Basketball Plays

Basketball Plays Butler Zone

By Brian Williams on November 30, 2012

I found this on one of Creighton Burns’ newsletters.

It is a simple play that Butler University ran against a zone when Brad Stevens was there.

This is a quick hitter that you can save for a time when you need a basket.

It is probably not going to work more than once or twice each game.

The play starts with1 passing to 2.

That forces X1 to guard the wing.

#1 makes a shallow cut through the lane.

#2 dribbles to the top of the key to take #1 away from his area.

#2 passes back to #1

That forces x4 to step up to guard #1.

#4 steps to the short corner.

#5 cuts to the high post.

#1 has option to drive or pass to the short corner.

If the ball goes to #4 in the short corner, #5 makes a basket cut.

Basketball Plays Crunch Time

By Brian Williams on November 20, 2012

This is an idea for a play when you need a three point shot late in a game.

Even if you don’t like this play, it is a great idea to have a play that you save for “crunch time” that you don’t run at any other times, but that you know you have to go to when you need it.

There are more links below to diagrams and videosof plays to run in various situaitons and against both man to man and zone defenses.

#3 and #2 curl off of five and 4. Depending on the situation, #3 can continue the curl beyond the three point arc. Depending on the situation, and your personnel, you can have #5 turn and flare screen for #4 to get him or her to the arc. The diagram is not drawn as well as I would like, #4 should be spotting up on the arc unless moving off the arc is the only way to get the shot off.

Basketball Plays Alive

By Brian Williams on November 6, 2012

This press attack is from the Arizona Men’s Basketball Newsletter

If you are interested in being added to the mailing list for the newsletter, let me know and I will pass it on to their staff. They request to get your name, your school, and your coaching position.

Scroll below for a diagram of this press attack.

One concept that I have always used against presses is to have 3 receivers within 15-20 feet of the ball and spaced so that they are 15 feet from each other as well.

I like to have one behind the ball, one in the middle and one up the side.

I like to have the 5th player back at the basket to force the defense to use a player to cover what we call our “finisher.”

4 gets to the ball quickly to beat the press.

He looks deep first, then to 1.

4 should clear the backboard by going to his right

The initial receiver -1- has 3 options: 4 crackback, 2 sideline, 3 middle.

If 2 or 3 catch the pass, we attack to score.

If 1 uses 4, 4 gains ground with dribble.

3 vacates and 2 fills the middle.

5 always circles opposite the ball.

On a catch by 3 or 2, we attack to score.

5 goes to the “finisher” position – behind the backboard.

Basketball Plays Elbow Diagonal

By Brian Williams on November 2, 2012

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

Vonn is currently the Women’s Assistant Coach at Memphis.

Coach Read has also served as Associate Head Coach for the Women’s program at Syracuse, 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.

Today’s play creates a clear out opportunity for an elbow drive.

1 will pass to 4 at the elbow and cut to the wing.

3 will cut to the corner.

2 will post up hard to set up the action.

5 will set the screen for 2 popping to the elbow area for the quick jump shot.

X2 will close out hard & late, which gives 2 the opportunity to drive the closeout.

Tough to guard both the shot and the drive!!

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 Brush Flare Side Out

By Brian Williams on October 31, 2012

This play is from the Arizona Basketball Newsletter.

It is designed to run against a man to man defense.

If you would like to be added to their monthly basketball coaching newsletter, please email me your name, coaching position, and school and I will forward it on to their Director of Basketball Operations.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

The best shooter between the shooting guard and the small forward takes the ball out of bounds

After Inbounding the ball, the inbounder comes off a screen from #33 and the small forward empties to the corner.

The final action is a screen the screener flare action for a catch, sweep, and drive opportunity.

Basketball Plays Box Triple

By Brian Williams on October 2, 2012

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

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.

This play is a way to get a quick three point shot for your best shooter.

1 dribbles wide, looking to make a pass to 2 coming off the screen from 5

This is a decoy action, looking to get X2 to deny the pass to the corner.

5 sets the screen for 3 coming hard off the screen. 3 sets the screen on 2.

3, 5, and 4 sets the triple screen low for 2 coming off for the 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:

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

Here is the link: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays