Monday, December 4, 2023

Basketball: Multiple Actions

Premise: "Great offense is multiple actions." 


Video from 1972-3 season...

1) Space the floor (initial alignment)
2) Create advantage (player and ball movement)
3) Execute advantage 

We were taught, "don't dribble the air out of the basketball." Basketball is a game of cutting and passing. 

Why offense doesn't work. Okay, occasionally it's suffocating defense. Usually there are other reasons:

1) Poor spacing. Use the three-point line as a spacing tool. Fill the corners to extend the area the defense must cover and create long closeouts. 

2) Lack of urgency in cutting. Cut hard. How many times have you seen 'UCLA cuts' not work because the cutter leisurely completes the cut. Cut selfishly. Cut to score. 

3) Lack of on-time and on-target passing. 
  • "You cannot throw through hands." 
  • "Don't telegraph the pass." Looking off a receiver is a lost art. 
  • Deliver a catchable ball. This isn't soccer. Players don't catch with their ankles. 
4) Unskilled finishing. Finishing relates to skill (accuracy, range), shooting position (balance), and degree of "contestedness." A layup against a monster shot blocker can be much lower point/shot than an open three. 

5) Poor shot quality. 
  • "Bad shooters are always open." 
  • "The quality of the shot relates to the quality of the pass." 
Lagniappe. Create hard-to-defend actions. 
Lagniappe 2. Coaches' careers depend on your performance. 

at