Lucas: Parting Gifts

RALEIGH—I could watch this over and over again.

There are a little under four minutes left in Carolina's 75-65 road win over NC State on Monday night. The Wolfpack has just missed a layup, and Garrison Brooks (of course) gets the rebound. He throws an outlet pass to Andrew Platek, who is approximately 75 feet from the basket.

There are four NC State players back on defense. Platek needs two dribbles to cross midcourt. The Wolfpack defenders are pointing and watching but what they are not particularly doing is stopping Andrew Platek.

At midcourt, he realizes they are in disarray. The four State defenders are back inside the three-point line, but they are on their heels while Platek is attacking.

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