fu·sion: a union by or as if by melting; a merging of diverse, distinct, or separate elements into a unified whole The Fusion Match-Up Zone Defense is designed to be the perfect mixture between zone and man defense. Growing up felt like an apprenticeship for my coaching career with my dad being a high school coach. He was always passionate about teaching high school boys to become successful men and teaching kids how to work hard on skills in the off-season and throughout the year. His … [Read more...]
Barcelona Box Mid Pick-and-Roll Play
This ball screen set that utilizes a mid pick and roll from the top begins in the box set formation. From the box set, this play will create a lot of open space for the pick-and-roll to be quite effective. From the box set formation, O4 cuts hard from the low block to the wing area. O1 passes to O4 and then cuts through to the ballside corner. As O4 receives the pass, O5 steps across the lane to set a screen on O2's defender. O2 curls around the screen and down the lane looking for a … [Read more...]
Panathinaikos Curl Pick-and-Roll Play
This pick-and-roll basketball play from the Athens-based Panathinaikos Basketball Club incorporates cutting movements to engage the defense while opening space to allow multiple options off the pick-and-roll. O1 passes to O2 and cuts through to opposite corner. O3 curls around O4 & O5 to ballside corner. O2 can hit O3 on the cut, if open. As O3 has cleared the painted area, O5 follows to set the pick-and-roll with O2. O2 uses the pick-and-roll to attack the middle for his own … [Read more...]
Maccabi Zipper Pick and Roll Play
This pick-and-roll play from the top creates a penetration lane for an easy scoring opportunity along with a high-low option if the pick-and-roll is defended well. Players set as shown in the diagram. Play can be run to either side. As O1 dribbles to the right wing, O4 cuts to the ballside corner to screen for O2 and O5 slides over to replace O4. O1 swings the basketball over to O2, who is now at the top. O5 steps over to run the pick-and-roll with O2. O2 uses the screen to … [Read more...]
Croatia 2-Up Pick-and-Roll Play
There is a lot of action in this play, including a backscreen and staggered screen which culminate in a pick-and-roll scoring option. With O1 at the top right, the weakside high post flashes top to receive the pass from O1. O5 steps up and sets a backscreen for O1. If open, O4 can hit O1 with the pass. If O1 was not open on that initial cut, O4 will swing the basketball back to O5. O2 will then cut to the top off of a staggered screen set by O1 and O4. O5 reverses the basketball back to … [Read more...]
Barcelona Side Pick-and-Roll Play
This quick hitter incorporates several screens and cuts to ultimately create a pick-and-roll from the wing area. This is a great play that allows the point guard to attack the heart of the defense via the pick and roll. O1 passes the basketball to O3 on the wing and then cuts through to the ballside low post. O2 uses a staggered screen set by O4 and O5 and cuts hard to the top of the key. O3 passes to O2 at the top and then cuts off of a backscreen from O1. O3 will ultimately clear through … [Read more...]
Barcelona Handoff Pick and Roll Play
The Barcelona Handoff Pick and Roll Play utilizes a couple of screens and cuts for potential scoring chances with the ultimate action being a dribble handoff for a scoring opportunity. The players start out as shown, with 1 player at each elbow and 1 player in each corner. The point guard is at the top. O1 passes to O4 at the elbow and then uses a backscreen from O5 and cuts to the basket. O4 can make the pass to O1 if open. If O1 was not available on the cut to the basket, O4 will pass … [Read more...]
Maccabi Middle Pick-and-Roll Play
This set play is a simple way to get your point guard in position to run the middle pick-and-roll with a low post player. The action prior to the on-ball screen helps to move the defensive players so they can't simply key on defending the pick-and-roll. The offensive players set up as shown in the diagram. O1 initiates the play by passing to O4 at the top. O4 immediately reverses the basketball to O2 and cuts through to the short corner. If O4 is open on the cut, the pass can certainly be made … [Read more...]
Scariola Mid Pick-and-Roll Play
The first in a series of International Set Plays from Coach Hardin, the Scariola Mid Pick-and-Roll is a play that creates a pick-and-roll from a 2-3 High offensive set. The Scariola Mid Pick-and-Roll Play is run from a 2-3 High set, as shown in the above diagram. The point guard, O1, initiates the play by passing to the ballside wing, O4. After passing, O1 cuts through and into the lane or weakside block area. O2 executes a v-cut to replace O1 at the top. O4 passes the basketball to O2, now … [Read more...]
Coach K Notes on Practice Planning
The following notes were from a Coach K basketball coaching clinic some time ago. This is all great information you should think about as you plan your basketball practices. Goals and Philosophy Work Hard Concentrate Communicate Compete 3 Systems when Planning a Practice Offensive Defensive Communication HEAR - You Forget SEE - You Remember DO - You Understand Don't Talk Too Much -- What you know is important, but the most important thing is…… "How do your players respond under game … [Read more...]