One of the ways a defense can stop post entry passes is to sag the outside defenders down into the lane and post areas to give added defenders on the inside. A counter to this is for the offense to occupy the outside defenders with some type of movement so the defenders cannot play down in the lane. The back and forth counter play is what can separate good plays from bad plays.
When the defense drops additional defenders down into the paint, the offense needs a way to pull those defenders back out to the 3-point line. How can an offense get these additional defenders out away from the lane? One way is to make the defense worry about the 3-point line with some type of movement to make the defense guard the outside.
This play uses a simple flare screen to give the appearance of trying to get a guard a 3-point shot. The defense must contest the flare or give up the open 3-pointer. So, now the offense is essentially attacking two separate areas of the defense and read whether the offense is giving up the 3-point shot or the post entry pass.
This play starts in a box formation with the post players on the blocks and the wings at the elbows. One of the wings will step out and receive the initial pass. This play can be ran to either side. The post player the offense wants to receive the post entry pass is the side where the initial pass will be made.
So, in the diagram, the point(1) is passing to the forward(3) to start the play. By passing to the forward(3), the center(5) being on that same side will be the post player that will receive the post entry pass. This will help the offense in dictating who they are trying to get the ball into.
After the initial pass, the guard(2) is setting a flare screen for the point(1). The forward(3) is throwing the ball back to the point(1) as the point(1) moves away from the flare screen.
This flare screen is going to occupy all 3 of the outside defenders. The forward(3)’s defender will be guarding the ball. The point(1) and guard(2) defenders are going to be working to identify and work around the flare screen. The flare screen will leave the 2 post players having to only worry about their 2 defenders and not another outside defender coming down to help in the post.
While the play is designed to get the ball into the post, there is a great opportunity for the point(1) to get an open 3-pointer. The threat of the point(1) in shooting the 3-pointer makes the defense have to honor that threat. This helps to pull those defenders back away from the post to give the post players that additional room to work without the helping defense.
As the flare screen pass is being made, the big(4) is moving across the lane to set a post to post screen for the center(5). The point(1) reads the screen and makes an entry pass to the center(5) as they come across the lane. This gets the ball into the center(5) in a spot to be able to make a move and score the ball.
If the center(5) does not score or shoot, then the 3 outside players are getting into positions for a kick out 3-point shot. The point(1) will relocate on the wing. The guard(2) can move into a position at the top of the key. And the forward(3) will move to a spot on the opposite wing for a backside kick out 3-pointer.
The guards will move into positions so they have direct eye contact with the center(5). They will want to be in a position so the kick out pass will not get deflected. This means the forward(3) could be up near the slot or somewhere down towards the corner.
As a coach, I see too many teams making it difficult to get the ball into the post. When I have a good post player, I as a coach, want to give chances for the post player to get the ball without them having to work hard to get into a good position.
This play frees up the lane and gets a post to post screen to bring a post player to the ball without them having to work to get into good post up position. The play can give the post player a better chance at scoring because they are able to worry more about making a good move rather than getting in a good post up position.
Add this play into your playbook and your post players will be thanking you. After the post player is able to get the ball and score a couple of times, then the guards will be open on the outside for kick out 3-pointers or the point(1) will get a 3-point shot off of the flare screen.
This play puts pressure on the defense on both the inside and outside of the defense. No matter how the defense chooses to defend the play, the offense will be able to attack the defense and get a good shot quickly.
