"Just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot." - Bob Knight
"Basketball is a game of cutting and passing."
While the 'ideal' offense allows freedom of movement and development of decision-making, the reality requires "automating" (forcing) passing and cutting or building in those actions. While excellent defense always requires five player participation, successful offense more often gets played in 'chunks' (two-on-two, three-on-three) and with players separating or occupying (defenders) on either the ball side or the help side.
Every offense requires spacing to facilitate driving and cutting, open passing lanes, and limit both help and trapping. Because we have minimal height, I also want to move the opposition bigs away from the basket.
What kind of actions might we build into our offense? Here are some obvious choices:
- Isolations (doesn't get everyone involved)
- Give-and-go (two players)
- On-the-ball screens (two players)
- Post flash with wing back cut ("blind pig", "pivot play", isolation - three players)
- PG pseudo-bury into Flex (four players)
- PG screen away (three players)
We can inform our player and ball movement according to our personnel and skills...and drill to execute these actions better. Note, these are only my random musings...not an established offense.
Let's consider some specifics.
Left, five out, with a wing pass sets up a give-and-go. 4 and 2 fill up.
Right, 2 screens away for 4 on "shuffle like" action.
This continues into ball reversal to the top with 'flex' action for 5 and 4. If 4 doesn't have the shot, the action can 'reset' with 2 cutting through as the action can restart...or if 2 is overplayed, she can back cut and attack the basket.
Let's consider some specifics.
Right, 2 screens away for 4 on "shuffle like" action.
