Under Motion: What worked for Duke at Georgia Tech, lob plays for Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel & Khaman Maluach screen-roll

Breaking down Duke's use of back screen lobs for Cooper Flagg, Spain pick-and-roll with Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, Sion James as a source of rim pressure, and the ability to sequence play calls

As Duke improved to 2-0 in league play, the Blue Devils dominated with their defense, holding Georgia Tech to under 0.88 points per possession (41.4 eFG%) in an 82-56 victory. This marked the ninth time in 12 games that an opponent failed to scored above 1.0 points per possession against the nation’s No. 1 defense. Outside of Baye Ndongo making plays in space during the first half, Duke’s defense took pretty much everything else off the menu for Georgia Tech.

On the other side of the floor, though, Jon Scheyer’s offense put together its best shooting performance of the season: 21-of-30 2PA (70 2P%), 10-of-25 3PA (40 3P%), 65.5 percent effective shooting. In the end, Duke scored 1.28 points per possession while assisting on 64.5 of its field goals. Every starter recorded two or more assists. This was a balanced, machine-like effort. Here’s how they got it done.

Ripped Off

This is just the second possession of the game, but Duke introduced an early theme: Kon Knueppel will be in motion. That’s nothing new; Knueppel’s movement is a key feature of Duke’s half-court offense; however, Knueppel was special at Georgia Tech, flashing an array of offensive skills while scoring 18 points on 11 FGA and dishing out five assists — to go with zero turnovers.

For this play, things start with Duke’s base 5-out offense and a pindown for Tyrese Proctor, coming out of the left corner. Sion James passes to Proctor. As Proctor and Cooper Flagg run a quick handoff exchange, Knueppel lifts out of the right corner and sets a “Rip” (back) screen on Ndongo.

The objective here is to create a lob opportunity for Flagg; however, the Yellow Jackets do well to switch and deny Flagg a runway to the rim. Instead, after the screen, Knueppel pops out and launches a 3PA. Knueppel misses the shot, but it’s a good look over a late contest from Ndongo.

Moreover, the rip/back screen lob to Flagg is something Duke likes to try at the start of games — primarily with Knueppel as the screener. The Blue Devils will get to this action through a variety of different setups, too, but the goal is to create an easy bucket for Flagg while the defense is trying to get its sea legs.

For instance, on the first play of the game against Kentucky, Duke comes out in a "Strong” set: Knueppel in the right corner, looking as though he’s prepared to run off of staggered screens from Flagg and Khaman Maluach.

Knueppel, however, rejects Flagg’s would-be screen and cuts along the baseline — over to the left side of the floor. Flagg snaps back up and off a pindown from Maluach. Caleb Foster passes to Flagg, who immediately flips it back and starts to slow play his way to the left side — in the direction of Knueppel. Duke flows from here; Knueppel drills Andrew Carr with the rip screen and Flagg shows his aerial artistry with a lob finish, courtesy of Foster.

Similar to how Duke featured Jared McCain last season, the Blue Devils like to leverage the gravity of their primary 3-point shooter as a means for opening other stuff up. When Knueppel moves around the floor, it attracts the attention of multiple defenders. By using him as a screener, it can cause a mini panic attack; neither defender wants to leave Knueppel open

Duke opens the George Mason game with more of an exotic 5-out look: Maluach initiates in the middle of the floor, while James and Knueppel start down in the paint. James clears to the right corner. Maluach passes to Proctor and screens right for Flagg. Once more, it’s a quick flip exchange for Flagg, who passes it back to Proctor, followed by another rip screen from Knueppel. Proctor takes the handoff and dribbles straight into a ball screen from Maluach — as Flagg cuts to the rim off of Knueppel’s screen.

If you throw it up to the rim for Flagg, something is going to happen. More than likely, it’s a dunk or a foul.

For most of these looks, Duke lifts the defense — with Maluach stationed at or above the 3-point line.

On the first play of the exhibition game vs. Lincoln, though, Maliq Brown screens for James and then spaces to the left corner. James runs another quick flip exchange with Foster, and then proceeds to run off the flare screen from Flagg. As Flagg screens for James, Knueppel lifts from the right comes and sets the screen-the-screener rip action for Flagg. The lob isn’t there, but the possession flows into a post-up for Flagg, who scores in the paint.

