Backdoor Plays

Finland Diamond

By Coach Brian Williams on October 3, 2018

These two plays came from the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library.

They were posted by Ryan Nguyen.

You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw

Here are Ryan’s comments about the first play:

This is one of the many “Diamond” sets from Henrik Dettmann of the Finnish National Team.

2, a shooter, sets the back screen for 4.

As x2 helps on the back screen, 5 dribbles out of the post into a handoff for 2.

Because x2 bumps 4 on his cut, he is trailing behind 2 out of position to contest.

Finland – Diamond 2

4 pops out to wing for pass from 1.

2 screens for 5.

4 feeds 5 in the post (inadvertently left off the diagram)

2 sets rip screen for 4.

5 dribbles out of post into hand off for 2.

2 stops behind for shot.

Finland – Diamond 53

This is one of the many “Diamond” sets from Henrik Dettmann of the Finnish National Team. As 4 slips the ball screen, this creates an advantage for the offense as x5 has to help on the slip. As x5 helps, 5 sets a pindown for 3. Because x5 is helping on the slip from 4, the offense creates a 2-on-1 advantage on the weak side since there is no help on 3 as he comes off the screen.

5 sets a pindown for 2.

1 passes to 2.

4 flashes high.

2 passes to 4.

3 cuts backdoor when 4 looks at him.

1 comes up to the wing.

4 passes to 1.

4 fakes ball screen then slips to rim.

5 pindown for 3.

3 comes off screen looking for shot.

1 passes to 3.

Horns Swing Backdoor

By Coach Brian Williams on December 27, 2017

This backdoor play was contributed by Jusin Scanson to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library.

You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw

Editor’s note from Brian:

You might not be able to run this or any other play that someone else uses exactly as is.

What you can hopefully do is take parts of the play and combine them with other ideas that you use or see.

In my opinion, the value of anything that you see someone else run, online, or at a clinic, is that it will get you to do some sustained and creative thinking about improving what you do.

It is also great fodder for staff discussion so that you get everyone’s minds involved.

The play is designed to clear out the help defense and set up a backdoor cut.

From a horns set, 4 pops out to get a wing catch.

1 cuts through the lane to the weak side corner.

2 starts to cut towards the top of the key as 5 occupies the high post. 3 V cuts to get a catch near the corner.

After 4 passes to 3 in the corner, 4 cuts hard to the opposite corner.

2 cuts to the strong side wing to get a reversal from 3.

5 steps to the top of the key and 1 cuts to the opposite wing.

2 swings the ball to 5 who swings the ball to 1.

3 cuts hard to the high post for an entry from 1.

On the catch, 4 cuts hard back door for a layup or free throws.

Basketball Plays SLOB Loop High Backdoor Special

By Coach Brian Williams on May 15, 2016

Coach Vonn Read has submitted several plays from his book The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays to the Coaching Toolbox.

Vonn is the Associate Head Coach for the National Finalist women’s team at Syracuse.

He has also served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Orlando Miracle, and San Antonio Silver Stars.

He was an advanced scout for the Orlando Magic as well as The Charlotte Sting.

The Bucks ran a similar play against the Bulls at the end of Game 1 in their 2015 playoff series.

This is a good End of Game Play from Side out of Bounds.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

The 1 player will make a loop cut over the top, with screens set by the 5 and 4 players.

This is a decoy action.

The 2 player will cut hard to the corner, and then backdoor to the basket for a layup.

Run this play against a very aggressive defender.

Coach Read has also put together The Basketball Encyclopedia of plays. You can check them out here: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays or read more about the books:

Any coach looking for the latest and innovative plays from the Professional, College, or High School levels can stop looking. With a compilation of over 7,700 different plays, you will never need to purchase another basketball playbook again. These playbooks can be used as a great reference tool for years to come. This 2 Volume Book includes plays from 19 different play categories, and they are the most extensive playbooks on the market.

