This 1-4 quick hitter basketball play was used by Senegal in the recent AfroBasket 2015 tournament. 1-4 Stagger Away is a great play that utilizes several staggered screens to create open 3-point shot opportunities and/or passes to cutters flashing into the lane. With this one play, multiple scoring chances will arise! This is one of two plays from Senegal during AfroBasket 2015 (see Down Loop Hand Off Play for the other). 1 passes to 3 cutting to the left wing. 1 and 4 set a … [Read more...]
1-3-1 Zone Defense Breakdown
In this series of diagrams, we demonstrate the basics of the 1-3-1 zone defense and how to defend depending on where the basketball is located and also following a specific action such as a skip pass and dribble penetration. Basic Alignment: The goal is to keep 3 players between the ball and the basket. In the intital set-up, x1, x4, and x5 are between the ball and basket. Offset Alignment: If the ball is off of the midline, the defense adjusts so that x1, x4, and x5 are … [Read more...]
Backside Help and Recover Drill
This is a nice 2-man defensive drill to work on helpside defense as well as recovering. The defenders work at cutting off flashes and passes, while being able to recover to their man. Coach starts with the ball. 2 flashes to the middle of the lane, and X2 must stop the flash. Once the flash is checked, 3 steps in bounds and Coach passes to 4. X1 must drop back to guard the basket, and X2 must step over to cut off 4 penetrating baseline. Once the penetration has been cut-off, X2 … [Read more...]
High Post Backdoor Play
This is a basketball play for all levels that creates a layup opportunity from a backdoor pass. Simple enough for youth basketball teams to run and out of the oft-used box set formation, you'll find easy scoring chances with this play. From the box set formation, the low players (O2 and O3) cut out to the wing. O1 passes to O4 in the high post. O2 cuts backdoor to the basket. O4 passes to O2 for the layup. Coaching Tips: O1 can make the entry pass to either high post player. As … [Read more...]
Butler 1-4 Dive Play
This 1-4 basketball play is simple to execute and creates a good scoring chance from either the low block area or the top of the key. Though simple to run, it does a nice job of forcing defenders to get through screens and making quick help decisions. From the 1-4 high formation, O1 dribbles to the right wing replacing O2. O2 cuts into the lane to set a screen for O5 who dives to the ballside low block. O1 makes the pass to O5 if available. As soon as O5 cuts past the screen, O4 turns … [Read more...]
Box Splash
In this basketball play from the box set formation, the objective is to create an easy scoring opportunity via a lob or, if that is unavailable, an open 3-point shot attempt. To initiate the play, O4 sets a downscreen for O1 who pops out to the wing to receive the pass from O2. As O1 is receiving the pass, O5 sets a backscreen for O3. O1 looks for the lob pass to O3. After setting the backscreen, O5 continues to the top using the screen from O2. If the lob pass wasn't available, … [Read more...]
Basketball Coaching Tips for Beating the Press
Press defenses are generally employed to force the offense out of their comfort zone: to speed them up, to create chaos, to force turnovers. As an offense having to go against a press defense, there are some fundamental tips and guidelines you can follow to help your team beat the press. Attack the press. This goes to how you choose to beat the press but it also goes to attitude. Players often become timid when pressured. Part of that is on developing skills through practice and … [Read more...]
Partner Shooting Drill Follow and Closeout
Purpose: To practice shooting, following own shot, passing to a shooter, and closing out on a shooter. Also improves and develops footwork and conditioning. Shoot and Follow Drill: Two players and a basketball. Player O1 shoots and follows his shot, secures the rebound, and passes to his partner who is moving to a spot. Players continue to alternate shots in this drill that should last :30 to :60 seconds. Coaching Points: Shooters should catch in a ready position Shots … [Read more...]
Kenya Box Play
From the box set formation, this basketball play is designed to get the ball into the low post for a scoring opportunity. With the use of cuts and screens, other options are also available. O4 sets a downscreen for O3 as O2 cuts through to the corner. O1 passes to O3 on the wing. O4, after setting the downscreen seals his defender and posts up. O3 looks to pass to O4 in the low post. Option: After O1 passes to the wing, O5 can step up to the top of the key area. O1 can read if O4 will … [Read more...]
Two Low Continuity Offense
Run 'Two Low' as a continuity offense or run it through as a simple quick hitter. Either way, you'll find excellent scoring opportunities for your low post players. Two Low Continuity is a basketball offense that enables two post players to work together to create scoring opportunities using screens. If you have two post players that are effective in the low post and high post, this is a great basketball set to run as either a continuity offense or quick hitter. This offense also allows … [Read more...]