Pete Newell described the coach's primary job as teaching players to "see the game." He followed that up with the team mission, "to get more and better shots than the opposition."
Everyone would love to score in transition, but better teams and post-season teams take away easy baskets - transition, layups, put backs, open threes, and free throws.
From a development view, we teach "part-whole", beginning with one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three. But players must build an offensive vocabulary to create narratives of sentences, paragraphs, and chapters.
We can distill an incomplete list of "multiple actions" and find some video examples. Many readers here can share this information with their players or younger assistants.
Pick-and-roll
Dribble handoff
The Celtics use DHO to initiate drives and perimeter shooting.
Off-ball screens
- UCLA cut
- Zipper
- Shuffle cut
- Flex action
Another fantastic video from Coach Nick at BBallBreakdown illustrating some typical NBA cuts. Guards in the NBA can expect to be screened twenty-five to fifty times each game, creating both separation and bruises.
- Staggered screen/Loop
Shared by Coach Daniel
- Scissors
- Screen the screener
Screen-the-screener action is among my favorite type of play.
- Flare screen
- Elevator screen
Even at the middle school level, I see coaches run elevator or sandwich screens, especially in special situations.
- Floppy
Coach Nick shares simulations.
- Horns actions
Coach Nick also includes "pinch post" and the high ball screen and some clever iterations
- Hammer
The Spurs often create weakside corner 3s using hard drives opposite and flare screens to open up their shooters. Chuck Daly had used "Loop-like" plays long before.
Blind pig
A lifetime ago, as a young player, I had no grasp of the possibilities. The power of Internet video allows us to educate ourselves and share with curious and motivated players willing to stretch their game concepts. I hope your players enjoy and learn the power of multiple actions.
