Saturday, January 24, 2015

Spurs SLOB Down Screen the Screener Set

There are not a lot of great, quick hitting, SLOB sets out there. There is only so much you can do from that spot to get quick shots for your guys. On top of that, most defensive teams sag off in a SLOB situation and force you to just inbound the ball.

One GREAT SLOB was posted by HowU the other day, and I saw the Spurs run one another one the other night against the Blazers.

The set starts in a box with your 5 on the opposite block, your 4 on the ball side block, and your 2 and 3 on the elbows. Your point or best driver takes the ball out.

The set starts with a big-big low cross screen. The ball side elbow player screens down for the screener who pops to the perimeter. On the inbounds pass, the inbounder comes off for a handoff and they play out of it from there.

If it were me, at the high school level, I would put my best shooter in the 4 spot and other post type player at the 3 spot so we could get a three point look for our shooter and then the post on the high elbow could set a ball screen for a hand off to ball screen action. But Coach Popovich has won more NBA Titles (5) than I have high school games (1) - 5x more to be exact - so what do I know?!


Hawks Quick Iso BLOB

The best thing I did so far in this new year is buy the digital version of NBA League Pass. I've been watching game after game and picking up some great Xs and Os. It's been years since I've really watched the NBA, and I've got to eat some crow. It really is good basketball, if you watch the right teams. I've been watching a lot of the Atlanta Hawks (I am glad the Pac Man logo is back) and love how they play.

Below is an inbounds set that they ran to get their point guard, Jeff Teague, a look to attack the basket. It's a really slick set if you have a great shooter and a great slasher that are not the same player.


The set starts with your driver in the ball side corner (Teague for the Hawks). Your best shooter is on the ball side elbow (Korver for the Hawks). Your have your two post players on the back side looking like they are going to screen for your shooter. The set is designed to be a mis-direction. You want everyone in the building to believe that you are looking for your shooter coming off the double. This causes everyone to focus on the shooter and the double screen action. As your shooter comes off the double, you throw the ball to your slasher in the corner who then drives the ball to the rim with everyone preoccupied with the double for the shooter.


Sunday, January 11, 2015

X's and O's from the Sanford Pentagon Classic

The Sanford Pentagon is likely the nicest basketball facility you've never been to. The Pentagon, located on the outskirts of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a true basketball palace (No offense to the Corn Palace). We were lucky enough to be invited to the Sanford Pentagon Classic - a two day shootout featuring 27 teams from South Dakota and Minnesota. We only participated on the Saturday, but there was a lot of great basketball to see. Below are some of the Xs and Os that I saw on Saturday. Lost of baseline actions into double staggered looks - was kind of a theme for the day. Anyway, onto the Xs and Os!

Flex to Double 
I've seen this set before, but like it and it was run well at the Classic. I'm not a flex offense fan, but I love sets that incorporate flex cuts because they are so hard to defend. When you couple it with a double stagger for the screener it's pretty slick.

High Post Curl to Screen the Screener Double
Set to get your point guard a three pointer. The set starts with the point guard reversing it to the opposite guard who then swings it to the wing on his side. The point sets a screen for the back side wing (3) who runs a curl cut off the guard and the post. As the wing (3) clears the screen the other guard (2) and the high post (5) set a staggered double for the 1 to come off in a screen the screener action.

Great Mis-Direction Set for a Shooter
In this set, your shooter should be at the three spot. 

Set starts in a 4 out with the wings low. The opposite guard (2) sets a ball screen for the point guard (1). The point comes off the ball screen, as he does the post (5) sets a back screen for the 3 who cuts through to the ball side short corner/block. If nothing is there, the ball side wing (4) cuts up and gets the pass. 
The point guard (1) cuts through on the pass to the 4 and fills the backside high wing.. The other guard (2) who ball screened cuts to the ball and gets the reversal and swings it to the 5 who has cut up to the slot spot. As the 5 catches the ball the 2 and 4 set a double pin down for the three man in the short corner. 

Double Curl to Back Screen to Double Down
The same team that ran the set above also ran this set for their shooter (3). I like that there's a variety of actions and then they hit give their shoulder a double down to come off of. I also love having your shooter set screens and then get screens (see what the Hawks do with Kyle Korver).

The set starts in a 1-4 high. The point guard enters to the wing opposite their shooter. The shooter (3) comes off of the two high posts and curls to the rim. The backside post (5) flairs the point guard. If nothing is there the opposite high post (5) steps out and reverses to the point on the back side wing. As the reversal is being made the wing who curled (3) sets a back screen for the other wing (2).

 As soon as the ball hits 1's hands, the 4 on 5 set the double down for the screener (3) who cuts up for a shot.





Simplistic Last Second Play from FC Barcelona

Today I got to watch FC Barcelona vs. Panathinaikos Athens in the Euroleague's Top 16 second round. If you have time ESPN 3 has a lot of Euroleague games available to watch. They are well worth your time. Lots of good coaches, good players, and some great Xs and Os. 

What I'm going to show you is a quick video clip of what FC Barcelona did at the end of the half in the game. They set up and made it look like their last second play was going to be a simple high ball screen for their point guard. At the last second, the post who looked to be setting the ball screen turned and pinned down for the corner on his side and then rolled to the basket. What ended up happing was the guy coming off the screen was wide open because his man had to protect against the roll. 

It worked great because you could see the other three defenders relax when they realized it was a high ball screen. The pin down totally caught the shooter's man off guard. It's definitely a look to keep in your back pocket for a late clock situation.