This is a nice quick hitting basketball play you can use when you want to attack the basket off of dribble penetration. It gives the point guard a scoring option or allows him to create an opportunity for a cutting teammate. The play is initiated with the pass from O1 to O2 on the wing. O2 may need to V-cut, L-cut, or start low in order to get open. O1 follows his pass, receives a handoff from O2 and dribbles to attack the basket. As O2 is performing the handoff, O4 steps out to the … [Read more...]
Box Reversal Stagger Down
This quick hitter from the box set formation includes a ball reversal and a staggered double screen to get an open shot from the free throw line area. Players set up in a box formation as shown. O1, the point guard, is at the top. As this play can be run to either side, O2 and O3 should be adept at shooting a mid-range shot coming off a screen. The play starts as O1 dribbles to the right. O4 cuts hard from the elbow to the top of the key to receive the pass from O1. O4 quickly reverses … [Read more...]
How to Stop a Fast Break Team
These tips serve as a summary of tactics you can use to stop (or slow down) a fast-breaking opponent. Incorporating these concepts into your game plan will help to considerably detract their ability to fast break. If your team is not built to fast-break, how do you play against teams that do like to push the ball and speed up the tempo of the game? From the outset, I think there are 2 very important points to consider. First, I think the easiest concept is to have your team control the … [Read more...]
4-on-5 Cut Off Defensive Drill
Purpose: To help defensive players learn how and work at cutting off dribble penetration from the perimeter. Specifically designed as a zone defense breakdown drill to help defenders understand the necessity of moving and shifting quickly to stop dribble penetration. Drill: 4 players on defense around the lane. 5 offensive players spread around the perimeter. The offensive players must attempt to score by driving to the basket. The defender's objective is to jam the drive and force the … [Read more...]
Double Quick 3 Inbounds Play
This play is designed to generate a quick jump shot for a three-point attempt. Best against a man-to-man, it can also be run against a zone defense. O4, O2 and O5 set up at the free throw line. O3 starts on the ballside low block. When the official hands the ball to O1, O3 cuts to an open area on the ballside wing. On the pass from O1 to O3, O4 and O5 step into the lane, forming a double screen for O2. O2 steps back to the top of the key. O3 passes to O2 for a jump shot. NOTE: … [Read more...]
2-on-2 in Traffic Rebounding Drill
Purpose: A competitive 2-on-2 rebounding drill useful for both offensive and defensive rebounding work. Drill: A coach or manager starts at the free throw / top of key area with the basketball. The offensive players start at the elbow areas with defenders. Coach shoots the basketball as O1 and O2 crash the boards for the rebound. They can go straight after the rebound or cut, cross, pick for each other. X1 and X2 attempt to block them out. Once rebound is secured, rotate position … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Defending Great Shooters
You will often find your team going up against another team who has a deadly accurate shooter. He may not only be accurate, but he may understand how to move without the basketball, how to read the defense, and how to catch in a position to shoot quickly. A good shooter can be difficult to defend because the shooter knows when he is going to shoot ... the defensive player does not. The defender must also be to jump as the shooter jumps and go up as high as the shooter. Throw in a few head and … [Read more...]
Quick Lob vs. 2-3 Zone
This set play can be used against a 2-3 zone defense to get a quick hitting score. This can be an especially useful play against a 2-3 that overextends on the perimeter. This play can be run to either side. If the play is called, the side is determined by the point guard. In the diagram below, the play is run to the left. O1 dribbles to the left and passes to O3. O3 should slide down far enough so he gets defended by the low wing defender. O3 returns the pass to O1 and takes a … [Read more...]
High Pivot Flash Doublescreen Handoff
This quick hitting basketball play is designed to get your best shooter or scorer an opportunity for a 3-point attempt or a dribble-drive to the basket. Players are in a 2-3 offensive set as shown in the diagram. O5 starts in a low post position, opposite the basketball. O5 flashes to the high pivot, O1 passes to him and follows his pass, setting a double-screen at the foul line with O5 at the side to which he passed. As O1 makes the pass, O4 clears to the opposite side, thereby … [Read more...]
4-on-4 Transition Recover Drill
Purpose: To teach defenders to get back quickly on defense and to help teammates who are slow in recovering. Offensively, players will work on their transition and fast break offense. Drill: This drill begins in a 4-on-4 halfcourt setup. The players play 4-on-4 until either a shot is made or the defense secures the rebound on a missed shot. When the ball is rebounded by the defensive team, they will quickly outlet the basketball and push it upcourt in a fast break situation. If the … [Read more...]