NBA playoffs 2013: The pet play of all 16 teams in the postseason

Recently, the Lakers have experienced success using HORNS, a common alignment that places Gasol and Howard in the high post with shooters in the corners. The point guard often dumps the ball into Gasol at one elbow and flows from there. (Why it took so long for Mike D’Antoni to figure this out, I’ll never know). L.A. has a number of set plays that work beautifully from this alignment, so it’s tough for the defense to focus on one.

We’re going to discuss my favorite of the bunch: the backdoor lob for Dwight Howard.

In a league of spread offenses and three-point shooting, the Memphis Grizzlies are a throwback to when teams actually played two legitimate post players. Problem is, spacing and speed are so important now that you need adaptive big men that are more than just bruisers.

Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are more than just bruisers.

Wilson Chandler returned from injury in January to discover a crowded Denver Nuggets rotation that already didn’t have room for several productive players. Andre Iguodala. Danilo Gallinari. Corey Brewer, Andre Miller and Ty Lawson together rather than a traditional wing player. Kenneth Faried holding the fort down at power forward. JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos being experimented in lineups together. Where was Chandler going to fit into that rotation?

George Karl had to figure something out, and figure something out he did. In a nod to the Nuggets’ high-octane style, Karl decided to play Chandler -- who entered the league as a shooting guard -- as a power forward. Would Chandler be giving up a lot of size? Sure. But Chandler is also fast, has a tricky one-on-one game, a sweet mid-range stroke and can shoot from deep when need be. Who better to use to dictate the terms of engagement within a game?