Hidden size aka iceberg orders or reserve orders are available to many other than market makers. It's a good way to prevent moving a market before you get your order filled. Tape-painting occurs at the close; not before. And trading shares "back and forth" is also known as a market. MM's trade between themselves all day long every day in every stock.
NP could easily ambush the shorts. He just needs to stop creating expectations as to when data will be released and just flat out release it unannounced. But he doesn't seem to get that.