Basketball Plays

Basketball Plays VCU Ball Screens

By Brian Williams on February 13, 2013

These notes are from a presentation by former Virginia Commonwealth Men’s Assistant Coach Donny Lind.

1. MAKE 2 GUARD 1 TO CREATE SCRAMBLE
2. EXPLOIT POOR DEFENDERS • GUARDS WHO “MELT” or • IMMOBILE BIGS
3. SET BALL SCREENS IN SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GUARD PROPERLY
4. CREATE “COUNTER” OPPORTUNITIES
5. CREATE A ROLE FOR UNSKILLED BIGS

WAYS TO DEFEND BALLSCREENS: • HEDGE • TRAP • LEVEL • SWITCH • DOWN • UNDER

Types of on ball screens utilized by VCU

Diagrams created with FastDraw

AREAS OF EMPHASIS:

• SPACING
• TIMING
• SCREENING ANGLE (DOWN HILL)
• USE OF SCREEN
• SPRINTING TO SCREEN/ROLL/POP

TO MAKE BALLSCREENS TOUGHER TO DEFEND:

• CREATE MOVEMENT
• USE SCREENING ACTION FIRST

Spread (Frame 1)

1 passes to 3 and sprints to opposite coner.

3 passes back to 4.

2 cuts to lane line extended.

Spread (Frame 2)

4 passes to 2.

5 ball screens for 2, then rolls.

3 lifts up to wing.

Hook (Frame 1)

4 cuts to the block.

3 cuts right off 1s butt and screens for 5.

Hook (Frame 2)

5 cuts to ball screen for 1 then rolls.

4 zipper cuts up the lane.

Baseline Runner Over (Frame 1)

1 points or yells name to determnine the runner.

2 is baseline runner off two screens.

3 goes over the top at the same time.

5 flashes to high post after 3 clears.

4 seals after screening.

1 hits 3 on wing.

Baseline Runner Over (Frame 2)

5 sets wing ball screen for 3.

1 and 2 space on weak side.

3 penetrates to free throw line.

5 pops.

4 ducks in from weak side block.

Basketball Plays Oklahoma Lob

By Brian Williams on February 11, 2013

Coach Vonn Read has submitted several plays from his playbook series The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays to the Coaching Toolbox. Vonn is currently serving as an assistant coach in the Women’s at Houston.

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.

1 passes to 2 and gets a return pass from 2.

4 steps to the corner,

5 goes to the block.

1 dribbles to make the pass to 3 on the wing.

2 cuts to the basket right below 5.

5 flashes hard to the elbow calling for the ball, forcing X5 to help.

2 sets the backscreen on X4.

4 cuts to the basket for the lob.

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 Loop

By Brian Williams on February 7, 2013

This play was submitted by Seth Kravig.

At the time he submitted the play, Coach Kravig was the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado.

Here is what Seth says about the play: “This play is an after the timeout (ATO) play that can be run with a number of options – it is a good counter to the loop action.

It can be an effective play when 4 is a good shooter and play maker and if 1 can be a post up threat.”

1 dribbles over to the left side of the floor as 2 loops off 4 and 5’s staggered screen for clear out to the top.

4 or 5 look to slip their screen if their man cheats to help 2’s man…

If 2 does not have an iso opportunity, he dribble handoffs to 3 on the wing and fills the strong side corner…

As this occurs, 1 slices off 5 to the block…5 then turns to pin down on 4 for jumper.

On 4’s catch, if he does not have a jump shot, 5 then turns to set a screen on 1 at the block.

Basketball Plays NBA Game Winners

By Brian Williams on January 29, 2013

These game winners were from the University of Washington women’s program basketball coaching newsletter.

Coach Neighbors is now the Head Coach at Arkansas and has plans to continue the newsletter.

Here is what he said about these plays:

“You can never have too many of these in your mind in case situations arise.

Even if you aren’t going to run them with your team, they are nice to have when you are working on your OB defense.

I always have two or three on my practice schedule for our practice squad to run.”

Sideline Winner

5 & 4 down screen for 3 and 1

The ball is entered to 3

1 sets a ball screen for 3

1 is the player you are looking to get the 3 point shot for

After 1 sets the ball screen, 5 sets a flare screen for 1

2 is also available coming off a screen from 4

Bulls SLOB Need 3

5 cross screens and pops

3 screens for 4

4 goes and screens for the inbounder.

5 hits 1 for the shot

Basketball Plays Need 3

By Brian Williams on January 25, 2013

The play is an end of game set when you need a 3 point shot.

It is diagrammed as a side out play, but can be run as a live ball set by having 3 make a dribble entry to the wing.

It needs at least 5 seconds to allow for a tip in if the initial shot is missed.

With the hammer action on the weak side and the late flare, we should have at least 3 – 3 point opportunities..

In the event there is a deficit of 4 or more, 1 may be able to keep the ball and drive in for quick score. Everyone else is spread out beyond the 3 point line to take away the help – then foul right away and play another play…

3 is the inbounder.

5 sets zipper screen on 1 to the top.

After inbounds pass to 1, 3 sets his man up for hand back from 1.

5 sets step up screen on 1 for baseline drive.

4 flares 2 to corner 3 point for baseline drive, baseline drift action

4 then pops high to 3 point line…as this occurs, 5 continues to set flare on 3 man for follow action behind 1.

Basketball Plays Flip Ballscreen

By Brian Williams on January 22, 2013

This quick hitting play is from a Xavier University Basketball Coaching Newsletter.

You can click this link if you are interested in subscribing to their newsletter and/or seeing the archives of past newsletters:

Xavier Basketball Coaching Newsletter

At the bottom of the page, I have listed some more links to other man to man set plays.