This box set play incorporates a couple of downscreens, a staggered baseline screen, and a flare screen to make it a challenge to defend successfully. The players set up in a box set as shown in the above diagram. Knicks is initiated with the point guard, O1, dribbling to the right wing as O5 sets a downscreen for O2. O2 should set up his defender to the outside and then cut hard to the top of the key. O1 can look inside to O5 after he sets the screen. If not there, he'll pass to O2 at the … [Read more...]
Spin Off Around Inbounds Play
'Spin Off Around' is a simple baseline out of bounds play to learn and run and it can be utilized against both man-to-man and zone defenses. If the initial cuts don't create an open shot, the reversal option against a zone surely will! When the official hands the basketball to O1, O5 posts his defender and then spins into the lane looking for a pass from O1. At the same time, the weakside player in the line at the free throw area (in this diagram, O4) cuts over the top of the line and … [Read more...]
Slash Zone Offense
Finding a zone offense that is a "multi-tasker" can be tough, but with our "Slash" and its accompanying quick hitters we have found just that. This zone offense allows us to run our transition spots (4 Out-1 In) and seamlessly get into it when we see a zone look. The best part is that it creates quality movement, puts pressure on the middle, gets players to the short corner, and allows us to overload ANY zone that can be thrown at us. If a simple, yet effective, zone offense that can be … [Read more...]
Team 70 Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To develop free throw shooting under pressure. Each player is under pressure to make his shot because the team needs to finish with a total percentage made of 70% or greater. Drill: You can utilize all available baskets but, personally, I like to keep the team all at one basket. If they are all at one basket, they can encourage each other. If you have a lot of players or if you want to speed up the time it takes to do this drill, use more than one basket. All players will take turns … [Read more...]
2-on-2 Catch Up Drill
Purpose: To work on scoring and defending in a transition situation. The offensive players will attempt to score while the defensive players will need to sprint and then defend the offense from scoring. Drill: 4 players line up along a baseline as shown by players 1-4 in the diagram. A player on one end begins with a basketball (O1 in our diagram). The drill starts with O1 passing to O2, who passes to O3, who passes to O4. Players O1 and O3 will become defenders once they pass the ball so … [Read more...]
The Dirty Thirty
Here is our version of the Dirty 30 and what we call Fundo's. These programs are designed for the first two weeks of the season at our morning practice sessions. We will meet from 6:45-7:45am daily and take an hour of time to hit key areas of player conditioning and fundamental development. This is what I have come up with to do just that. It has worked for us in the past, but can be tweaked to suit your specific needs. Enjoy! The Dirty Thirty ~ 30 Minutes of All-Out Effort ~ (Times are given … [Read more...]
Run and Jump Press
The Run-and-Jump Press is designed to force your opponent into mistakes, turnovers, bad shots, and to make them struggle to get into their offense. Philosophy of the Run-and-Jump The basic philosophy in the run-and-jump press is that you do not need to steal the basketball. If you are thinking "steal" you will invariably reach, get out of position and commit a foul. Reaching and gambling defensively make the run-and-jump defense ineffective. You want your opponents to make mistakes, turn … [Read more...]
Box Set 'One' Play
Several screens in this box set play create possible scoring opportunities from the 3-point line as well as in the low post. The players start in a box set. O3 will flash from the low block to the opposite wing, using staggered screens set by O5 and O4. He can take the shot if open. O1 cuts to the opposite wing after passing to O3. After setting the initial screen for O3, O5 will continue to the ballside block by using a cross screen set by O2. O3 looks to O5 inside. Also, O4 will roll … [Read more...]
The Convertible Zone Offense
The following zone offense is designed to create many problems for most zones. It is convertible to meet odd front (1-2-2 and 1-3-1) zones or even front (2-3 and 2-1-2) zones. The Convertible Zone Offense is from Mike Harkins in a book titled "Successful Team Techniques in Basketball". Coach Harkins coached Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) from 1960-1976, sending 10 teams to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. He compiled a 290-158 record at EMC, winning 12 conference … [Read more...]
Lob Continuity Zone Offense
The Lob Continuity play is designed to create multiple scoring opportunities, with the easiest of all being a lob pass for a layup or dunk. It is an effective quick hitter that can also be run as a continuity as the ball swings and reverses from side to side. The Lob Continuity play starts with O1 passing the basketball to O3 on the wing. O3 then dribbles down toward the corner. O1 follows his pass and replaces O3. O2 cuts to the top and O4 flashes to the ballside elbow. O5 posts up on … [Read more...]