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Frank Vogel Dusts Off an Old Pet Play to Beat the Wizards

By Jared Wade

Dec 23, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) who brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) who brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers won in dramatic fashion last night in Washington, coming back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. George Hill provided the coup de grace, watching the clock tick down before racing by Wizards defenders to the hoop for a last-second game-winning layup.

It looked like terrible defense — and it was — but it was also a product of Frank Vogel dusting off the playbook to run a one-time favorite set in the clutch.

Here is last night’s game winner.

It looks like the same 1-4 set — with one player at the top with the ball, and four near the baseline holding their defenders away from the dribbler. Then, with Damo on the wing, it looks like David West is coming up for the pick and roll with George Hill.

But it’s a dummy screen that West never intended to set, instead faking the pick and just getting out of the way. It seems insane that this would so confuse the defense. But with the on-ball defender expecting contact and West’s man deciding not to double Hill because there was no screen, the Wizards are frozen for a split second — all the time Hill needs to take one more dribble and win a foot race to the rim. Notice that, because he is able to get into a near sprint, Hill is able to take his final dribble about a foot inside the arc and still get to the hoop with ease.

Sure, the Wizards look foolish here, but this isn’t the first team the Pacers have done this to.

Back in the 2013-14, this dummy screen/roll with West and Hill was Vogel’s go-to play in the waning seconds.

Check this one

Exact same thing, albeit with some Paul George misdirection thrown in for an added smoke screen.

And Vogel also went to a similar variation a few other times that season, usually without as much immediate success.

Check here for a full breakdown on why it didn’t work as well the other times, but the Pacers did get to the line to tie or win the game against the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz as well.

And who knows: Now that the dummy pick and roll is back, maybe Vogel will dust off the Vogel Weave again soon. We can only hope.

Next: Solomon Hill Can't Stop Shaqtin' a Fool

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