Perpetual Motion

Throughout the season, Duke has sequenced different off-ball screening actions for Knueppel. With Isaiah Evans earning a larger role in the offense in recent weeks, and Proctor continuing to shoot a good ball (41.7 3P%, 12.3 3PA per 100 possessions), Duke now has three powerful catch-and-fire shooters (not counting Darren Harris), which allows the staff to be creative with how it schemes off-ball movement in the half court.

During the Georgia Tech game, the Blue Devils went to a new look on multiple occasions. The possession starts with Evans running off of a pindown from Brown. Evans will receive a pass from Proctor, fake a handoff back to Proctor and pass to Flagg, who lifts from the right wing to the top of the key.

If you freeze it at this point, the action looks a lot like the 5-out re-screen/flare screen play that Evans caught fire with vs. UIW and George Mason.

This is where Duke’s ability to sequence play design — repeatedly showing defenses similar looks, but running different actions out of those sets — can be especially dangerous. As Evans fakes the handoff to Proctor and Passes to Flagg, with Brown lifted, multiple Georgia Tech coaches/staffers stand up. Call it a hunch, but with the action right in front of their bench, I bet they’re calling out a flare screen for Evans from Brown.

That flare doesn’t come, though. Evans cuts to the opposite side of the floor. Proctor, who never stopped moving, cuts down and Brown turns to face the rim with Flagg now initiating in the middle of the floor. Here, the Blue Devils have yet another staggered screen design for Knueppel.

Duke creates its circle motion for Knueppel. Georgia Tech’s Lance Terry chases hard, but Knueppel gets separation off of the screens and squares his feet perfectly after receiving the pass from Flagg.

Near the end of the first half, it’s the same exact play for Knueppel. The only difference here is that Mason Gillis is in at the 4 for Flagg. After getting burned for a 3-ball earlier in the first half, Terry works hard to stick with Knueppel, but his aggression is turned against him. Knueppel comes flat off of the screen; instead of looking to shoot, he drives left and picks up a foul on Terry.

On the final possession of the game, Scheyer calls for this same action one more time. You can actually hear Scheyer yell out the play call — “Down Circle” — as Foster dribbles up the floor. With Knueppel on the bench at the end of a blowout win, Evans gets his chance to run off of the staggered screens.

Of course, Evans cashes in — a fitting coda for a blistering offensive outing.

Gut Reaction

Another one of Duke’s go-to series for Knueppel this season that involves staggered screens is what I refer to as “Gut Stagger” or “Zipper.” Knueppel will start in the corner and run up the middle of the lane off the staggered down screens from Flagg and the 5, either Maluach, Brown or Patrick Ngongba.

After Knueppel receives the pass, he can look to shoot, or Duke will flow into a chase ball screen setup with Knueppel and either Flagg or the 5.

Here’s how the Blue Devils started the second half in Atlanta. Knueppel runs over the screens, followed by Maluach lifting to set a ball screen. With Tech in drop coverage and Maluach setting a good screen, Knueppel has space between both Terry and Ryan Mutombo, Georgia Tech’s center. Knueppel shows excellent patience, probing the space of drop coverage, waiting for Maluach to roll downhill and then tossing a lob up for the dunk.

This play design was significant for Duke during the road win at Arizona — with the Devils flowing into high-post passing actions via Brown.

As Duke tried to rally late against Kansas in Las Vegas, Scheyer repeatedly called for Knueppel-Flagg middle ball screen action from this design.

When Duke hosted UIW on Dec. 10, the Cardinals did something that — up until that point — I hadn’t seen another defense try vs. Knueppel on this Gut Stagger series, which I mentioned during the game.

Instead of having the defender who starts on Knueppel chase him around both screens, UIW had its defense X Out and switch away from the ball. The player defending in the left corner leaves Proctor and switches to Knueppel, while the defender who started on Knueppel switches out to Proctor. Look at UIW’s staff calling out the switch from the bench.

It was a good use of tactics and defensive angles, allowing UIW to take away Knueppel’s immediate airspace and advantage. In fact, Knueppel didn’t even receive a catch after coming off of the screens. It takes a second, but Duke gets to its next progression: Maluach flashes to the elbow, receives an entry pass from Foster and drives to the rim for a layup.

