NBA Playoff Sets

By Brian Williams on May 18, 2015

These two NBA playoff quick hitters are 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.

The first play is for a post up, the second is to open up a penetration opportunity for a perimeter player.

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

The first play was contributed by Craig LeVasseur.

Craig was a member of the Detroit Pistons coaching staff for 5 seasons.

Golden State Strong Cross 4

1 swings to 5, swing to 2.

5 screens away for 1.

4 sets flare screen for 2.

5 pops out for pass from 1.

4 follows to re-screen for 2.

1 sets cross on 4 to block.

Cleveland Loop Double

Contributed by Gibson Pyper

1 passes to 2 on the wing and cuts through.

2 passes to 5.

1 comes off double screen from 2 & 4.

5 executes DHO with 1.

1 looks to attack early off DHO

If 1 he is stopped, he back dribbles and 5 sets a ball screen.

Basketball Drills 1 vs 2 Rebounding

By Brian Williams on May 15, 2015

This drill was contributed to The Fast Model Sports Basketball Drills and Plays Library by Drew Hanlen, an NBA Strategic Skills Coach & Consultant.

He has helped over 25 NBA and NBA pre-draft players including David Lee (Mavericks) and Bradley Beal (Wizards).

Drew is an NBA Strategic Skills Coach & Consultant that has helped over 25 NBA and NBA pre-draft players including David Lee (Warriors) and Bradley Beal (Wizards).

Drew is the Head Skills Coach for Pure Sweat Basketball.

He has run his internationally renowned Elite Skills Clinics in over 30 states and 4 countries for several years.

He is also the Head Skills Coach for the Reebok Breakout Challenge and has worked various events for Nike Basketball.

1 vs. 2 Rebounding Drill

This is a great drill to get your players to box out on defense and crash and avoid box outs on offense. Too many rebounding drills benefit the taller players and don’t truly reward players for boxing out or getting around box outs, so this drill is perfect to reward pursuit effort.

Coach will shoot the ball. On the flight of the shot, both defenders will sprint to box out the offensive player, while the offensive player will try to get around the block outs and pursue the offensive rebound.

Defenders do not pursue the rebound. Instead, they continue to box out and try to keep the offensive player from touching the rebound before the ball bounces twice. If the rebound bounces twice before the offensive player touches the ball, the defensive team gets one point. If the offensive player touches the ball in the air, the offensive team gets two points. If the offensive player touches the ball after one bounce, the offensive team gets one point. If the offensive player rebounds the ball in the air and finishes a put-back, the offensive team gets three points.

Both teams play offense for two minutes then defense for two minutes. Team with most points at the end of four minutes wins.

Post Player Skill Development Drills

By Brian Williams on May 13, 2015

Some skill development drills that were sent to me by Nate Hill.

Coach Hill is the Assistant Boys Coach at Colonel Crawford High School in North Robinson, Ohio.

He started a Coaching Newsletter this past Fall. Here is a link to the archives if you are interested.

Next Level Basketball 419

In case you have any questions or comments for Coach Hill, or would like to subscribe to his newsletter, here is his email address:

[email protected]

Post Pit Drill

Diagrams created with FastDraw

1 and 2 in pit.

Players must score to get out of drill, scored on stay.

1 on offense and uses post move to score.

If 1 misses, rebounder passes to anyone one of 3 outside key, and relocate.

1 or 2 can get rebound, then is offense.

x2 lost, and now goes against player 3.

Ball can be entered from any player outside the 3 point arc.

Pick and Roll Big Breakdown

2 times each action, switch sides and spots. 4 scenarios, add in other ways you are defended and what your reads are.

Hard / Soft hedge = ROLL to rim.

Big looks for pocket pass from coach.

Posts make sure to set solid screen, reverse pivot, and seal.

Vary the finishes on the roll. 2 times

Under Screen = RESCREEN

Defender goes under the screen, the big can RESCREEN and Roll

Turn Down / Refuse ball screen = Rescreen and POP.

