Phase I: Early PushResearch by Coach Dooley
Good continuous early offensive flow prevents or hinders any pre-planned defensive disruption scenarios by forcing the defense to "react" rather than "act." When the offense is able to get the ball into the offensive operating area within 2 to 3 seconds, most often the defenders are spread out creating space where good 1 on 1 creativity has a chance to produce a high percentage field goal attempt. Getting into offense before the defense can establish proper player match ups also creates severe mismatches.
Most early offenses depend on quick, wide lane releases, inbound pass, and pass advance to reach the offensive operating areas before all of the defenders can retreat into the front court area. The lanes are broken down into wings, middle, trailer, and push. After initial lanes are denied by good defensive transition or poor offensive run outs, or slow inbound or outlet passes, then the "flow" becomes of the utmost importance in taking the initiative away from the defensive team.
Basic Actions
Basic Action - Pass Ahead
Basic action begins with a quick but safe outlet or inbounds pass to point O1 on the move. O1 immediately looks up the court to pass ahead to shooters O2 or O3 sprinting out on wings or to O5 flying down middle. When O1 cannot pass ahead, O1 advances the ball on a hard dribble. Shooters have green light to shoot any open shot since the defense is at a big rebounding disadvantage during transition.
If/when the early push does not create a good shot or advantage it is important to move right into the offensive flow without allowing the defense to set up.
Basic Action - Dribble Penetration
Once point O1 crosses half court, O1 looks to "Pound Cake" the ball directly inside to O5 or to pass to wing O2. Trailer O4 down screens for O3 on weakside. When O1 passes to O2, O1 screens away for shooter O3. If O2 is unable to feed post O5, O2 makes a reversal pass out to O3 coming off O4's and O1's tandem down screens.
Pressure Release
Help Option - Diagonal Cut
If/when the inbounds pass to point O1 is contested or doubled team, post O5 doubles back receiving the secondary inbounds pass from O4. O5 then looks to hit O1 on diagonal cut. O2 and O3 fill outside lanes while O4 and O5 trail.
Help Option - Both Primary and Secondary Outlets Denied
If/when both the primary and secondary receivers O1 and O5 are denied, wings O2 and O3 break back to help out. Point O1 breaks long and O4 looks to make a baseball pass to O1, leading O1 to opposite free throw circle. If the long pass to O1 is not available, O5 looks to inbound to O2 or after a made shot run along baseline and inbounds to O3. When O1 does not receive the long pass, O1 breaks to the sideline that the ball is inbounded looking for feed.
Phase 2Early Mid Screen
Early Mid Screen set gives initial early push attack a sustained flow into half-court offense without stopping and setting up. Mid Screen allows for on-ball screen action, posts ups and wing kick outs for spot up three point shots.
Primary "Go To" Player: #1 Point
Secondary "Go To" Player: #5 Post
Mid Screen. Trail O4 initiate mid screen action by setting on ball screen for O1. O1 drives hard off screen with options of penetrating, pulling up for jumper, feeding O4 on roll to basket or popping out. If O5's defender X5 should help out on O1's dribble penetration, then O1 makes a drop pass to open O5. If a wing defender sags off to help, then O1 makes a kick out pass to open shooter. Fake Baseline Cross. If mid screen action does not result in a good shot, wings O2 and O3 fake crossing on baseline, and double back off O4's and O5's base screens. O1 has options of hitting O2 or O3 coming off the base screen or dumping the ball inside to O4 or O5 if the defense should switch.
Schematic Sequence:
Go to player:
Continuity:
When the early Mid Screen set does not create a good shot or an advantage, in order to avoid any rush or panic shots as the shot clock winds down, it is important to move directly into the final phase or continuity offense
The third and final phase of the early offense involves flowing into a continuity style of play. Flowing directly into a continuity pattern without hesitation continues to prevent the defense to get set up and organized. Continuity prevents any panic or rushed shots as the shot clock winds down while allowing for the ball to get into the player's hands you want to have handling the ball and taking the shots at the end. Continuity also maintains court balance with good offensive rebounding position and 2nd efforts to take place.
Phase 3 Passing Game Continuity
The passing game or motion continuity is designed for a team of smaller, quicker players that are very athletic. The five player continuous movement opens up the middle for penetration and cuts. The passing game allows for a lot on individual offensive freedom. Since there is no precise structure, player movement is very unpredictable and difficult to defend. The passing game takes advantage of sagging type defense. Most of the shots will be face up, medium range created by setting down and base screens. There is very little posting up in the passing game. The middle is purposely kept open for drives and cuts to the basket. Any posting up that does occur is usually comes after a player sets a screen. Since shooters will most often receive the ball going away from the basket, offensive rebounding can be a problem. Offensive rebounding responsibilities and techniques must be stressed and practiced.
Down Screens.O4 and O5 set down screens for shooters O3 and O2 on baseline. Ball handler O1 has option of feeding O2 or O3 coming off the down screens or O4 and O5 posting up if the defense should switch. / Screen Away.If/when O3 receives pass from point O1, O1 and O4 screen away. Wing O3 looks to feed O5 low or shooter O2 at the top of the circle.Down Screen - Continuity / Double Screen Option
Repeat Down Screens.Any time the ball is passed out to the top of the circle, wings screen down. When the player at the point passes to wing, they set a screen for the opposite wing. / Double Screen.A double screen can be created by point passing to wing and screening down for opposite post.
Wing Isolation / Back Door vs Wing Overplay
Wing Isolation.A One-on-One wing isolations can be created at any time by the post clearing to opposite wing off O5's and O1's weakside double screen. / Back Door Action.If/when wings are over played and the pass from the point is denied, the post breaks high and wing back cuts to the basket for a backdoor feed. Post also has option of setting a back screen on wing.