This is a quick action baseline out of bounds play to get a guard coming around the court getting a hand off right into a ball screen to free them up to attack the basket for an easy layup. The hand off and ball screen should remove the guarding defender from the player to give them the space needed to get an open shot attempt.
The setup is a 4 low BLOB setup. The post players are on the block with the guards in the corners. The entry pass is a lob pass to the big(4) going straight up the lane line. The catch needs to be as close to the 3-point line as possible. This will give the spacing for the main action of the play. The point(1) needs to have as much space as possible to stretch the defense out and attack.
The catch of the inbounds pass by the big(4) starts the 2nd action of the play. The timing is most important for the play to work. The point(1) and center(5) need to be moving in unison with each other. If the timing is off, then the screen either will not work or the center(5) has a high chance to get called for a moving screen foul. This play should be run numerous times in practice so the point(1) and center(5) can get their timing down.
The point(1) is sprinting up around the 3-point line to take a hand-off pass by the big(4). The key is the center(5) being in the spot to set the ball screen without the point(1) having to stop or slow down. This gives the point(1) the best chance to escape their defender and attack downhill to the basket.
Their are 3 really good scoring chances on this play.
- The point(1) gets the hand-off and comes off the ball-screen for a wide open layup.
- The forward(3) steps into the block after throwing the entry pass. As the point(1) attacks the basket, the forward’s(3) defender steps up to help leaving the forward(3) open for the easy pass and layup.
- The guard’s(2) defender steps into the lane to help on the drive leaving the guard(2) wide open for a corner kickout 3-point shot.
The guard(2) should be the best shooter on the team. The play should get either a layup or a kick out 3-point shot if everything works as it should. Against a good defensive team, the guard defender will be over on the lane line in good help side defense position. This leaves that kickout 3-point shot as a great counter to a good defensive team.
Sometimes the simplest plays with the least amount of movement are the most effective. This play does not have a lot of moving parts but with good timing it becomes hard for the defense to defend. The key is the speed of the point(1), big(4) and center(5) coming up off the baseline. Quick cuts off the baseline creates the separation needed for the play to work. And combining this play with others using a very similar setup can be found following the link to give the offense multiple options using the same formations.
