Baseline Out Of Bounds-Flex and Variations

The following is a baseline out of bounds setup from a 1-4 Low Setup with different options out of the same look and entry pass. These set of plays start with the same setup and same entry pass but then changes after the entry pass. This set of plays is designed to confuse the defense. It keeps the defense guessing what is going to happen because after the entry pass each separate play has a different way of attacking the defense. This keeps the defense from being able to play the play. As soon as the defense starts to overplay one of the plays then you as the offense can attack the defense from a different direction which should lead to some easy buckets. The play starts the same way every time.

This is the initial setup and entry pass. The setup is a 1-4 low setup. Once the ref hands the ball to the 3 man taking the ball out of bounds, the 4 man, the man right in front of the ball explodes up the lane to catch a lob pass over the defender. The 3 man will then step into the space the 4 man has left. Once the 4 man catches the ball, then the options of how to attack the defense starts.

Flex

The first play is using the flex screen. This setup can create the ability to move straight into the flex offense motion. The 4 man catches the entry pass and the 3 man steps into the block area. The 5 man comes up the lane. The 4 man passes the ball across the midline to the 5. From this point it becomes the flex offense. On the catch the 3 man sets a flex screen for the 1 man to cut across to the ball side block. If that is not open then the 4 man can set the down screen for the 3 man. If the 1 man is open then it is a pass from the 5 for a layup. If the 1 man is not open then the 3 man might be open coming off the down screen. At this point the flex offense has started. The 5 can pass the ball across to the 3 and the same flex screen to down can happen now with the 1, 2 and 5 on the opposite side of the floor. This is your basic flex offense starting from a baseline out of bounds play.

Pick and Roll

Now we start looking at the variations of the inbounds without using the flex option. The first variation is having the 5 man come up like the flex option but instead of passing across the midline with the 4 to 5 pass, the 5 man comes across to set a ball screen to the 4 man. This gives the 4 man the option to attack off of the ball screen. The 5 man pops off the screen. The 1 man now stays in the corner instead of cutting. The 4 man has the following options.

1. Attack the rim for a layup or pullup in the lane.
2. A kickout to the 2 man if his man steps over to help the drive.
3. A dump pass to the 3 man if his defender comes across to help the drive.
4. A kickout to the 1 man if the defense is good. This pass will happen if the 3 man defender steps to help the drive and 1 man defend replaces the 3 man defender on the block to prevent the layup. This will leave the 1 man open.
5. Finally the 5 man on the pop is the last option for either a 3 if the 5 man can shoot them or at least a foul line jumper is the 5 man is not a 3 point shooter.

Entry Screen

The next variation is having the 3 man cut to the backside after the entry pass. The 5 man steps into the middle of the lane to set a screen for the 3 man. On the check the 4 man checks the 2 man defender. If the defender stays out with the 2 man then the 3 man is open coming into the court. If the 2 man defender steps into the block area then a skip pass to the 2 should be there for a wide open 3.

Hand Off

The next variation is designed to get the ball into the 1 man hands because that should be the point and the best ball handler and decision maker. The pass enters into the 4. The 1 man cuts hard up out of the corner for a hand-off. The 3 man can either step into the block area or the corner depending on his offensive shot making. If the 3 man is a good 3 point shooter then he can go to the corner for a possible kickout. The 5 man can either stay or move across the lane to open the backside lane for a potential drive by the 1. If the 5 man stays then the 1 man has a pullup jumper, a kickout to the 2 man, a dump pass to the 3 or 5, and finally a back pass to the 4. If the 5 man moves across then the options for attacking are the same as the pick and roll above.

Hand Off to Ball Screen

The last variation is similar to the previous play. It is still a hand off from the 4 man to the 1 man. The 5 man comes up and sets a ball screen off the handoff. This should pull the 4 and 5 defenders away from the basket to open up the lane for the 1 man to attack the rim without any potential shot blockers. The 1 man also has the kickout to the 2 man if his defender steps down to help with the ball screen.

I have seen and scouting teams who come up with these elaborate plays that have great movement but the players can not execute because the plays are so elaborate that the timing is not there. These five plays are simple in nature. They can be designed to give the same options each time even though the movement of the offense has changed. This simplicity helps to keep your offensive players from having to think to much. These plays also creates scenarios where if a single defender messes up their assignment then you can run a variation to attack that defender. And since the same options are there with almost every play, you can design practice segments to work on each of these shots. This repetition in practice reps should create faster play and faster decision making. When I design plays, I like to try and do 2 things.

1. I want to create similar type movement so every play is designed to simplify the decision making process. I want the players to play without thinking but just reacting.
2. I want to create plays or offensive movement to create multiple scoring or shooting opportunities with multiple players. This puts pressure on all 5 defensive players. As soon as 1 defender goes to the wrong spot then that will open up a shooting chance for an offensive player.

I hope this series can help you as a coach create easy scoring opportunities and easy baskets for you and your team.