Monday, August 10, 2020

Basketball: Spread Offense Thoughts, "What's in a Name?"


Expose teams to spread offense. If for no other reason, we have to defend it. We commonly hear "5-out," "fifty," "open," or "spread." 

 It fills the corners and spaces the floor opening driving and cutting lanes.  

This is the "oversimplified" at a glance view. Simplicity, well-executed, challenges defense. Good offense creates hard to defend actions and forces the defense to cover more area. 
  • Pass and cut (give-and-go)
  • Pass/screen away (multiple options)...more often than pass and screen the ball (slipping the screen is another look) 
  • If the first pass is overplayed, backdoor may be available. 
  • Of course flare screens and downscreens can happen from the wing/corner. 


Bucks action. It works at EVERY level. Simplicity is part of its appeal. The conflict between simplicity and complexity never disappears. 


Once a team understands core actions, use the protean opportunities (variant of Duke Elbow Clear).


The "Iso" becomes a wing ball screen... as an alternative... and sets us "rejecting the screen" for an anxious defender. 



Here's a post from Radius Athletics about the UNI Spread offense. 

 Teaching spread offense adds value for our defense as well. It demands: 
  • Ball containment
  • Denying the give-and-go (jump to the ball) 
  • Pick-and-roll defense
  • Defending back cuts 
  • Defending off ball screens (switch, through?)
  • Help and rotation
As Coach Brad Stevens reminds, "the difference between good defense and bad defense is the outcome of a few possessions." 

Lagniappe: via @PickAndPopNet (ATO with multiple options) 
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