Basketball Plays

Basketball Plays BLOB vs 2-3 Zone

By Brian Williams on October 30, 2014

This post has two ideas for plays to run against 2-3 zones.

The two plays below attack the zone in different ways—one is designed to free a three-point shooter, while the other creates a quick opportunity to score inside.

Both rely on good timing, screening, and player movement to shift the defense and create an advantage.

Add these ideas to your out-of-bounds package and you’ll be better prepared the next time an opponent goes zone on the baseline.

The two plays below attack the zone in different ways—one is designed to free a three-point shooter, while the other creates a quick opportunity to score inside. Both rely on good timing, screening, and player movement to shift the defense and create an advantage.

Add these ideas to your out-of-bounds package and you’ll be better prepared the next time an opponent goes zone on the baseline.

Purdue BLOB

Diagrams created with FastDraw

The action begins with 4 making a hard cut out of the corner to carve out space on the opposite block in front of the weak side defensive forward.

If he does a good job, it draws the middle defender towards him as well.
At the same time, 3 loops from the weak side elbow to the strong side wing with 5 screening in for him.

In diagram 2, you see 2 follow a similar path once 3 has cleared the wing area.

2 should be open on this as the ball side guard defender will have chased 3 and the opposite side guard is caught
on 5’s screen.

This is consistently an open three for the Purdue player in this position.

Kansas Zone Quick Hit

Starting in 1-2-2 set, the action is initiated by the 2 wings running into a cross.

2 goes first with the goal being the two wings crossing each other’s body on the right side of the lane.

Rather than popping out to the wing, 3 steps to screen for 4.

4 gets another cross screen from 5 and cuts underneath the rim to a spot just below the block to catch a post entry pass from either 2 or 1.

Basketball Plays Single Away Razor

By Brian Williams on October 27, 2014

This is a good ball screen mis-direction set sent to me by Coach Vonn Read.

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

Vonn has a wealth of Coaching Experience:

NBA: Advanced scout for the Orlando Magic
WNBA Assistant Coach with the Phoenix Mercury, Orlando Miracle, and San Antonio Silver Stars.
Women’s College Assistant: Syracuse, Houston, Memphis

The 5 player will sprint up and set a ball screen for the 1 player.

The 4 player will relocate to the short wing area, and the 2 player will cut to the block.

After setting the ball screen, the 5 player will loop out and set a fake single pindown screen for the 3 player (shooter) who will use the screen and then cut to the wing.

This screen will usually force a show (help) by X5 when the shooter comes off the screen.

This sets up the razor screen set by the 2 player.

The 1 player will pass to the 4 player, and the 2 player will set the screen for the 5 player slashing to the rim for the layup or block post up.

If the 5 player is not open, look to pass it to the 2 player at the top of the key.

Their defender (X2) will usually help on the screen, leaving the 2 player open for the jump shot.

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

Basketball Plays Fred Hoiberg 2-3 Corner Up

By Brian Williams on October 23, 2014

Man-to-Man Basketball Play: Multiple Screening Action for an Easy Basket

If you’re looking for a half-court set that creates pressure on man-to-man defenses and generates multiple scoring options, this play is a great addition to your playbook.

The action uses a series of well-timed screens, cuts, and reads to force defenders to communicate and make difficult decisions.

The play begins with a wing entry and quickly flows into a ball screen and a down-screen action, creating opportunities for an interior finish, a perimeter shot, or a secondary scoring option if the defense takes away the first look.

Because it attacks the defense at multiple levels, it is effective against teams that overhelp, switch inconsistently, or struggle to defend screening actions.

In the diagrams below, we’ll break down each step of the play and the reads your players should make to maximize its effectiveness against man-to-man coverage.

Fred Hoiberg Corner Up #5

2 screens up for 4 who cuts down the lane line to the basket.

If 4 isn’t open, 2 pops out and gets the pass from 1.

5 sets a ball-screen for 2 as he catches the pass from 1.

3 moves in from the corner to set a screen for 4.

2 looks to pass to 4 inside for the score.

