Coaching Notes: 7 Actions You Should Run (If You Don’t Already)
The foundation of any good offense is implementing select actions that highlight your player’s strengths. Yet most defenses will adapt and game plan towards the most common denominator between all of their opponents. Most good defensive coaches will have plans in place on how to defend shooters off of down screens or how to contain a good slasher off of a ball screen. The challenge for building your offense is to find simple concepts to implement that may not be readily familiar to your opponents.
Here are seven concepts that we have picked up over time that are unique and yet simple enough to build into most offensive systems.
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THROW IT TO THE BALL SCREENER
The high ball screen can sometimes be overused. But the value of the pick-n-roll offense is undeniable. Finding a way to get the mis-match in unconventional ways is the important. Most defenders are trained to react properly when the see the high screen action coming. However, if you can get the same results but do it in different ways – the defenders will not be ready. See Below…
7 Actions Throw it to the Ball Screener
RE-SCREEN ACTION
Most defenses are good at defending one action or even two actions. However, a defense’s effectiveness decreases with each consecutive action that you execute. Here we look at a series of consecutive actions that are hard to guard when executed quickly.
7 Actions Re-Screen
BIG MAN PASSER
One of the things that the Golden State Warriors do so well is use interchangeable parts. They often step Andrew Bogut or Draymond Green to the top of the key and let the other 4 players screen for each other in the lane. The value of this important. The forces the other team’s shot blocker away from the bucket and can allow a smaller guard to get a quick slip cut for a lay-up that otherwise would not have been possible. Also they do not ask their big man to create plays with the dribble, but instead allow the other players to move and get open. The freedom of movement and space that this opens up is worth noting. Take a look at some action down below.
7 Actions Big Man Passer
POST ENTRY FOR A SHOOTER
Entering the ball into the post puts stress on the defense. It causes the defense to react and sometimes shift towards the baseline. This is often a good way to get a shooter a shot. A fan out or even setting a screen with (or for) the passer is a good way to get an open 3-point shot.
7 Actions Post Entry for Shooter
SCREEN FOR THE BALL SCREENER
If you are going run a ball screen heavy offense, it is important that run action before the screen is set. Distorting the defense ahead of time prevents the defender from doing what they are taught to do (hard hedge, switch, show, play soft, etc.). This gets them out of rhythm and allows your players to make the read that they want to make first without having to make a secondary read.
7 Actions Screen for the Ball Screener
SCREEN WITH YOUR SHOOTER
The idea here is that creating action where your shooter is the screener should pop him/her open for an open shot. Often the mindset is opposite: we want to set screens for our best shooters. However, using them as the screener is often much more effective.
7 Actions Screen with your shooter
BACKDOOR CUTS
This is a staple of any good offensive team. The best back door cuts are usually the ones that are improvised. Therefore the timing and the feel must be practiced and taught. Here are some different principles to teach when planning on how to use the back door cut.
7 Actions Back doors
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Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com International Scouting Report, is on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and owns CoachHemi.com, the go-to source for coaches for X’s and O’s. He is the floor director of #TeamEBA camps, a site director for #TeamPSB tournaments and can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.
