re: Another Look at the Game Winning Shot (In Pictures)

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Fair points, but as I said I don't think Gray anticipated Portis making the switch and denying the drive as much as he did. Had Portis not done that, Gray's path to the basket would've been much more succinct and TQ's defender doesn't have a chance to double team.

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When it gets that late in the clock you're switching everything. Martin comes up to set the screen. In doing so he 1. brings Portis away from the bucket and 2. forces what should be a mismatch on the switch, Portis trying to stay in front of Gray. Gray, as he does often, hesitates in using the screen and allows Portis to get back in front of him on the switch. The play was to force that switch knowing that Gray should be able to beat Portis off the dribble and get into the lane. At that point he's got three options 1. get to the basket (like at WVU) if no help comes off the wing; 2. kick to your best shooter, Hornsby and 3. Kick to your hottest shooter all game, Patterson. He never got into the lane because he allowed himself to get cut off and left himself no time to split the defense. Outstanding job by Hornsby to make himself available

Not necessarily a horrible design (at lot of teams run this type of play). It was just nearly a disaster by taking too long to get into it. Gray should be a nightmare for opposing teams in that situation. With good execution LSU should always get a good look to end the game.