Motion Offense-Bellarmine University

Coaches should always be looking at getting better. This could be on leadership or drills or in my case yesterday seeing an offense that could translate to my team. Coaches should be always looking for different offenses or defenses that they could use for their team. After seeing Bellarmine University in a clip yesterday, I thought the movement within their motion offense was something that could work for my teams.

So I dug a little deeper and am very impressed with their overall offensive ball and player movement. They do not rely on the dribble or ball screens but rather ball movement and player movement.

In coaching high school, the ability of a coach to put an offensive system that works without having the best offensive skill players can really help a lesser team overachieve. This motion offense does that with simple ball movement and cuts.

Here is the initial breakdown of the Bellarmine offense. Make note that upon seeing the offense and starting to plot the offense out, I already started to put my own personal spin on the offense. So I will have some personal variations that I see as well as some decisions that a coach has to make as ground rules if you are going to put this offense into your program. Here is the start of the offensive motion.

Setup and Scissor Action to Start

The reason this offense caught my eye is the 4 out 1 in setup of the offense. At the start the inside player is at the Hi-Post but after the initial action this inside player is on the ballside block. To oversimplify the offense is to say it is a slight variation of the flex offense. I still use the flex offense at various times so this 4 out 1 in setup is something I am always looking for to take the standard robotic flex offense and create some more freedom of movement for the players. This offense does that.

So 4 out 1 in starts with the hi post filled and both blocks open. Once the ball enters the wing the scissor action takes place. The backside top cuts ballside off the hi post. Then the ballside top player cuts backdoor off of a screen by the hi-post player for a possible lob pass over the top of the defense.

By raising the defense where all the offensive players are above the free throw line this creates an easy layup for either cutter if they come open. If neither cutter comes open off the scissor action then the hi-post pops out and the backside wing rotates to the top with the lob cutter replacing out to the wing.

Thoughts and Ideas

Using the first two diagrams above, I would look at trying to place a couple of players into certain spots. This may be achieved by just setting up that way or having an interchange before the cuts.

4-man

I would look at putting my best back to the basket post up player in this position to start. That way they are going to have a chance to get a post entry first in the offense. This will also guarantee they get a chance to post up every possession.

1-man

This position would either be filled by my leaper/dunker if I have one or by my best dribble driver. The leaper/dunker has a chance right off the bat every possession to get a lob dunk. This also means I need to have my best passer at the 2 spot.

For a high school team that does not see many dunks during games, this can be a huge momentum boost. So that may be an adjustment during the game for a possession to try and get that dunk when needed.

Most of the time I would put my best dribble driver in the 1 spot. This is because if the scissor action does not get a basket then the ball should reverse to the 1 man on the backside. If the 1 man can rip and attack the baseline quickly then there should not be any helpside defenders. The only defender that could rotate to help on the 1 man drive is the 4 man on block which then should lead to an easy pass to the 4 man and layup.

So I would put my best offensive post player in the 4 position. My best passer in the 2 spot. And my best driver in the 1 spot.

Flex and Double Away and Flex Cut

After the ball reverses to the 1 man then the 4 man sets a flex screen for the 2 man. This is now basically a flex style offense if you want it to be. After the flex cut then the top two players can either double screen away to the screen. This is the 3 and 5 screening for the 4 man. Depending on positioning this may turn into a single screen or no screen and just 3 and 5 cutting away and the 4 man flashing high off his flex screen. The ball will then reverse to the other side. And the 1 man will then run a flex cut off of the 2 man flex screen. The 3 and 4 will then go set the double screen away for the 2 man flashing to the top.

At this point the offense becomes repeatable. If you wanting to you could run a double screen away flex cut offense until something comes open. However, the variations is what makes this offense really good. The ability of the players to read each other and take the openings the defense gives is what makes this offense potentially so dangerous. The different variations and cuts that can be made are endless and puts that much more difficult to guard.

