With nearly two decades worth of experience flying around the perimeter as a defensive pest, it’s only fitting that P.J. Tucker remembers some of the ways to combat it on the offensive end. Showcasing his IQ out of the high post, the Miami Heat forward reads the Portland Trail Blazers defense, shifting two different players with a subtle ball fake before whipping a smooth behind-the-back feed to a teammate for an easy bucket. Even without their two All-Stars, Tucker ensured his team would be in good hands, stepping up with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block in a 115-109 win on January 5, 2022.

P.J. Tucker

P.J. Tucker threads behind-back dime along baseline to cutting teammate

You don’t become a multi-time Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star talent without knowing how to think on the fly. Running the floor in a four-on-two break, Utah Jazz big Rudy Gobert shows off his instincts, catching a pass and dropping a nifty behind-the-back dime to set up a teammate for an easy score. It was business as usual for the talented big who finished with 14 points on a pristine seven-of-seven shooting, 11 rebounds and two blocks in a 119-103 triumph on November 18, 2021.

Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert keeps transition ball movement rolling with behind-back dime

Monte Morris is an elite ball-handler and a pinpoint passer with an eye for opportunity all over the court. In a mismatch with Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela, the Denver Nuggets point guard makes the veteran big man pay for a wide stance by nutmegging a between-the-legs dime to teammate Nikola Jokić for a layup. Morris had 21 points in a 133-115 road triumph on December 17, 2021.

Monte Morris

Monte Morris feeds big man with dime through defender's legs

When all is said and done, Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley will have earned his reputation as one of the NBA’s most consistent talents. Working against a tough Boston Celtics defense, Conley puts both the IQ and talent on display, using a pass-and-cut to draw a favorable matchup, then breaking out a behind-the-back, stepback combo to free himself for a triple. The veteran guard was excellent, with 29 points, seven assists and a perfect seven-of-seven from deep in a 137-130 shootout win on December 3, 2021.

Mike Conley

Mike Conley steps back into one of seven triples on night

Nicknamed “Mr. Do Something,” Memphis Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton is highly motivated to make things happen when he’s on the floor. De’Anthony takes two dribbles from the three-point line, freezes in mid-air when met by the opposing defender, then detonates the rim with an explosive “hangtime” slam. Melton stuffed the stat sheet in Memphis’s historic, 73-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 2, 2021 with 19 points, six rebounds and five dimes.

De'Anthony Melton

De'Anthony Melton seizes opening, throws down dunk in traffic

When the game’s on the line and the defense needs one stop, it always comes down to who wants it most. During the Denver Nuggets’ 93-91 nailbiter over the Minnesota Timberwolves, that player was Will Barton. Despite the Timberwolves’ 3-on-2 advantage, Barton hustles back on the play in transition, then uses his instincts and athleticism to block a potential game-tying layup in the final seconds. Barton chipped in 10 points, three steals and two blocks in the win on October 30, 2021.

Will Barton

Will Barton snuffs out game-tying layup, helps preserve win over Timberwolves

When Aaron Gordon is filling the lane on the break, it’s a safe bet that something spectacular is about to occur. In transition against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets forward confidently calls for the lob, then leaps up for an incredible two-handed reverse flush that only he could make look so effortless. Gordon finished with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists in the April 1, 2022 matchup.

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon soars from hashmarks to throw down 180-degree alley-oop

It’s not an easy task for the average defender to stop a player in transition. Good thing Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith ranks amongst the league’s best “shutdown guys.” Here he picks up his man on the break, doesn’t bite on the crossover, stays in front, then completely erases the layup attempt with a spike off the glass. Finney-Smith set the tone with three blocks in a 116-106 victory over the Houston Rockets on October 26, 2021. 

Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith spikes transition shot attempt out to perimeter

As a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Seth Curry has become one of the most efficient, feared shooters across the NBA. Here, he shows off some of the more overlooked parts of his game, working a pick-and-roll to get a switch on a big before busting out a lightning-quick crossover and dropping a dime. Curry was in do-it-all mode against the Denver Nuggets, with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two triples in a 103-89 win on November 18, 2021.

Seth Curry

Seth Curry fires no-look entry feed into cutting rim runner

Some players just have certain opponents figured out — Bojan Bogdanović always seems to be at his best against the Denver Nuggets. Here the veteran Utah Jazz forward considers a shot from the perimeter but then thinks better of it, opting to blow past two Nuggets defenders to take it straight to the cup for a one-handed flush. Bogdanović notched 36 points and 13 boards in a 115-109 victory on January 5, 2022.

Bojan Bogdanović

Bojan Bogdanović fakes triple, takes it straight to the rack for dunk

Can’t stop what you can’t catch. Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn pushes the ball up the floor while trailed by Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, then heads straight to the cup to throw down a transition slam on February 13, 2021.

Kendrick Nunn

Kendrick Nunn throws down transition dunk past challenger

With an NBA championship on his resumé and multiple All-Star appearances to his name, there isn’t a defensive coverage Kyle Lowry hasn’t seen. Here he takes advantage of a hard closeout, using a subtle jab fake to put a Cleveland Cavaliers defender on the ground before stepping into a three-point bucket. The Miami Heat guard chipped in 22 points and five assists in a 105-94 loss on December 13, 2021.

Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry sends defender to the floor with crushing jab step, drains triple

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