A quick hitter is a play designed to get a good quick shot for the offense. Usually the plays are designed to get the best player in a spot to score the ball. These plays can be drawn to get any player on the team a good shot. The following quick hitter is designed to get the point guard the ball with a ball screen to get them open to create a good scoring opportunity for the offense. Keep reading for the detailed breakdown of the play.
The play starts with the center(5) at the high post. The point(1) has the ball in the slot. The big(4) is opposite the point(1) in the other slot position. The guard(2) and forward(3) are in the corners to start.
Entry Pass
The point(1) makes an entry pass to the guard(2) cutting up out of the corner. On the pass the point(1) cuts down to the ball side elbow. This entry pass can be used for timing. It gets everybody on the same page as when and how the play is starting. It also gets the point(1) in the spot needed to come back to get the ball and ball screen later in the play.
If the guard(2) is the better option as the player using a ball screen, then this entry passed can be skipped leaving the point(1) with the ball in the slot and the guard(2) in the corner. In either scenario the play continues.
High Post and X-Cuts
The guard(2) makes a pass to the center(5) at the high post. After the pass, the guard(2) and big(4) are running an X-cut off the high post. The guard(2) is cutting first and going down to the opposite block or short corner area. The big(4) is cutting 2nd over the top of the high post and running down towards the corner the point(1) is in.
The X-cut is hopefully forcing the center(5) defender to be stepping back to possibly help on the 2 cuts. This defender dropping helps to set up the ball screen that is coming next.
Pass and Ball Screen
The big(4) is coming down to the corner to set a screen for the point(1). As the point(1) comes out of the corner, there are 2 options to get the ball back to point(1).
Option 1: The center(5) passes to the point(1) and sets a ball screen.
Option 2: The center dribbles at the point(1) and does a dribble hand off.
The option to choose is whichever option is better executed by the players. Either way the ball is back in the point’s(1) hands and ready to attack.
Attack and Score
As the point(1) has the ball and turns to attack, the offense has all 5 players in a spot for a possible shot and score.
Option 1: Point(1): The point turns the corner is able to attack the rim and score with either a pullup in the lane or a layup at the basket.
Option 2: Guard(2): The guard’s(2) defender steps up to help on the drive and the point(1) is able to pass to the guard(2) for a layup.
Option 3: Forward(3): The forward’s(3) defender steps in to help and the point(1) is able to kick the ball out to the corner for the forward(3) to get an open 3-point shot.
Option 4: Big(4): The big’s(4) defender helps and the point(1) kicks the ball out to the big(4) for a shot.
Option 5: Center(5): The point(1) has the defense collapse on him on the drive and they are able to pass back behind them to the center(5).
I really like this play because it is simple with the amount of moving and passing but it is complex in the number of ways it can score. This puts the defense is a hard spot because the offense should have a chance to get an open shot no matter how the defense decides to defend the play. And if the point(1) is the offensive team’s best player, then the play is getting the ball in the best player’s hands attacking the basket. The point is then able to make the choice on what to do with the ball to give the offense the best chance to score.
