Zone Struggles, Glass Dominance, Collective Offense, Reaves on Point, and Luka's Ripple Effect

Welcome to the NBA Librarian Weekly, where we curate and summarize the best NBA content of the week.

<1000 words each week. I consume so you don’t have to.

In Today's Edition:

1. Pacers Struggles Against the Zone

2. Hornets Crashing the Glass

3. Luka’s Injury Impact

4. Austin Reaves: Lakers New PG

5. Ajay Mitchell’s Role in OKC’s Rotation

6. The Grizzlies Offensive Collective

Pacers Struggles Against the Zone

The Pacers have been facing zone defenses more than anyone else this season—167 possessions to be exact—and Caitlin Cooper pointed out just how much they’ve struggled against it. In their game against Milwaukee, they saw 29 zone possessions (the third-most by any team in a single game this year) and managed just 0.897 points per possession compared to 1.024 against man-to-man.

One glaring issue Caitlin highlighted? Pascal Siakam has been on the floor for 116 of those zone possessions but has only received five passes in the paint. Without attacking the middle, their offense is stalling and the Pacers got to find an answer..

Hornets Crashing the Glass

• Coach Charles Lee's impact: The Hornets have gone from 28th to 3rd in Offensive Rebounding Percentage (ORB%) this season, a huge leap.

• Aggressive yet balanced: They crash the boards hard without giving up transition defense, a rare feat in today’s NBA.

• Three-point focus: Charlotte ranks 2nd in rebounding misses off three-point attempts, showing a clear emphasis on capitalizing on long misses.

Key Techniques

• Corners crash via elbow: Players drive aggressively from the corners but position themselves near the elbow, where long misses often land, aiding both offensive rebounding and defensive recovery.

• Big men’s advantage: Opponents can’t "gang rebound" against Charlotte, freeing bigs like Moussa Diabaté to dominate individual battles.

These strategies, despite the Hornets record has helped them become one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA.

Luka’s Injury Impact

The Mavericks have managed a 6-2 record without Luka Doncic this season, posting a +2.6 net rating (Cleaning the Glass). While that might seem encouraging, the deeper numbers might point to the Mavericks hanging on more than thriving:

• Net Rating: When Doncic is on the floor, Dallas’ net rating leaps to +8.7 this season (Cleaning the Glass), highlighting his massive influence.

• Shot Creation: Without him, only 38% of the Mavericks’ shots are from three-point range (PBP Stats), which would rank 27th in the league.

• Shot Quality: Rotation players experience a 2.2% drop in effective field goal percentage (PBP Stats) without Doncic—a decline equivalent to dropping 10 spots in efficiency rankings.

• More Pressure on Kyrie: Without both Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the offense scores just 110.8 points per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 30th percentile of lineups this season (Cleaning the Glass).

• Tough Schedule: The Mavericks face one of the 10 toughest remaining schedules in the league (Tankathon).

Austin Reaves: Lakers New PG

Austin Reaves has stepped into a larger role for the Lakers, and the numbers highlight just how impactful he’s been in his expanded on-ball duties:

• First 19 Games (Pre-Injury):

  • Usage Rate: 21.3% (third on the team behind Davis and James).

  • Averages: 16.7 points (44% FG, 35.5% 3PT), 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds in 33.7 minutes.

• Since Returning (Last 8 Games):

  • Usage Rate: 24.1% (still third on the team).

  • Averages: 22.1 points (46.8% FG, 37.7% 3PT), 7.8 assists, 6.3 rebounds in 36.3 minutes.

  • Team Offensive Rating: 116.7 with Reaves on the floor vs. 85.1 with him on the bench.

• Last 3 Games (Breakout Stretch):

  • Usage Rate: 28.7% (team-high).

  • Averages: 29 points (50% FG, 44.4% 3PT), 12 assists, 8.3 rebounds in 39.3 minutes.

  • Team Offensive Rating: 126.4 with Reaves playing vs. 86.8 with him sitting.

Reaves’ ability to elevate the Lakers’ offense while taking on more responsibility has been a game-changer.

Ajay Mitchell’s Role in OKC’s Rotation

We’ve talked about Shai, JDub, Chet, and Hartenstein before, but it’s always fun to see second-round rookies carving out a role on a championship-caliber team. Ben highlights how Ajay Mitchell uses his driving ability to anchor his game. He’s a solid passer, shooter, and defender, showcasing a well-rounded skill set.

Bucknell’s tweet summarizes the video well:

• Drives Per Touch: Ranks 16th among guards, showing how efficiently he maximizes his opportunities.

• Finishing at the Rim: Uses both hands effectively, ranking 9th in drive FG%.

The Thunder just keep finding gems in the second round, and Mitchell is no exception.

The Grizzlies Offensive Collective

We discussed the Grizzlies' unique offense a few editions ago, but this video highlights some of the season’s unsung heroes. In 230 possessions without a traditional point guard (Morant or Pippen Jr.) and with Jake LaRavia, Santi Aldama, and Luke Kennard on the floor, the Grizzlies have posted a remarkable 131.3 offensive rating and +26.1 net rating, with a 65.1 eFG%—all in the 100th percentile in the NBA (Cleaning The Glass).

The video emphasizes the versatility, assist rate, and size of these players, noting that all three are above-average shooters. Luke Kennard has taken on the role of "de facto point guard," and the Grizzlies outscore opponents by 23.7 points per 100 possessions with him in this role, including a 130 offensive rating on 63.6 eFG%.

This isn’t to suggest that Memphis should trade Ja Morant, of course, but it highlights how their committee-based offense and multi-faceted playmaking have made a significant impression across the league.