If 4 isn’t open, 5 screens down for 3 who cuts to the top of the key for a shot.

Corner Up #4

Different way to finish the play without the interior screen

2 screens up for 4 who cuts down the lane line to the basket.

After screening for 4, 2 pops out.

1 looks to pass to 4 or pass to 2 up top.

Once 2 has the ball, 5 sets a ball-screen for 2.

4 slides across the lane as 5 rolls behind him.

2 looks to pass inside to 4 or hit 5 on the roll.

If you are interested in adding to your Coaching Toolbox take look at what I believe is our best offer.

CLICK HERE to select from a list of more than 70 eBooks.

Basketball Plays 12 Flash

By Brian Williams on October 20, 2014

An idea that perhaps you can tweak and adapt parts of to your zone attack.

It was contributed by Houston Women’s Assistant Head Coach Vonn Read.

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

Coach Read 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

The 2 player will flash in from the weak side, looking for the quick jump shot in the paint.

The 2 player also has the option to pass to the 4 or 5 player for the lob layup.

If the 2 player does not get the shot, he will continue to the wing to set a ball screen for the 3 player.

The ball screen will force the 2 defender help to stop the ball.

The 3 player will dribble the ball to the middle of the court.

The 4 and 5 players will step up to their block.

The 3 player will draw both X1 and X2 to the ball handler on the ball screen, forcing 2 defenders on the ball.

The offense can now play 4 on 3 against the defense.

With the ball in the middle of the floor, the 3 player now has 4 passing options, looking to exploit the 3 backline defenders.

X3 and X4 will usually help big on the 1 and 2 players on the ballscreen action.

If they do help, the 3 player can hit either the 4 or 5 player on the block.

The X5 defender has to defend both players on the block.

If the pass goes to the 2 player and the shot is not available, you can play short corner action.

If the pass goes to the 1 player and the shot is not available, you can also play short corner action.

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

Basketball Plays Hawks Double Rip

By Brian Williams on October 13, 2014

This man to man is from 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.

This play was contributed by Adam Spinella Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Division III Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

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

The Double Rip action usually frees up the player you want to establish very deep position.

Run by Mike Budenholzer during his time as Hawks Head Coach.

Horns formation start.

(1) passes to (4) on the elbow, curls over him and sets a screen for (3) to come get the ball from (4) in a handoff.

Double Rip is set for (4) as (3) swings the ball to (5), who steps out.

(1) and (2) set the Double Rip.

Screen-the-screener occurs as (3) sets a down screen for (2) to pop to the top of the key.

(1) clears to the corner.

Basketball Plays Beilein Last Second SLOB

By Brian Williams on October 2, 2014

This short second sideline out of bounds play is from Scott Peterman’s Basketball HoopScoop compilation of John Beilein’s Michigan Playbook. It is an idea for a way to get a 3 point shot at the end of the game if you are down 3.

You can get it along with the Best Plays of the Conference Champions and 130 Ways to Improve Practice for $25at this link: Michigan, Conference Champions, Improving Practice

I hope you can add a few tweaks to it and find a way for this or a similar play to fit in with your special situations system.

Schedule some time in practice to do some experimenting with new ideas to see how they fit your players, or experiment with various ways that your opponent might defend what you are planning to run.

For example, run this (or any of your special situation plays) with your second unit playing straight man to man and then run the play again having them switch. That will help you players learn what to do in both scenarios.

This play is taken from Scott Peterman’s Basketball HoopScoop site Michigan Playbook. The Michigan Playbook is a part of our Season Starting eBook special.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

3 will set a cross screen for 4

5 will set a cross screen for 2

1 will skip the pass to 3

5 will set a flare screen for 2

3 will hit 2 for a 3 point shot.

You can get it along with the Best Plays of the Conference Champions and 130 Ways to Improve Practice for $25at this link: Michigan, Conference Champions, Improving Practice
I hope you can add a few tweaks to it and find a way for this or a similar play to fit in with your special situations system.

If you are interested in adding to your Coaching Toolbox take look at what I believe is our best offer.

CLICK HERE to select from a list of more than 70 eBooks.