Variation #1-Double Away Slip Screen

As I am drawing up plays or scouting teams, I am always looking for that adjustments or variations that can occur. The first variation I immediately thought of was using a slip screen off the double away screen. In the last two pictures above this is the slip screen I am looking at. After running the flex screen double screen away then you can add the slip screen to hopefully catch the defense sleeping. If you are adding little variations then you need to be able to make sure the continuity of the offense does not get messed up. So the last picture in the above group shows the 3 man slip the double but then every player just replaces the spots above and the 3 man now becomes the last man filling the wing.

Variation #2-Ballside Cut

Another simple variation is changing the cutter. Instead of the flex cut from the opposite side, the cuts can come from the typical double screen. As the ball is reversed, the flex screen then the double screen happens.

Now the change or variation is the double screen and flex cut all change their direction. The 1 man and 4 man would normally set the double but in this case they both start away and then cut to the front side of the basket. The 1 man cuts all the way through to the opposite corner if he does not get the ball.

Then the 4 man follows behind staying on the block. The 2 man starts toward the flex cut but changes his run to the spot left by the 1 man. The 5 man who was the flex screener now replaces up into the spot left by the 4 man. If everybody cuts and goes to the correct spot then the offense can continue without any interruption. Again this is a simple change but can catch a defense getting lazy with the repetition of the normal offense. These little variations can catch defenses getting lazy which can lead to easy baskets.

General Rules needed for Continuity

Post Entry

With the option for a post entry every reversal, you need rules in place for what the movement is going to be after the ball enters the post. Bellarmine University has the passer cut through the lane to the backside and everybody else on the outside rotates behind the cutter. This can lead to give and go layups or a kick out 3 from the rotation. Bellarmine does not shoot a bunch of 3’s so it makes a lot of sense this is what they do. It gives them a good option for another layup.

The other option is having the passer relocate hoping for a double down by the defense and a kick out by the post player. This option is good if the outside players are good set shooters. I had a team where 3 players were good shooters with their feet set but could not shoot on the move. So I wanted them set and stationary when the ball entered the post. If no double down came then the post man had to score the ball. Once the post scored a couple of baskets then the double would come and the shooters would be set waiting on the kick out.

Decide on which option you like best or which option would work best for your players.

Dribble Ats

A dribble at is where a player dribbles at a teammate and not into the interior of the defense. Once the dribble starts then the player that the dribble is coming at needs to get out of the way to make room for the dribble. So how is the play going to move?

Option #1-Backdoor Cut

Option #1 is having the player cut to the basket and out the backside. Everybody on the outside rotates behind the basketball. If the dribbler can go right at the next defender then hopefully the defender freezes on the help and the backdoor cutter is open going right towards the basket. Again this is the option Bellarmine uses. Again they do not shoot a bunch of 3’s. They look to constantly attack the interior of the defense for easy layups.

Option #2-Loop Behind

The 2nd option is the loop behind. Again the dribbler goes at the next defender and as the dribbler gets closer the next offensive player goes behind the dribbler. This loop action can get wide open 3’s or gives enough space for the looper to turn the corner and attack the defense with another drive.

Conclusion

This offense caught my eye yesterday and I decided to break it down quickly. I am going to go diving deeper into the offense Bellarmine runs and the rules that Coach Scott Davenport has in place to keep the offense moving when the players get out of sync.

From what I can see, it is a great offense that can easily translate to the high school game. It is not reliant on great shooters or the dribble drive. This gives a team a good offense with players that may have limited skills. This can be said about a bunch of high school teams. If the skill level of the players increase then some variation can be introduced to take advantage of that increased skill set.

This offense puts a bunch of pressure on all defenders to stay engaged and in the right position. If one defender gets lazy or lost then the offense can take advantage of that defender and get a cutter headed to the basket for an easy layup. I do know I will be looking for some Bellarmine games on TV so I can watch them. If you are in or around Louisville during basketball season then it looks like tickets are $8 for an adult.