The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays (Platinum Series) contains over 7,700 Plays (Both Volumes combined) from the NBA, WNBA, USBL, and College levels from someone who has worked as an Advanced Scout or Coach on each level!!! This book has been intensely compiled over the last 21 years, with plays taken from a lot of NBA Coaches (past and present), WNBA coaches, and College coaches (Men’s and Women’s) from around the country.

Any coach that is serious about improving their knowledge of the game from an X and O standpoint will benefit tremendously from these books. These Books can be used to discover New Quick hitters, add a New Package to your playbook, or develop an entire Offensive System. There are a lot of new ideas and concepts in these books to study, and the Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays can be a great resource for coaches on all levels!!! This book is definitely for those X and O junkies who are always looking to improve as a Coach.

“THE GAME IS ALWAYS CHANGING? ARE YOU?” Vonn Read

Here is the link: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays

Stephen F. Austin Scissor DHO

By Coach Brian Williams on March 23, 2016

This play is from Brad Underwood’s Stephen F. Austin (now at Illinois) playbook put together by John Zall.

The numbers are simply to differentiate the different players and do not represent the traditional point guard, power forward, etc…

You might be able to take a piece or two from this set and use them to put your players in spots where they have an opportunity to use their abilities.

The diagrams are from the Stephen F. Austin playbook.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

SFA Scissor DHO

1 passes t o 2 and cuts through t o strong side corner

2 passes t o 5 at elbow

2 and 4 scissor cut off o f 5

4 cuts into wide pin down for 1

5 enters into DHO with 1

4 and 5 turn and set a stagger screen for 2 t o corner

Note: You could also use 2 as a screener and run 3 off of 2 and then off the staggered double screen

San Antonio Spurs Pinch Post

By Coach Brian Williams on December 13, 2015

This play run by the San Antonio Spurs was submitted by Wes Kosel, Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach at Colorado College to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library.

You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw

1 starts on the wing and passes to 2 at the top.

2 passes to 4 at the weak-side elbow (pinch post).

Once 4 has the ball, 2 loops around 4 looking for the hand-off.

In option 2, the hand-off isn’t there so 2 pops out to the wing.

3 runs the baseline to the opposite corner.

4 passes to 1 on the wing.

1 looks inside to 5 posting up.

In option 3, 2 cuts to the wing after the hand-off isn’t there.

1 and 5 move towards the corner to set a staggered screen for 3.

3 cuts into the lane looking for the pass from 4.

Basketball Plays Star Spin Special

By Coach Brian Williams on September 14, 2015

Today’s post is a good backdoor set for a layup.

Syracuse Women’s Associate Head Coach Vonn Read submits two plays each month from his book The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays.

You can also see more of his plays in the Related Posts links at the bottom of this post.

Vonn has also served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Orlando Miracle, and San Antonio Silver Stars. He was an advanced scout for the Orlando Magic as well as The Charlotte Sting.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

Even if you don’t run the play exactly as it is drawn up, I hope you can find a way to modify it to fit your needs.

Star Spin Special

The 1 player will pass to the wing to the 2 player.

The 3 player will cut from the wing to the block off of a curl cut screen set by the 1 player.

The 1 player will pop back for the pass from the 2 player.

The 3 player will cut hard off of the double screen set by the 4 and 5 players.

This is a decoy action to clear out for the backdoor.

The 1 player will dribble hard, looking to pass to the shooter (3 player) coming off the double screen (Decoy).

The 1 player will reverse dribble and then spin back towards the 2 player.

The 2 player will time their cut as the 1 player spin dribbles, which sets up the backdoor layup.

The 2 player can sell the play by cutting and calling for the ball before going backdoor.

Coach Read has also put together The Basketball Encyclopedia of plays. You can check them out here: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays or read more about the books:

“THE GAME IS ALWAYS CHANGING? ARE YOU?” Vonn Read

Here is the link: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays