A SLOB or sideline out of bounds can create plays and opportunities to score using the entry pass as a part of the play. Sometimes the goal is to just get the ball inbounds but sometimes a team can use a SLOB to try and score.
A team trying to score could be for a few different reasons. One reason is the end of the quarter or game. There is little time so a play can be ran to try and get a good shot before the end of the quarter or game.
Another reason and this is something that is not used everywhere but the NBA and woman’s college basketball can advance the ball after a timeout. This is something that is not used currently in high school as far as I know but could possibly be coming up in the future. Being able to advance the ball is something that would make SLOB plays even more important.
This SLOB play starts in a line formation with the post players stacked at the elbow and the guards stacked on the block. The guard(2) starts the play by curling around the post players. This is not designed to get an entry pass and shoot. It is simply moving players around to get into position for when the ball does come into play.
As the guard(2) curls around the post players, the point(1) is following and curling around the post players as well. Again, this is not trying to score but to just move the defense and get players into the spots they need to be for the secondary action.
Even though these two curl cuts are not being used to score the ball, the curl cuts could have the defense chasing around the post players leaving a lob pass open to the guard(2) as the point(1) starts to follow on the curl cut. If both defenders of the guard(2) and point(1) are chasing behind their matchup, it could leave the guard(2) curl wide open with no defender around the basket.
As the guard(2) and point(1) curl around the post players, the big(4) waits for both guards to clear before stepping out to receive the entry pass. This entry pass is to get the ball where it needs to be. This is just a simple out cut to get the ball in-bounded in the court.
The forward(3) is following the entry pass to get a handoff pass from the big(4). This puts the ball into the forward(3)’s hand at the top of the key. This gets the ball at the top of the key and in the hands of a player used to having the ball on the outside. Again this is working on getting players in the right spots for the play to work.
As the forward(3) gets the ball, there is actions on both sides to get the defense moving. After the handoff, the big(4) is running to the block. The center(5) is setting a screen to occupy the big(4)’s defender.
On the other side, the point(1) is running into the middle of the lane and stopping. The guard(2) is setting a screen for the point(1). This screen is working on getting the defender caught behind the screen freeing up the point(1). Or it wants the defender to overreact and really sprint and chase the point(1) into the lane.
Everything up to this spot in the play is working on getting the defense moving while the offense is getting in position. Now everything is set up and the play has already started to work on the defense in trying to get them out of position. Now the offense can make the final action and get a good wide open shot.
With the point(1) in the middle of the lane and the forward(3) having the ball at the top of the key, the floppy action of the play is ready. The point(1) is reading their defender to decide whether to use the double screen by the big(4) and center(5) or cut back where they just were using the single screen by the guard(2). The point(1) gets to read the defender and cut in either direction to get open.
The forward(3) watches the point(1) and follows them using one or two dribbles to get them the pass when they come off the screen. The forward(3) has to deliver the pass right as the point(1) is clearing the screens so the defense does not have time to recover.
Final Thoughts
The floppy action is slowly becoming one of my favorites. It allows the players to read and react rather than have a set route. The defense can not overplay because the floppy action gives two directions for the play to work. A defense who tries to jump passing lanes will take off in one direction too soon giving the offense a counter. A defense who is slow will give up open shots with the point(1) getting basically a triple screen if they do not pause in the lane.
The floppy action is great and using a SLOB to get into the action is a great way for an offense to put pressure on a defense on every possession. Defenses will have breakdowns and an attacking offense will help cause breakdowns. A floppy action is a great attacking movement that gives a great player a chance to get open by reading the defense and moving to a side where the defense is not.
This is a great play to install and run every chance you get. This is also a great play to tuck away and use it when it is needed. Plays like this one that can be used for a number of different situations is always a great play to have in the playbook.
