Separation creates "better" shots than no separation. Talented players, smart players, and collaboration create separation. How?
First, quiz your players. If your offense is poor, find more solutions. Make teams prove they can defend.
- With spacing...make defenses cover more territory.
- With the dribble
- With deception and footwork
- Off the catch (quicker release, stampede)
- With ball screens
- With cuts
- With off-ball screens (simple, complex)
- Transition (numbers plus defense not set)
"Great offense is multiple actions." The corollary is that multiple actions are difficult to guard.
Designing your offense, have more actions for players who create separation and for hard-to-guard blended actions. Poor offenses usually have less separation (spacing, cutting and passing, screen game).
Fundamentals drive strategy. "We can't run what we can't run."
Don't try to focus on everything. Find edges that work for you.
1) Dribble - pace, crossovers, hesitation, combinations
2) Off the catch - Be "shot ready." Attack with a running catch (stampede)
3) Why would you not teach and use PnR?
4) Choose a few complex screens (Screen-the-screener, Iverson)
5) Play "no dribble" practice to force cut-and-pass mentality (e.g. 4-on-4 halfcourt, 5 vs 7 fullcourt).
Points to ponder:
1) "Spacing is offense and offense is spacing." Review your video.
2) If you have elite penetrators, use them.
3) Early separation with the ball (negative step, stampede, post footwork - McHale Move, Dream Shake, etc) hard to guard
4) Complex screening (Iverson, Spain, screen-the-screener, Gortat screen) difficult to cover
5) Quicker decisions with the ball (0.5 seconds) help
6) Lackadaisical cutting is a major cause of offense failure
7) Forcing long closeouts (e.g. off short roll passing)
8) If you can't shoot, being open isn't much of a solution
9) Be aware of newer developments (see Lagniappe)
Lagniappe. (Repost) Lagniappe. Screen, give, and go. Great stuff from Chris Oliver.
Lagniappe 2. Baseline drives with '45 cuts' are hard to handle.
Pacers finally get a layup off this cut. It's been there often. Even just getting the cut can create open drive and kicks going forward. https://t.co/jQ8CaX105f pic.twitter.com/OLoEZIrUZF
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) June 12, 2025
