Xs and Os, Finding a Middle Ground

"All great offenses are alike; each bad offense is bad in its own way." 

The Boston Celtics dynasty ran six plays with options. Execution, not volume of plays, is the key to success. Great offense gets great separation with easier (and more) shots by reducing mistakes. 

Great offense comes in many different shapes but invariably converges at the intersection of spacing, cutting, passing, and screening. Watching the NBA Summer League, we are treated to the destruction of great offense, the continued rise of long-range shooting, and questionable team play. NBA wannabe blacksmiths keep clanging threes off the Vegas iron. 

How would we teach 'great' offense? I believe that it starts 'piecemeal' in the 'part-whole' concept. As an example, consider 'horns'. 

A couple of years ago we ran this set five times and scored seven points...with sixth graders (who can't shoot)...with three baskets and one free throws. It's the height of simplicity with a possible give-and-go off entry, off-ball screens, and if nothing opens, the 5 can go one-on-one. The 2 and 3 have to go through and up if nothing opens to create some semblance of floor balance. 

But usually offense isn't five on five, it's one on one, two on two, three on three. 1, 5, and 2 have to work together to create something ball side and 4 and 2 work to create something on help side. Teach the screeners that their role (rolling!) makes them the second cutter, so that all five players are involved...not just on the court. 

But our 'drawings' only come alive when players set up their cuts, cut hard, wait for and read screens, and of course, finish. Yes, shooting is critical as well as penetrating to pass. But there's more to the game than just dribble-drive. 

Time to get off the soap box and watch some more uniquely, mostly bad offense.