Pete Newell expressed basketball advantage best, "get more and better shots than our opponents."
Offense works to create advantage via spacing, player, and ball movement.
Defense works to limit advantage via 'shrinking' space, and limiting player and ball movement.
Spacing - "Offense is spacing and spacing is offense." Simplify
- Teach the three-point line as the spacing line
- Spacing increases driving and passing lanes
- Caveat - "Do not cut to an occupied area."
Player movement - "Movement kills defense"
- Transition creates numerical advantage
- Screening creates positional advantage
- Caveat - if the passer can't see you, there is no edge created
Ball movement - "The ball has energy."
- Dribble penetration draws help and sets up 2-on-1s
- Passing creates long closeouts and basket attacks
- "The ball is a camera - you must be seen."
- Caveat - Must be on time and on target
Why offense fails
- Too much isolation without enough talent
- Lack of urgent cutting or setting up cuts
- Poor passing
- Poor spacing
- Bad shot selection
- Turnovers
- Lack of "multiple actions"
Conceptually sound offenses have "hard to defend actions." Take advantage of AI in our coaching.
What would an AI consult say?
ChatGPT said:
Here are five high-leverage, hard-to-defend offensive actions that fit your philosophy: multiple actions from one formation and one action from multiple formations. These are actions that travel well across levels—HS, college, pro—and punish poor communication, slow defenders, or switching indecision.
Each suggestion includes why it’s hard to guard and how to mask it within multiple looks.
1. Spain Pick-and-Roll (Back-Screen the Screener)
Why it’s hard to defend
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Creates two simultaneous threats: the roller and the back-screened big.
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Forces the defense to communicate perfectly through traffic—rare at the HS level.
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Invites confusion on “switch-or-stay” moments, creating slips, lobs, and open threes.
How to disguise it
2. Zoom/Chicago Action (Pin-Down → Into DHO)
Why it’s hard to defend
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Forces defenders to navigate a downscreen and immediately a handoff.
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If the defense trails, it’s an automatic downhill drive.
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If they switch late, the screener can slip to the rim.
How to disguise it
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Start in 5-out, box, or 1-4 high and sprint the guard off the pin-down.
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Use your best shooter, or flip it and run your best driver off it.
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Variation: false motion before the action to change the help-side responsibilities.
3. Veer Action (PnR + Simultaneous Flare Screen)
Why it’s hard to defend
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While the ball-handler is coming off a ball screen, the screener’s defender is distracted by a flare screen on a shooter.
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Help defenders get stuck choosing between stopping the penetration and contesting the flare.
How to disguise it
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Run it from spread PnR, horns, Pistol (21), or 5-out delay.
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Use “ghost flare”—no contact screen—to punish switching defenders.
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Can also invert it: flare the roller instead of the shooter.
4. Pistol (21 Series): Pitch-Ahead → DHO → Ball Screen
Why it’s hard to defend
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The ball moves faster than the defense.
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Three actions in under three seconds stresses weak-side positioning.
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If the D switches, the initiator can duck-in; if they chase, the downhill drive has space.
How to disguise it
5. Iverson Action → Backdoor or Reject
Why it’s hard to defend
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Defenders get accustomed to fighting over the top of the double Iverson screens.
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Once they cheat high, the reject route (backdoor or curl) is wide open.
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Creates a built-in counter; the defense can’t be right twice.
How to disguise it
Summary Table
| Action | Stress Points on Defense | Why It’s Hard |
|---|
| Spain PnR | Communication, switching | Multiple simultaneous threats |
| Chicago Action | Screen navigation + handoff timing | Puts trailing defenders in jail |
| Veer Action | Help positioning, flare read | Divergent options—drive or flare |
| Pistol (21 Series) | Early offense, pace | Fast, sequential actions |
| Iverson Reject/Backdoor | Overplaying cutters | Built-in counterpunish |
Lagniappe. BOB screen the middle of the zone
