Basketball: Where Do Points Come From?

Points don't grow on trees. I've stolen Koran Godwin's "Four Ways to Score" theme for individuals. Plans and practice precede points. As a team, Geno Auriemma's UCONN Huskies plan to score a third in transition, a third on threes, and a third on sets. Obviously, there is overlap. 

The Huskies average 82.8 points/game and are scoring 24.6 per game on threes (30 percent). That's not a solution for us (seventh grade girls).

Where are you going to score? 

Tap plays. There aren't enough opportunities to spend time on tap plays but have a core idea. At worst, NEVER ALLOW a score off a tap play. 

Find easy baskets (transition, putbacks, layups, free throws). Ideally, that means understanding (from analytics) how we score. Balanced scoring helps diffuse the opposition defense from focusing on stopping one player. 

Transition. We can have transition off steals, rebounds, or made baskets (including free throws). Some speak of the Golden Moment where opponents "let down" immediately after scoring. A quick inbound and advancement can get a couple of easy baskets and help score early before zone defenses establish. 

Know where you want outlet passes, whether rebounders can advance the ball, where shooters and rim runners are going, and a flow into early offense. 

Special situations. We want to score 8-10 points on special situations (BOBs and SLOBs) and use O-D-O (offense-defense-offense) three possession scrimmaging to work on them each practice. We need actions against both man-to-man and zone defenses. This also allows us defensive work against them. Within your portfolio, you still need "favorite" ideas. 

Some combine 'traditional' sets like Flex above as a BOB. 

Against the 2-3 zone, we could borrow from MSU Coach Tom Izzo and modify his "Down" offense to attack the middle. 

Half-court offense. Are you a "dribble drive" team, a "screen team," motion offense, focused on sets, or have multiple approaches? The 'best' way is the best way for your philosophy and personnel. 

We like actions out of spread sets, "Horns" and 1-4 to open the middle and limit "natural" weak side defense. 

Celtics' Horns pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop.

Celtics' Horns slip and off-ball screen actions.

Celtics' Horns options for Kyrie Irving off-ball cut or DHO/pick-and-roll. 

We usually work a 1/4 court three-on-three segment to develop "freelance" and/or breakdown offense. We also practice 4-on-4 no dribble to force a cut-and-pass mentality. 

What's your approach? 

Lagniappe:

St. Joseph's College (Division III) scrapped plays for playing and averages 93 points-per-game.