preparing for the playoffs is the first round. Playoff matchups may not be decided on the final day of the season, so teams must prepare for several different opponents.
For example, the only playoff series currently set in the Western Conference is 4th place vs. 2nd place Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers. 5 matchups. The top three teams are preparing numbers 6 to 10.
The good news for video coordinators participating in play-in tournaments is that unless your team is in a play-in tournament, you have more time to prepare for the playoffs.
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(Jalen Brunson Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
