Friday, March 29, 2019

Basketball: Getting Into the PnR and Secondary Actions

Teach offense to our core values. We haven't used all these (simplicity rule) but several will get more play in the future. 

1) "Great offense is multiple actions."
2) "Impose hard-to-defend actions."
3) "Do well what you do a lot."
4) "Simple doesn't mean easy to defend." 

Add value to our offenses by varying the pick-and-roll (PnR) and combination actions off the PnR. Find something to add to your arsenal. 



Here's a simple high ball screen designed to create mismatches with the cross-screen low.



With the right personnel, the middle 45 PnR off a horns set creates defensive problems. Most bigs aren't accustomed to defending the ballhandler on the PnR.



Bring the screener from an unexpected location (they may be open for a basket cut off the pindown). 



Dribble handoffs (DHO) provide PnR proxies, nicely combined with staggered screens on the help side. 


Well-executed DHO becomes nightmarish when the low post comes across to create a secondary PnR (above). 

What about SLOBs and BOBs? 



This modification of a Cavaliers' inbounds play creates separation for the 1 into a side ball screen. Weak side action occupies defenders. 



This 15 inside PnR against man or zone created major headaches for defenders with (at worst) open shots for the 1 and basket attacks for our 5s. 



Before the NBA went 3-point shot dominant, Tom Thibodeau's Bulls ran this high ball screen action to set up either elbow jumpers (4) or corner 3s if x3 helped on the drive. 

Lagniappe: Tips from Coach Hurley (special value for younger coaches)