Defender forces the ball handler to refuse ball screen, 5 rescreens with a “step up screen” and pops for mid range jumper (pop arrow on diagram should be more toward free throw line for a shot.)

Defender drops = reverse pivot and pop.

5 screens and x1 fights over the top, x5 does not hedge, and drops back to contain.

5 reverse pivots and pops or rolls

Stockton Dribbling

Drill is designed for perimeter players, but you can use it with post players who drive or run dribble hand offs as well.

Players start under basket and attack the elbow.

They touch the elbow, then back dribble to rim and attack other elbow.

Go for 30 seconds.

Try and get 10 touches in 30 seconds.

Use 1 ball, 2 balls, and heavy balls.

Two Basketball Dribbling Drill

By Brian Williams on May 12, 2015

This video is of a competitive 1 on 1 dribbling drill with both players dribbling two basketballs is one of the great resources available from basketballhq. They have several more videos as well as basketball coaching resource articles.

You should tweak the drill to fit the goals and objectives that you have established for your spring and summer skill development workouts. I believe that this is a drill that most players will enjoy and finding a way to time it and establish rules of execution will make it that much better.

Depending on the skill levels of the players you are working with, it might be advisable to start out with both players dribbling one basketball and work up to two.

Please make sure your sound is on to see the video.

Click the play arrow so see the drill. The drill is a You Tube video, so you will need to be able to access You Tube to see the drill.

Two Ball Mirror Dribbling Drill

Defensive Rotations to Transition

By Brian Williams on May 11, 2015

This drill was submitted to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library by Tim Springer, Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Castle Hills First Baptist School.

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: Diagrams created with FastDraw

I hope that you can use this or add some more defensive wrinkles to include some defense and transition to your spring and summer “Improvement Season” workouts. You could also include 10 or 15 seconds of imaginary defense where the player has to simulate defensive positioning sliding, helping, etc… before transitioning to offense.

Great drill to get players reps in different defensive situations and then transition into offense.

Players passes to coach and closes out.

Coach passes to corner coach and player drops into help.

Coach drives and player walls up.

Coach throws ball down court for player to chase down and score.

Progression: 2 player break if you have a second player involved in the workout.

Progression: Add a defender for a 2 on 1 situation if you have a third player in the workout.

7 Second Driving Drill

By Brian Williams on May 8, 2015

This video is with forner Indiana State Men’s Coach Greg Lansing.

The drill works on

1) Driving
2) Dribble Moves
3) Finishing
4) Backup Dribble
5) Being Strong with the Basketball on the dribble.

I like the idea of including the back dribble. I feel that is something that I have not included enough in our driving drills.

The execution in the video is not great–these are not his players and are players doing their best to demonstrate a new drill at a coaching clinic.

He also does not have anyone harassing them on their 7 second dribble.

The idea is to get you thinking about how you could tweak this to fit your philosophy, not necessarily to use this exact drill. You might not want your players dribbling for a 7 count. You might want to make it 4 so that they don’t get a five seconds closely guarded count. Or, you can stay with 7 seconds as an overload principle to improve their toughness while dribbling the basketball since they will never have to dribble that long in a game while being fouled.

You can also include the types of dribble moves and finishes that your players use.

I would throw in one idea if you decide to have someone fouling the dribbler–“Contact is NEVER an excuse for losing the basketball while dribbling or holding it.”

You could also make the drill competitive by timing how long that it takes a player to complete the 3 chair circuit

This is a You Tube video, so you will need to have permission to view You Tube videos.

Make sure your sound is on as you watch. Click the play arrow to see the video..

7 Second Drill

If you are interested in learning more about the entire DVD that this sample came from, click this link: Individual and Team Skills and Drills . Anyone who purchases anything from the store receives one of my basketball coaching eBooks as a bonus. Just email me and let me know which one you would like to receive!