Offense

Slashing Wing Gap Drives

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These ideas for a double and triple gap drive are from Matt Hackenberg’s 47 Gap Drive Sets Playbook on CoachTube.

These 2 concepts are run from 4 around 1.

The playbook is available as a free download from this link: 47 Gap Drive Sets Playbook.

Cutting and Spacing can create momentary gap driving opportunities.

Other factors to consider in creating gap drives are the offensive positioning of players that the defense won’t help off of. Those could be a great three point shooter, or just defending a great player that the defense is trying to keep from getting the basketball.

Below the images, there is a YouTube video with a few more gap driving concepts.

Use these and all ideas as a place to start to think about ways that you can use your personnel and your schemes to improve driving opportunities.

Double Gap Driving Lane

 

4 sets a wide pin down for 3

1 runs a dribble hand off exchange with 2

 

 
 

 

 

4 and 2 space to the corner

 

 
 

 

2 passes to 3 and then cuts to the wide wing (free throw line extended)

3 drives into the double gap.

 

 

Triple Gap Driving Lane

Initial player positioning is the same as above.

3 lifts

1 passes to 4 and cuts through (yellow line)

4 passes to 3 and cuts through (yellow line)

2 should be a player that the defense is reluctant to help off.

More Gap Driving Concepts

The NO-POST up Post Player

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By Thomas Anstett

Coach Anstett has taught English coached at the high school level for over four decades. He is A Golden Apple nominee and two-time inductee (as a player in 2011 and as a coach in 2014) into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame

So, you’re 6’9,” can dunk well, have a good drop step, can hit a hook shot, can make free throws, can offensive rebound well in a crowd, and want to fit into today’s game? Get your three-point shot ready!
The majority of systems today are putting good post play into a dark closet and only opening the door for passers, cutters, flashers, screeners, and an occasional layup. Too bad. A good post player, especially a scoring post player, can open up the entire floor for good perimeter scorers. Too bad so many coaches simply spread the floor to keep the blocks open for dribble-happy drivers. There can be a good balance.
If coaches have a good big player who has a back-to-the-basket game, there are a number of ways that player can be put to good use. Besides using him/her as a ball screener, a major strategy for this player is to use that big body for crunching screens off the ball. Screening and flashing to the ball, a basic basketball play, creates numerous problems for either a man or a zone defense. The singular focus for these screens is for the post player to pick a defender’s body, not a spot on the floor. Body contact – missing in action on many screens in today’s game – is a must for execution. After all, why set a screen and miss the target? This movement can get the ball to the post player in a good scoring position where that player does not have to dribble five times to maneuver into a shot. One quick dribble upon reading the defense is ideal. In addition, post players should learn to REpost after passing out to a wing. Many post defenders relax after the pass out and are vulnerable to that repost where the post player can get better position, draw fouls, and score more easily.
Certainly, if a good big player can handle the ball well and is able to make outside shots, there will be opportunities for those scoring chances also. Furthermore, using a post player to help break pressure is a viable option. That type of use can spell trouble for a defense. Against any press, if the post player has the speed, conditioning, and desire, a “give and go” from the big player down the court to a wing with the big player sprinting to the strong side block after his/her pass is an outstanding weapon for early offense, difficult to defend, and can create mismatches. Another asset for coaches to build in their talented big is convincing that post player to consistently beat his/her defender or the entire defense down the floor in transition. Easier said than done, but a tremendous quality for a big player.
Another attribute for a talented post player is passing ability and instincts. A scorer in the low post attracts all kinds of defensive attention; the pass out of the post can be a winner for the offense, especially to the opposite wing. Being able to get the ball to cutters from behind requires practice using bounce passes from the knee or lower so that the pass is below the arms of the defenders. Pass faking is often overlooked. One good pass fake can alter an entire defense and allow better spacing, better execution and timing of the offense, and fewer deflections by the defense on the actual pass. It is essential that passes from the inside player to perimeter teammates be attempted from a strong mid-stance for good balance and crisper passing.
Making a good low post player the “hub” of an offense makes life much easier for the perimeter players. It also makes for better basketball. Watching players dribble constantly in 1 on 1 isolations dulls the grace and poetry of basketball. Movement of the “spokes around the hub” helps players develop their all-around games, enlarges the potential of the post player, and promotes the creativity of the coaches.

Three SLOB Systems from 2021 Euroleague

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The talk of basketball for the last decade has been the amazing style of basketball played overseas. 

Coaches all over the country are always amazed by the ball movement, cutting, spacing & execution performed by teams from overseas. 

One of the parts of the game that has been exceptional are special situation plays. Special Situations are one of the best ways to steal baskets in basketball. 

The SLOB (sideline out of bounds) is a perfect situation to have a series in place for each player on the floor.

Here are three of the best Euroleague SLOB sets from 2021:

#1 Asvel – Rip to Hammer

The Hammer action was made famous in the United States by Gregg Popovich and the Spurs.

The Asvel Rip to Hammer play starts off with a lob look from a back screen. The back screen is one of the hardest actions to guard in basketball. 

The player who sets the back screen then comes off flashing to the ball for the catch.

The ball handler then drives baseline – while on the backside a hammer screen is set to send a player to the corner for an open 3 opportunity. 

(click image for video)

#2 Crvena Zvezda – Spain PR

The Spain Pick and Roll has become one of the most common actions in basketball.

If you watched this year’s Olympics – every team ran a form of the Spain Pick and Roll.

Crvena Zvezda’s Spain Pick and Roll is a really nice action.  

The play starts with fluff to get it set up and then it gets right into the action.

The Spain Pick and Roll consists of a screen for the ball handler but at the same time a back screen being set on the big who is screening man. 

(click image for video)

#3 Panathinaikos – Loop Hoax

The Loop Hoax is a really nice action that can result in a lob look or a pin down. 

Panathinaikos inbound leads them right into the Iverson cut. 

From there, the ball is passed to the extended elbow.

There the lob is set if the player’s defenders go over the screen. If the defender goes under the screen then the pin down will be a better read.

(Click image for video)

If you are interested in more great plays like this, you might want to check out the course these three plays are taken from: Top 40 SLOB Systems from 2021 Euroleague

 

Spain Pick and Roll

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The Spain Pick and Roll is a new variation of the Pick & Roll that has taken the NBA (and other basketball levels) by storm this year. 

The Spain pick and roll occurs when a screen is set for the ball handler, then a third player sets a screen on the player defending the man rolling to the rim. 

A normal pick and roll is used to create a two-on-one advantage — adding a third player essentially turns it into a three-on-two. 

The Spain pick and roll is being used in many different wrinkles & series because it is very hard to defend.

The back screen is one of the hardest screens to guard in the game of basketball — it causes most teams to just switch even if it creates a mismatch.

The Horns entry into Spain pick and roll 1-5 is a simple action that requires great spacing. The action starts with a flare over the top and then the action is right into the Spain pick and roll.

Horns Entry into Spain P/R 1-5

(Click image to play Video)

Defending the Spain pick and roll is hard enough. This action allows for 2 Double Spain pick and rolls within the same action.

All 5 players are involved in this set — which causes the defense to stay on their heels defending multiple actions. 

Double Spain Pick and Roll (All 5 Players Involved)

The Spain pick and roll creates a defensive nightmare. 

In a regular pick and roll, the defense only guards the ball handler and the screener while the other defenders are in help position. 

The Spain pick and roll adds another offensive player in the equation and adds one of the hardest screens to defend. 

These clips were taken from Coach Luka Bassin’s Spain Pick and Roll Video Course.

The complete course is available here

If you’re interested in seeing more from Coach Luka Bassin then you can find more courses below:

The Most Popular Xs & Os in European Basketball

Zone Offenses from International Basketball

Back Screen ATO Plays

Box +1 – Winning Defense for ALL Levels

 

 

 

 

Dribble Hand-Off Keep Go Next

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These short video clips were put together by Army Men’s Assistant Coach Zak Boisvert showing some actions to consider using in your dribble handoff game.

These short video clips were put together by Army Men’s Assistant Coach Zak Boisvert showing some actions to consider using when running corner step-ups.

Zak has an outstanding site with posts on various coaching topics at www.pickandpop.net

His YouTube channel has several videos with various types of man-to-man plays, zone sets, and inbounds plays as well as clips on various defensive coverages.

You can subscribe to receive an update when he posts a new video Zak Boisvert You Tube Channel

You can follow him on Twitter at this link: @ZakBoisvert

Click play to see the video

This is a YouTube video, so you will need to be on a server that allows you YouTube access.

Arkansas Offensive Philosophy

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University of Arkansas coach Eric Musselman shares insights into how he has designed his exciting offensive style in this clinic presentation. Coach Musselman discusses the importance of personnel, using terminology, and creating play “families” to expand your playbook. A Q/A session is also included.

We are providing this video to give you ideas on how to enhance your current system. The idea is not to implement it exactly as is, but rather to tweak it to make it fit your system.

There is sound with the video, so please make sure that your sound is on.

This is a Vimeo video, so you will need to be on a network that does not block Vimeo videos.

If you would like to see more information about Coach Musselman’s entire presentation, click this link: Eric Musselman-Offensive Philosophy
 

 

Ball Security

Play Calling

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