The Fundamental Guide to Basketball Offensive Concepts and Structure -

This article is republished with permission. The original article appears at The Fundamental Guide to Basketball Offensive Concepts and Structure.

The fundamental concepts that make up a good offensive team are floor spacing and ball movement along with fundamental basketball skills such as passing and dribbling. Being able to perform these actions with confidence and flawless execution takes hard work and discipline, but it also requires proper teaching and accountability from your coaches and teammates.

To get better at fundamental concepts and skills, you have to put yourself into the right game situations. What are realistic scenarios you find yourself in during a game that you can recreate in practice?

In this article, NBA Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, Billy Lange (At the time the article was written, this was up to date. Coach Lange is currently the Head Men’s Coach at Saint Joseph’s University), is going to share many different drills to use with the focus on improving floor spacing and ball movement they utilize to succeed in the NBA!

Spacing Drill

The focus of this drill is on spacing the floor. Your offense is going to start a foot and a half behind the three-point line. This amount of spacing will give your offense enough space so they can maximize their actions. You want your offense to always be higher, wider, and lower than the defense. Great offense must create space.

Starting Spots

Four players start on the perimeter: 2 players in each wing spot (W) with a basketball and 2 players in each top spot (T)

Actions of the Drill

Wing (W) passes to the Top (T) who catches aggressively, loaded and ready to shoot then attacks the rim for a score. As they attack, the Wing (W) is replacing them at the top. Top (T) rebounds their own ball and fills the open spot on the wing. After one side attacks, the other side of the court will perform the same actions. Essentially, you will go back-and-forth attacking on both sides.

Video Demo

Body Movement Drills

The focus of this drill is on body movement. A lot of players tend to stand on offense if they’re not getting a shot. You need to break this bad habit. In these drills, every pass will be following by some form of movement which forces your players to pass and move. Every player in the drills will rotate within the positions which means every player is practicing body movement.

Drill #1

Starting Spots

Three players start on the perimeter: 1 player in each wing spot (2 and 3) and 1 player (1) in the top spot with a basketball

Actions of the Drill

Player 1 passes to Player 2 on the wing then basket cuts down the middle of the lane. As that happens, Player 3 fills the top spot and 1 will relocate and fill the open spot on the wing.

Player 2 reverses the ball back to Player 3 at the top who quickly reverses to Player 1 on the opposite wing. After reversing the ball, Player 3 will basket cut down the middle of the lane. As that happens, Player 2 fills the top spot and 3 will relocate and fill the open spot on the wing. From here, you continue with this passing, cutting, and filling pattern.

Video Demo

Drill #2

Starting Spots

Four players start on the perimeter: 1 player in each corner (3 and 4) along with 1 player in each top spot (1 and 2) with Player 2 starting with the basketball.

Actions of the Drill

Player 2 reverses the ball to Player 1 in the opposite top spot. After passing, Player 2 and Player 3 interchange spots which means 2 goes to the corner and 3comes up to fill the top. When 3 gets to the top spot, Player 1 will reverse the ball back. After reversing the ball, Player 1 and Player 4 will then interchange spots. The drill continues to reverse the ball back and forth between the top spots while the players interchange after each reversal pass.

Video Demo

Starting Spots

Four players start on the perimeter: 1 player in each corner (3 and 4) along with 1 player in each top spot (1 and 2) with Player 2 starting with the basketball.

Actions of the Drill

Player 2 reverses the ball to Player 1 in the opposite top spot. After passing, Player 2 cuts to the basket and Player 3 fills the top spot. After cutting, 2 fills the open spot the corner. When 3 gets to the top spot, Player 1 will reverse the ball back. After reversing the ball, Player 1 will cut to the basket and Player 4 fills the top spot. After cutting, 1 fills the open spot in the corner. The drill continues to reverse the ball back and forth between the top spots while the players basket cut and fill after each reversal pass.

Video Demo

Drill #4

Starting Spots

Two players start on the perimeter: 1 player in the top spot (1) with the basketball and 1 Player in the opposite corner (2)

Actions of the Drill

Player 1 attacks the middle of the lane forcing the Dummy Defense to help. As the Defense helps and recovers, Player 2 cuts to the basket for a pass from 1.

Drill Demo

Penetration Drill

The focus of this drill is on dribble penetration and reading the help defense. It’s not always on the first attack at the basket that you get a good look, but on the second. A good offense attacks the middle on every possession and more than once.

Starting Spots

Two players start on the perimeter: 1 player in the top spot (1) and 1 Player in the opposite corner (2) with the basketball

Actions of the Drill

Player 2 attacks the middle of the lane and kicks out to Player 1 who has slide over a few steps to create an open passing lane. After passing to 1, 2 sprints out to the perimeter around the top area.