Basketball Plays

This play is run against a man to man defense.

From Coach Creighton Burns’ newsletters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 dribbles the ball into the attack zone and #4 and #5 flash up to the elbows.

 

 
 

#1 enters the ball to #3 and runs a “lobo” cut to the basket off a back screen set by #4.

On the pass from #1 to #3 , #5 slides down to position in the mid post area.

#3 can make a pass to #5 in the post , or throw over the top to #1 if he is wide open.

If #5 or #1 are not open , #3 will pass out to #4 at the swing pass.

On this pass to #4 , #2 will down screen for #1.

 

On the pass from #4 to #1 , #2 will “cross screen” for #5

If #5 is open on his flash to the ball , #1 should give it to him.

After passing , #4 can screen down for #2 , or screen away for #3.

In this diagram , #4 screened away for #3.

#3 waits and cuts hard to fill the point.

 

 

#1 makes the pass to the swing man he receives a back screen from #5.

If #1 is open on his cut , #3 should get him the ball.

If , #3 makes a pass to #5 who has stepped out after screening , he has the choice of down screening for #2 or screening away for #4.

The diagrammed play below is run against a man to man defense.

I like to use the 1-4 high to start our sets for two reason:

1) It helps our players know that we are running a set
2) It makes it difficult to pressure the entry pass since there are 4 options

 

 

 

 

 

1 dribbles away from 4 as 4 pops to the deep elbow. 1 passes to 4

 

 

 

After passing to 4, 1 cuts off the backscreen from #5.

2 and 3 move toward the lane.

if 1 is open, 4 will pass to him/her, but that will not be open very often

 

4 passes to 5 as 1 and 2 are setting a staggered screen for 3. If 3 is open, 5 will make the pass

 

 

 

After passing to 5, 4 cuts to the block to screen for #1.

If 3 is not open, 2 will make the second cut off of the scrreen set for 3.

#1 cuts off the screen set by #4

 

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.

Use this play against a 2-3 zone

 

 

 

1 passes to 3 and exchanges with 2.

3 passes to 2 at the top.

 

 

 

2 reverses the ball to 1 on the wing.

 

 

 

 

4 sets the screen on X4, and 5 sets the screen on X5.

3 cuts hard to the rim for the lob pass–doesn’t have to be a dunk–can be a layin.

 

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

A baseline out of bounds set using a quick hand off to the inbounder.

Creighton Burns found the play on the FastModel Site

On all of our inbounds plays, I like to have the players start their movement as the inbounder receives the ball from the official.

That way we save a second from having to slap the ball to signal to start the play

 

Diagrams created with FastDraw

 

 

 

4 screens for 3 slicing to lane, then shapes up to receive inbound pass from 1.

 

 

 

 

1 steps inbounds to receive a dribble handoff from 4 and attacks middle.

5 sets a flare screen for 2 as 3 loops back around a pin screen from 4

This play is run against a 2-3 zone defense. I like the concept of constantly having a player in the high post.

This play works best if you have 5 players who can play on the perimeter.

This idea came from the Jes Soft Playbook site. It was originally submitted by coach Henk Rambach.

First note:
Don’t dribble just quick passing will disorientate the defense, only dribble when necessary like to penetrate a gap, or improve a passing angle, or to get out of trouble.

 

 

The offense starts with a 1-3-1 offensive set where our offense is already positioned in the weak places of the defense.

Tip:
Your high post O4 might initially be positioned along the lane, and then as the point guard brings the ball into the forecourt, O4 makes a quick flash into the high post at the free-throw line.

The wings must be high and wide, so that the point-to-wing pass is not easily intercepted.

Beat the zone by quick passing and movement, and avoid unnecessary dribbling (which allows the zone to recover).

When we the pass is to the right wing, O5 moves to the right corner.

Each move is to fill a gap in the zone where you can get open for a pass and shot.

O4 moves to the right lane and O3 moves inside the 3-point arc.

If the ball is passed to the corner, O4 cuts hard down to the low block for the bounce pass from O5.

O3 moves to the free-throw line area because if O4 does not get the ball, then O3 is often wide open.

If O4 does not get the ball he cuts down under the hoop and looks for the ball if O3 gets the ball from the corner player O5 if not he goes to the weak corner.

O3 also cuts down and looks even for a easy lay-up. If not post up to the left wing position.

 

 

When the ball is passed back to O2 move into a 1-2-2 offense.

 

 

 

If the ball goes to O1, O4 must post-up to the high post position at the free-throw line

 

 

 

If the ball goes to the left wing O5 cuts to the left corner you can do the play in the other direction.

 

 

Option 1:
O1 passes to O4. O4 pivots and faces the basket and can take a shot or go for a drive inside.

Option 2:
Meanwhile, O5 who has been hiding behind the defenders down low, cuts into the paint for the pass from O4, and the O5 makes the lay-up.

O4 makes the decision here\’85 if the middle defender comes up to block the shot, then just fake a shot and bounce pass it to O5 down low. If the middle defender stays low, then just shoot it. If a wing defender moves in, pass off to that wing, O3 or O2.

This 1-2-2 Zone Attack came from Coach Creighton Burns.

Below the diagrams are some more posts with ideas for attacking zone defenses.

Other resources on this site for attacking zones are listed on this page:

Diagrams created with FastDraw

 

 

 

 

Start in a 1-4 high alignment

PG should enter the ball to the opposite side of your best post player

Ball side post dives to the short corner

This should force the ball side post defender to match with the 4 man

From the wing position, you are looking to the short corner, the post who is pinning the middle of the zone, and the high post flash from the opposite wing

1 fills opposite wing

Note: Whoever is diving to the middle of the zone, needs to work very hard at pinning the middle of zone, even if you are not getting the ball.

(Short Corner Entry)

If the ball goes to the short corner, he should:

* Look to score if the post defender stays in the lane to pinch the offensive post player in the middle of the lane

 

* Enter the ball to the low post if his defender comes out to guard

Note: It is important that post in the middle of the lane be aware of the 3 second count. He needs to leave the lane at any time to avoid this violation

(Short Corner High Post Look)

If the high post (X1) starts to dig in the post because you are getting good low post feeds from the wing and the short corner, the short corner should look to pass to the high post 2, which is probably a good shooting guard, can shoot the 15 foot jump shot, or give a high low feed if X1 closes out hard on the shot

(Ball Reversal)

The high post steps out for a reversal pass

 

 
 

(Rotations)

Middle post cuts to the ball side short corner

High post dives to pin the middle of the zone

Weak side short corner flashes to the high post

You now have the same looks as you did on the other side