Basketball Plays

Today’s post is a play to run at the end of quarters, after timeouts, or late in a game when you need a basket against man to man defense.

The numbers are used to make it clear how each player moves in the play, not to identify position numbers.

If you don’t use 1-4 high sets, you can also add cuts to the play to run it out of different alignments.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

I don’t believe in calling a play at the end of the quarter. If the players know what we always run, there is no confusion about someone missing the call or there being confusion. If it is under 30 seconds for the 2nd quarter, we will hold for the last shot, get everyone in their spots at 12 and start the play. Our goal is to shoot at 5 seconds to have a chance for an offensive rebound. We don’t run the play at the end of the 4th quarter if we are ahead. We also don’t run it if we are behind by more than 3 points as it takes time to develop.

We run this play at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters. Since it has multiple options, I believe that execution is most important and it keeps the element of possible confusion and disorganization to a minimum. We have a counter to this that we run at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters.

If you are concerned about your opponents knowing your plays, you could change them at the halfway point of the season, or heading into post season play.

I am not saying that everyone should run this play or use this exact system, but you should have a plan that players are aware of, have practiced repeatedly, and can execute without you having to make a call from the bench. The less players have to listen to and process under pressure situations, the better your end of quarter and game execution will be.

Play starts in a 1-4 high set.

2 cuts to the block.

5 screens for 4.

4 cuts to the wing and receives a pass from 1.

2 screens for 5 (First screen the screener).

If 5 is open, 4 will feed the post.

If 5 is not open, 1 down screens for 2 (2nd screen the screener)

4 hits 2 coming off the screen.

If 2 is not open, he will reverse the basketball to 1 coming off 3s flare screen (STS #3)

3 can take the shot or drive.

This play is a part of the Winning Special Situations eBook. You can download 13 of the 130 ideas and find out more about the entire eBook at this link: 130 Winning Special Situations.

These two horns sets are from Fred Hoiberg’s Iowa State offense.

Iowa State Horns Hi/Low #2

Diagrams created with FastDraw

5 steps out and receives the pass from 1.

1 cuts through the lane and quickly turns around to screen for 4.

4 cuts to the lane looking for the pass from 5.

If 4 isn’t open, 1 loops around 5 for a dribble hand-off and looks again for 4 posting up.

If 4 still isn’t open, 5 steps out to set a ball-screen for 1.

1 drives to the lane.

5 rolls to the basket and 4 replaces up the lane line.

Iowa State Horns Post Entry

1 passes to 5 at the high post.

Once 5 has the ball, 4 and 1 set a staggered screen for 2 in the corner.

2 cuts up for a shot as 4 cuts to the basket.

If 2 isn’t open on the initial cut he can loop around 5 for a hand-off.

Once 2 has the ball he looks to drive to the basket or kick out for an open 3-point shot.

Two Plays from the ACC Playbook.

You can get any four of our playbooks as a bundle for $35.

4 playbooks for $35

Diagrams created with FastDraw

Florida State Box #1

4 sets a high ball-screen for 1.

As 1 dribbles to the right, 3 and 2 set a staggered screen for 5.

5 cuts to the basket looking for the pass from 1.

If 5 isn’t open, 2 cuts up off of a screen from 4.

3 moves out to the wing.

1 passes to 2 at the top of the key.

After screening for 2, 4 screens down for 5.

5 curls the screen and looks to score at the basket.

2 passes to 3 who passes to 5.

Duke 4 Out #2

1 passes to 5 who pops out to the wing.

4 moves inside the 3-point line as 1 cuts through to the low post.

If 1 isn’t open, 5 gives the ball to 3 on a hand-off.

1 screens for 5 and 4 sets a ball-screen for 3.

3 looks to pass to 5 at the basket.

You can get any four of our playbooks as a bundle for $35.

4 playbooks for $35

This week’s X and O post is a man to man play from Sean Miller previously at the University of Arizona and in the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library The site has thousands of drills and plays that have been submitted by basketball coaches from around the world.

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

This play was posted by Randy Sherman, owner and founder of Radius Athletics–a basketball coaching consulting firm.

Sean Miller Horns Hand Off

Horns set with 1 using a ball screen from 5

After the ball screen 5 pops

1 passes to 5 on the pick-and-pop then spaces to the wing

3 sets up cut and 4 sets down screen for 3

5 dribbles at the down screen action and hands off to 3

2 moves to the lane to set cross screen for 4 (STS)

3 has option to enter to 4

5 pin screens for 2 to bring him/her to perimeter (STS)

3 has has option to pass to 2