Less than two minutes later, UIW uses the same coverage on Knueppel: it’s another X Out. Duke, however, is ready for a counterattack. After screening for Knueppel, Maluach sets a down screen for Proctor, coming out of the left corner. From there, things flows into an elbow touch for Maluach and empty-side two-man action with Foster and the 7-foot-2 rim runner.

Well, basketball is a copycat sport. If one team tries something that works, you can rest assured that another team will use it for themselves at a later date. On the second play of the second half, Duke runs the same Gut Stagger/Zipper play for Knueppel and Georgia Tech tries to X Out — with Naithan George leaving Proctor to switch on Knueppel. Here’s the thing, though: a switch only works if it’s properly communicated and executed by both players. George leaves Proctor, but Terry doesn’t switch out; he sticks with the gravitational pull of Knueppel, which leaves Proctor all alone in the weak-side corner.

George tries to call it out, but Terry has tunnel vision on Knueppel. By the time he realizes his mistake, it’s too late. James spots Proctor and skips across the floor for a corner 3.

Duke’s new starting five of James, Proctor, Knueppel, Flagg and Maluach has been excellent. The Blue Devils are +28 in 58 minutes with that group on the floor (49 of those minutes have come over the last five games, when James was inserted into the starting lineup vs. Auburn), scoring 120 points per 100 possessions and allowing just under 90 points per 100 possession defensively (net rating: +30.2 points per 100 possessions), according to CBB Analytics.

During this five-game sample, James has been incredibly disruptive defensively: 3.7 percent steal rate, 2.7 percent block rate and 14.5 percent defensive rebound rate.

On offense, James provides a valuable source of rim pressure: 44.8 percent of his FGA this season have come within 4.5 feet of the rim. He’s also drawn 2.2 shooting fouls per 40 minutes since his move to the starting lineup. Whether he’s attacking downhill or making plays as a connector, James makes good decisions with the ball, posting a 1.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover rate and a 17.6 percent assist rate in this five-game span.

Kon and Khaman go to Spain

In the press conference after Duke’s win over George Mason, I asked Scheyer about Knueppel’s pick-and-roll usage. Scheyer mentioned (huge credit to the Carolina Blitz team for recording and uploading these videos after every game) that Knueppel’s combination of size, shooting and decision-making blend together to make him a talented screen-roll initiator. Basically, Knueppel has the shooting to force defenders to guard him tightly, the size to find passing windows over the top of the defense and the poise to deliver timely passes without too many turnovers.

Early on in the second half, Duke dialed up Knueppel and Maluach screen-roll activity. It proved to be a major boon for the half-court offense.

This is straight spread pick-and-roll — going right at GT’s drop coverage. Tech tries to guard this action 2-on-2 and allow the help defenders to stay home on Duke’s shooters. As Knueppel drives, he does just enough to engage Mutombo, who gets caught off of his line, like a goalkeeper in soccer. Maluach gets a step behind Mutombo and that’s all Knueppel needs: lob it to the rim and make sure that it’s high — something is about to happen.

Maluach is shooting 82.2 percent on his 2PA this season, a Top 4 number nationally, per KenPom. According to CBB Analytics, 75 percent of Maluach’s total FGA have come at the rim (inside of 4.5 feet), and he’s shooting 86.1 (31-of-36 FGA) on those looks.

Knueppel has assisted 10 Maluach field goals this season, per CBB Analytics, which is tied for the second most of any pairing on Duke’s roster. Flagg has 10 assists to Proctor. Meanwhile, Knueppel has assisted Flagg on 12 occasions, which is the No. 1 combo for the Blue Devils.

Here’s the same setup a few minutes later: Knueppel-Maluach screen-roll, Proctor on the left wing, Flagg in the left corner and James in the right corner. Once again, Knueppel engages the drop coverage; Ndongo shades in his direction for one too many dribbles, and Maluach is open for the lob.

Those rim runs are also a way for Maluach to draw fouls and get to the line, where he’s shooting an impressive 80 percent from so far this season.

