Key Concept: Off Ball Movement Separates Excellent from Good Players

Richard Hamilton was one of the top NBA players at moving without the ball. Ultimately, unless you're the point guard or LeBron James, 90 percent of your game (100% defense, 80% offense) is played without the ball. So, you need to develop those portions.




Key points:

• Conditioning
• Change of speed 
• Change of direction 
• Become hard to guard
• Study players that you find hard to guard 

Consider how professional basketball utilizes spacing and off ball movement to separate: 

Coach Nick discusses three key NBA concepts:

• Pinch post
• Horns
• Spread (high) pick-and-roll

Almost any 'set' can be adapted to run high ball screens...

On the left, a 'box' formation morphs into high pick-and-roll. On the right, a 1-3-1 set turns into spread pick-and-roll and weak side off ball screen. 

Players need to start visualizing offensive combinations into opportunities and learn how to finish.