This quick hitter, utilizing a screen-the-screener action, is designed to get an open shot at the free throw line / top of key area for one of your better shooters. The offensive players begin as shown in the diagram. 1 dribbles to the side of 2 where the wing area is open. (This play can also easily be run to both sides ... simply dribble opposite of the wing player). As 1 starts dribbling right, 2 sets a cross screen for 5 while 4 simultaneously comes down the lane to set a down screen for … [Read more...]
Baseline Cross with Double Downscreen Play
This is great play for getting the basketball into the low post or for creating an open jump shot opportunity for a shooter. The play starts with 1 dribbling to the wing as 2 sets a cross screen for 3. After setting the cross screen, 2 uses a double screen being set by 4 and 5. 1 can pass to 3 in the low post after the initial cross screen. If 3 is not available, he will look to pass to 2 at the free throw line / top of key area for a jump shot. … [Read more...]
Big-Small Switch Basketball Play
The Big-Small Switch quick hitter is used to gain an advantage, no matter how the opponent chooses to defend it. When executed properly, this play should allow for a great scoring opportunity. To begin, O1 has the ball at the top or has just dribbled into the frontcourt. O2 cuts down to the block and then out to the other side of the court. O4 steps up to the top of the key area. Obviously O1 is the point guard ... O4 should be a post player with a bigger defender so a mismatch is created on a … [Read more...]
"Y" Formation Triple Screen
The "Y" formation may not be a particular offensive set in basketball, but in this quick hitter, the players basically form a "Y"! (Actually, in this diagram, it's more like an upside-down "Y"!) Regardless, this is a simple play to install and teach and quite frequently creates an open shot! As the point guard, O1, dribbles up the floor, a triple screen is formed by O3, O4, and O5. The triple screen is being set for O2 who sets up his defender, changes direction, and then cuts off the triple … [Read more...]
1-4 Low Drive Play
The 1-4 Low Drive Play is a simple to run and very effective if you have a point guard that is good in a 1-on-1 situation. O1 begins at the top while the other four players are spread along the baseline. O1 dribbles on his defender to either the right or left side. In this diagram, O1 dribbles to the right. O3 moves to get open for a potential pass and three-point shot. O2 cuts to the top to replace O1. O5, upon seeing O1 drive in his direction, steps out to the short corner. Stepping out … [Read more...]
Clear-Out 2-Man Play
This is a good play when you have players that can run the pick and roll. With the clear-out -- and a good twosome who can run the pick-and-roll, you will find a lot of easy baskets with this play. The Clear-Out 2-Man Play starts in a low double stack formation. O1 initiates the play by dribbling to one side of the court. It doesn't matter which side is chosen because the play can be run on either side. The two low players in the stack simply need to know proper movement. In this diagram, as … [Read more...]
The Wall Play
The Wall Play is a quick hitting basketball play that creates two possible scoring options. One player will essentially receive a triple-screen and another will curl off of a double-screen. The Wall Play begins with the players set up as shown in the diagram. O1 passes to O2 and then goes behind for a return pass. O2 then cuts across the lane with O4 and sets the 'wall' (triple screen) with O5. O3 sets up his defender and then attempts to lose him on the screen (option 1). O2 will then step … [Read more...]
1-4 Low Pick and Roll with Backscreen
This 1-4 set puts four players down low to run a pick and roll with an added backscreen for creating a great scoring opportunity. To run this play out of a 1-4 low alignment, O1 dribbles the ball to the side wing area. Either side works just fine so if the play is called, all players should know what to do from any position. This play can create several open shot opportunities depending upon how the defense plays it. As O1 reaches the free throw line extended, O5 comes up and sets an on-ball … [Read more...]