To unlock more Knueppel-Maluach screen-roll action, Duke added a slight twist. The Blue Devils went to their “Spain” or “Stack” pick-and-roll setup, which features a third player — in this case, Proctor — who lifts up behind Maluach and prepares to set a back screen on the opposing center.

As Knueppel dribbles left off of the pick and Maluach rolls, Proctor trails behind Maluach. Instead of setting the back screen on Ndongo, though, Proctor leaks out above the arc, which is why I refer to this set as “Spain Leak.” Maluach’s roll with Proctor replacing back up the floor distorts GT’s help defender. Proctor is open on the relocation and Knueppel kicks it to him in space for a score.

Duke has run a few different kinds of Spain/Stack pick-and-roll this season, including this look that starts from a Horns set and flows into Flagg initiation. Wofford does a nice job going under the ball screen on Flagg and keeping the action in front. However, Cooper is still able to get downhill; his drive pulls in a help defender and Knueppel is open for the kick-out 3.

This is the same action vs. Kentucky: Horns set with Flagg popping out, Maluach setting a chase ball screen and Knueppel lifting from the corner to set the back screener. Maluach’s roll holds in the help and Knueppel is open for the pop 3PA.

Here, Duke flows into the stack ball screen action off of a baseline out-of-bounds play vs. Auburn. Maluach screens for Proctor as Knueppel leaks up — not actually setting the back screen this time. Auburn switches the action, but Maluach is fast enough to get inside leverage on the athletic Chaney Johnson and he rolls hard to the cup. Johni Broome switches to Proctor, but he doesn’t come all the way out, which gives Proctor some space to through a pass. Knueppel lifts up, pulling a defender with him and now, all of a sudden, all five Auburn defenders are above the foul line with Maluach sprinting to the rim. Lob it up.

Prior to the Georgia Tech game, Kon was the back screener/leaker in all but one of these Spain possessions — when he was on the bench vs. UIW and Evans took over that role.

Duke continued to press play on this stack setup with Knueppel initiating at Georgia Tech — partnered with Maluach and Proctor. Ndongo is a talented and active defender, though he’s a little undersized to fully anchor a defense in drop coverage, which opens the lob up for Maluach.

This one is too easy. Ndongo stays too close to Knueppel and both of Tech’s back-line help defenders are a step outside the paint — with Flagg and James spaced to the deep corners. The lane is wide open for Maluach, who is cleared for takeoff.

With Maluach on the floor this season (+129 in 223 minutes), Duke has scored 128 points per 100 possessions, according to CBB Analytics. That’s a massive number, and it speaks to the power of Maluach’s rim runs — the pressure that puts on a defense — along with his stellar work on the glass: 15.7 percent offensive rebound rate, a Top 35 number nationally.

This is a setup I’d like to see Duke get back to again: Spain pick-and-roll with Knueppel initiating, Maluach rolling and Evans (51.2 3P%) as the back screener/leaker. The Blue Devils generate multiple good shots on this possession — catch-and-shoot 3PA for Evans and Knueppel — thanks in part to Maluach doing damage as an offensive rebounder.

If you see a Duke ball handler tap his head, you should know what’s coming next: it’s more Spain/Stack pick-and-roll. On this possession, though, Knueppel decides to tap the turbo button and attack the space with a live dribble. He gets to the front of the rim and finishes through the bump.

Knueppel is known for his movement, ability to shoot off the catch and willingness to attack closeouts. However, there’s clearly some upside for him as a secondary ball handler. Over 25 percent of Knueppel’s FGA have come at the rim (3.4 rim FGA per 40 minutes) and he’s shooting 60 percent on those look. Knueppel is also shooting a solid 43.8 percent in the paint but outside of the restricted area.

Other stuff that popped

Duke’s has seen a decent amount of zone defense this season, including Army’s use of various box-and-1 or triangle-and-2 junk concepts on Knueppel and Flagg. The base zone offense for Duke is what most would expect: flash Cooper Flagg to the middle of the zone and play off of his talents. In theory, the Blue Devils should be a tough offense to zone: they have a bunch of shooter, they can pound you on the glass (34.4 percent offensive rebound rate) and Flagg is built to cave in defenses at the nail, with his mix of size, athleticism and passing.

