Zone Offense

Last year we had a continuity zone offense and 3 set plays.  Used the sets very sparingly and I have decided to make a change so that we have 1 set play and 1 last second shot play. 

Our zone offense is predicated on getting the ball inside and/or behind the zone on the baseline.  Because of this emphasis I think our set play versus the zone has to have as its first look a 3 pt shot with a layup possibility. 

Pick and Roll

Just got back from the CoachingU Live NBA Clinic over at the University of Maryland.  This weekend we saw alot of pick and roll options which is a big part of the NBA offensive package. 

I feel like I have a better handle on this and how it causes some mismatches beneficial to the offensive team.  Since so many teams are going to pick and roll I also think it is good to have it in our offense so we have to guard it in practice every day.

The first way to incorporate the pick and roll in our stuff might be in 1-2-2 'pass'.  So if the Center passes to the wing rather than drive drill with the wing, he would immediately follow his pass.  On the roll the corner man would fill up to the wing and this would allow for an easy post entry pass.

Up and Back Defenses

Thinking about a defensive system where we are in total all out pressure or in a total sag keep ball out of the paint with post double principles.

In our 'Up' defense we would be all out pressure on makes and misses with a 'jammer' of the ball or the inbounder, 3 anticipators and 1 get back or hole guy.  We work on pressing on makes and misses, we work on getting to the first available man and we work on steering offensive dribblers/receivers into preordained traps.  If the offense was to get out of the full court pressure we would immediately get into half court zone pressure of a 2-2-1 with four guys swarming and 1 big protecting.  Since we have limited time to teach man principles and with the emergence of more of a dribble drive and ball screen offense, i think the zone pressure allows for the defense to dictate to the offense to spread the floor for outlets.

In our 'Back' defense we are sprinting to recovery to the 3pt/lane line area and we are in full help off the ball and compacted to limited layups and offensive rebounds.  Our defense would fight the lane pass and the drive with quick help but would be willing to concede the catch on the 3pt line with a quick contest of the shot.  The 'back' defense would also have the post double trap coming from the top of the key area so the low post defender would not have to front and give up lobs/ offensive rebounding position, etc.

Every day we would work on the 'up' defense for at least 8 minutes to simulate having to come back from behind in a game.  We would also work on our 'back' defense to simulate the part of the game where you have to hunker down and get stops.  In past years our shell drill defense was about 16 minutes of practice plans so this practice set up would allow us to work the same amount of time on defensive principles but might in the long run allow our players to also begin to work on situational defense.

Cutting to Cut and Cutting to Screen

When we cut to the basket it is because we are being overplayed and we are trying to free ourselves up for a layup.  When we screen we also want to make that movement look like a cut.  If we walk to a screen then it appears that we don't want the ball and we're just going to screen for someone else.  If when we go to screen and we use the same speed we use to cut, then the defense is not alerted to the screening action until we stop and set the screen.

Standing Still

We want our players to break to get open at just the right time and we work very hard on this principle.  However, once we've popped out we don't want to keep jumping around looking to get more open.  If our receiver of the ball times it correctly he should be open but if the passer is afraid to throw him the ball he's is telling him that he is covered.  So don't move!  At this point we want to go into our drive drill where we will take the ball over to the receiver with the dribble.  Now he can either basket cut or come around for a handoff and we know where we are back in the offense.

Who's the Point Guard?

In our offense it is preferable that everyone be able to pass, dribble and shoot.  The reason for this is because with our ball and player movement everyone is going to touch the ball about the same amount of time, including the Center.  So we reinforce to our players that when you catch the ball, you are the point guard and the offense is running through what you decide to do with the ball.

Moving Offense Side to Side

One of the hardest things for a defense to do is to move from denial to help back to denial.  Because of this we set up our offense vs. an established defense to start with a G to G to F pass.

Another way we incorporate this principle is when we go from Low Post to 1-2-2 and the Center catches the ball at the top.  In this situation we love him to catch the ball and immediately attack the other side of the floor.  Many times the defenders are in help and as they fly out to denial they are set up for the back door cut.