Basketball: Offensive Actions Introduced in Middle School

Reconcile the split between "less is more" and introducing actions that will play later.

First a few absolutes:

• Skill comes first. "We can't run what we can't run."
• Cut hard. Separate and finish. 
• On time, on target passing... 
• Take care of the basketball. Turnovers are zero percent possessions.
• Take quality shots. Bilas: "It's not your shot, it's our shot."

1) Pick-and-roll. Become a PnR player, learning the skills of both the handler and the screener. Learn the nuances - reject the screen, rescreen, slip, and more. 

The purpose of the ball screen is not to set the ball screen.

The purpose is to gain an advantage. If you gain the advantage before the ball screen, use the advantage. pic.twitter.com/sUyZ7y7CIX

— Reid Ouse (@reidouse) July 19, 2024

2) Off-ball screening. For example, pass and screen away and zipper cuts off down screens, especially to inbound the SLOB. 

3) Complex screening

• Stagger (including Iverson)
• Sequential (e.g. corner rip) - below
• 
  Screen-the-screener
• Backscreen the roller (Spain)

4) Back door cutting including variations like "blind pig."

5) Open gaps, exploit gaps "win in space." Parents tell us "don't play in the traffic" for good reason.

 

Teaching young players ways to create and exploit space gives them an edge as they matriculate to the next level. 

Lagniappe. "Nobody can stop principles." 

Great words by one of the best coaches to ever coach the game

Bob McKillop on what makes an offense hard to guard

“Anybody can stop plays, nobody can stop principles…Discipline comes before freedom.

pic.twitter.com/4bhuEKpmWR

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 18, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Find ways to "work smarter, not harder."  Pick a few that will work for you. 

Post by @fluent.in.finance

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