That said, going up against zone defenses can be tricky and throw an offense out of rhythm, especially if those zones include matchup or morph concepts, shifting from a 1-3-1 to a 2-3.

It was nice to see Duke try some other stuff to attack Georgia Tech when Damon Stoudamire opted for zone. More baseline movement and more screening actions, including this overload play that resulted in a Foster corner 3.

Duke overloads the right side of the floor with three players vs. two defenders: James in the slot/wing, Brown in the mid-post and Foster spaced to the corner. With that as the weak-side geometry, Flagg sets an empty-corner ball screen for Proctor, who immediately kicks right to James. This pass springs Brown into action: Jaeden Mustaf (No. 3) rotates back to James — as does Ndongo, who takes a step out toward the wing. With two defenders on that side of the floor, it’s a numbers game and Duke has the advantage: 3 on 2. Brown smacks Ndongo with a flare screen and there’s no one to properly closeout on Foster when James swings the ball. As a result, it’s another open corner 3.

Scheyer has used this overload concept before — with the screen to free up a corner shooter. Here’s Duke doing something similar vs. Pittsburgh’s screen last season, including Jeremy Roach-Kyle Filipowski pick-and-roll and a Ryan Young duck-in/de facto screen to help open up McCain.

Duke continues to mix in plenty of its new 5-out offense this season — featuring the 5 spaced to the left wing, thus opening up the lane for Flagg or movement opportunities for Knueppel or Evans.

However, Duke will still use plenty of 5-out sets that launch with the 5 operating in the middle of the floor, flanked by two players on both sides of the floor. Brown is especially talented in these sets, due to his passing and ability to make plays in space. These looks also work as a way to create some advantage for Flagg before he looks to attack the defense.

When Flagg looks to initiate offense in isolation, pick-and-roll or out of the post, defenses will clog the gaps and send extra help. When there’s 5-out spacing and Flagg can play off of movement and a screen, it’s harder to load up. Flagg doesn’t have to create the advantage; it’s already there for him.

This simple offense, but Duke moves the ball around and then flows into 5-out offense — with Brown initiating and Flagg playing out of the corner. Flagg comes off of a pindown from Evans and is able to get a clean catch-and-shoot 3 with Ndongo going under the screen.

When a team has a player of Flagg’s caliber, they should want to find as many ways to get the ball in his hands and play through his talents — while designing schemes and lineup combos to amplify the impact. Given Flagg’s enormous creation load — 30.4 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent assist rate — and defensive responsibilities, it’s not a bad idea to occasionally turn him into the game’s best decoy, though.

This is textbook 5-out offense from Duke: the 5 (Maluach) initiates the action in the middle, Proctor performs a 45-degree cut (sliding from the right wing to the left corner) and James flows into Zoom action — receiving a pindown from Knueppel and sprinting into a handoff with Maluach. Flagg is spaced to the right corner.

James is able to get a piece of the paint vs. drop coverage. Mustaf goes under the handoff screen and does well to wall up against James, a 225-pound tank that’s hellbent on pressuring the rim. Ndongo is one pass away and defending the corner; he likely doesn’t have help responsibilities here. Plus, with Flagg as his assignment, Ndongo may be even less likely to roam and help in the paint. Either way, James is able to take his time and score 1-on-1 in the paint.

Finally, the Blue Devils got to their new version of an old favorite: “Horns Rub.” On this Horns set, the point guard (Proctor) will pass the ball to one of the bigs near the elbow (Brown) and then sprint to set a screen for the big at the opposite elbow (Flagg).

The first read for Brown is Flagg on the curl; if he’s open off of the screen, this is an easy cut dunk. The next progression will come via Evans, who runs out of the left corner to set a flare screen for Proctor, thus creating the screen-the-screener action. If the timing is a little better here, it’s a catch-and-shoot 3PA for Proctor.

This play ends in a turnover as Flagg tries to drive downhill, but it’s a good concept. I’m bookmarking this one for later.

Duke returns to action next on Dec. 31 — the ACC home opener against Virginia Tech. That’s followed by two matchups against two of the tough ACC teams: at SMU and home to Jeff Capel and Pittsburgh.

Safe travels and enjoy the holidays, everyone!