As a coach, the hardest team to defend against is a team that have the same two or three setups for BLOB plays but will have 3 or 4 movements for each setup. Everything looks the same but the actions are completely different. The same setup keeps the defense from being able to know what the play is through the scouting report. When a defense knows what is going to happen then they can overplay and get a steal.
One of the easiest ways a defense can know what is going to happen beforehand is if a team has certain players in a spot only for 1 play. When the defense can identify a play because a certain player starts in a set position, then they can jump the play and get a steal. So, to counter this an offense needs to have multiple plays from each starting position.
One of the harder things to do as a coach is to have plays where the inbounds passer is able to get back into the court with the ball and the ability to attack the basket. There are plays like BLOB #20 and BLOB #12 where the inbounds passer is coming in to a catch and shoot situation. But there are few plays that I have seen where the inbounds passer is getting the ball back and able to attack and create.
This play starts out in a 1-4 Low setup. The guards are in the corners and the bigs are on the blocks. I always have the forward(3) take the ball out. When I have a good attacking forward(3), I need ways to get them the ball and a chance to attack. By starting out in a 1-4 Low setup, this keeps the top of the court open and a place where the forward(3) can attack once they get the ball back.
The entry pass is just a lob up the lane line to the center(5). The other 3 players are staying on the baseline. This keeps everybody on the baseline except for the center(5) and their defender. This keeps the offense spaced out with shooters in the corners and a lot of open space for the forward(3) to get the ball and attack.
The forward(3) is running around the big(4) and up the lane after they throw the ball in. The screen set by the big(4) should free up the forward(3) just enough to make the DHO easier to complete. The key here is for the big(4) to make the forward’s(3) defender have to deal with a possible screen but not get called for a foul by setting a moving screen.
On the catch the center(5) is turning and taking one or two dribbles to the backside of the court. They want to meet the forward on the backside elbow. This reduction in space will not give the defender enough time to recover from the screen. It also makes it more difficult for the forward’s(3) defender to run straight up the lane and cut in-between the forward(3) and center(5).
The one or two dribbles forces the defender to move around the center(5) and the center’s(5) defender. If the defender chases then the forward(3) can catch and continue around the center(5). If the defender jumps the DHO, then the forward(3) can stop and cut back to the basket. This can be finished with either a pass or after the DHO.
As the forward(3) comes around the screen by the big(4), they are continuing to run around the center(5) for a DHO. The center(5) is making a touch pass off of a dribble or picking up their dribble and turning away from the basket to complete a flip pass back to the forward(3). Now the forward(3) has the ball and can continue around the DHO to attack the basket and defense.
As the DHO is taking place the big(4) is moving up after their screen to set a back screen for the center(5). This last back screen opens the BLOB play up to any number of scoring chances. The first scoring chance is the forward(3) getting the DHO and attacking the basket back down the lane.
The next scoring chance is the point(1) in the corner. If the point’s(1) defender steps over to help on the drive then there is the drive and kick out to the point(1). The point(1) must stay in the corner for as long as possible to keep the floor spaced well. If the point(1) comes up out of the corner to soon then it reduces the space for the forward(3) to attack.
The next option is the center(5). The center(5) has a chance for a potential lob pass right off of the back screen. Or the center(5) can continue the cut to the ballside block for an iso post pass. The forward(3), point(1) and center(5) have the chance to play a little 3-man game after the DHO and back screen. These 3 players can react to what the defense is giving them and attack the openings.
The last scoring chance is the big(4) on the pop. There is a chance the whole defense collapses back to the basket with the DHO and back screen. The dropping defense has the potential to leave the big(4) wide open on the pop right at the top of the key or in the slot.
If the offense is unable to get anything out of the play, then it sets right back up into a 4-out 1-in spacing. This setup can then turn right into a Flex Offense movement or any 4-out Motion Offenses. This lets the BLOB play work well but if it doesn’t work, then the offense can move straight into a Motion Offense like FLEX. The lack of transition from the BLOB to the Motion Offense puts a ton of pressure on the defense and never gives them time to reset. This keeps the offense moving which is very hard to guard as a defense.
