One of the things I like to do that seems to work well is changing the attacking side of the floor. This can be done using a skip pass or a ball reversal. I have taken this concept and applied to a SLOB play. This play works with any type of personnel but works better with a guard that can post up. The play isolates the guard taking the ball out of bounds in the post off of a non-conventional flex screen. This can be done using a stretch 4 or even the center taking the ball out of bounds but I like to always have the forward(3) take the ball out.
This SLOB play starts in a box formation with the guard(2) and point(1) ballside and the forward(4) and center(5) on the backside. The initial movement has the point(1) run up the lane line to catch the entry pass. The big(4) and center(5) both come across the lane to the ballside. This will help to clear the entire backside of the court.
Good defensive teams are already going to be closer to the ball to begin with so by running the big(4) and center(5) across the lane, it should leave the entire backside completely open. All 10 players will be on the frontside of the court. This makes the entry pass to the point(1) really important.
In order to attack the backside of the court, we need to get the ball from the frontside to the backside quickly. After the guard(2) screens for the point(1), they are going to run across the floor to the backside wing using a screen from the center(5).
The forward(3) enters the ball to the point(1) who then quickly reverses the ball to the guard(2) coming off the elbow screen. If the guard(2) is a good shooter, then they could have a wide open 3-point shot off of the reversal. If they are a good driver, then they could rip through and attack the basket before the flex screen happens.
While the play is designed to get the forward(3) a flex screen, this ball reversal to the guard(2) can give them enough space and time to create a good shot without the flex screen. This can be a chance to get the best player on your team the ball on one side of the court without anybody else over there to help.
The last part of the play is the flex screen by the big(4) to get the forward(3) coming across the lane open. Sometimes the in-bounds passer is the most likely player to come open on a SLOB play. By adding a flex screen, the forward’s(3) defender can get lost helping on the initial movement leaving the forward(3) wide open right at the basket.
A forward(3) who has a good post skillset can thrive with this play. Sometimes it can be hard to get a good post playing guard isolated on the inside. This SLOB play can isolate that guard in the post. I like this play even if the defense knows it is coming especially with a good post playing guard. Even if the defense knows its coming, they still have to decide on how to stop a good forward(3) post player. The help needed could open up so many other things as well.
I really like this SLOB because it does a couple of things I really like to do offensively. I like to reverse the ball before attacking the defense. I like to screen on the backside to get a player cutting towards the ball. This SLOB does both of those things. This is also a good play against a defense who likes to be aggressive in getting out in passing lanes. This lets the defense get up on the frontside of the defense because all of the action is going to take place on the backside.
