Basketball Plays | Championship Productions Blog

3 Last-Second Plays to Deliver Your Team a Victory

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Touchdown Full-Court Score

Submitted by Greg Bass, Head Boys Coach, Sparta High School, Sparta, Illinois

Don’t be desperate for a score in the final seconds even if you find yourself 94 feet from the basket. This play frees up a player for a long pass and gives your team a shot before time runs out.

The Set-Up: 1 should be your best passer and takes the ball out of bounds beneath the opposite basket. 4 starts out on the near block while 2 is on the opposite low block. 3 starts out at the top of the key and 5 is a few feet behind him.

The Action: 4 runs to the top of the key to set a screen for 3. 3 then uses the pick to get open on the near side corner. Meanwhile, 5 moves toward the wing area of the far three-point arc and sets a pick for 2. 2 uses the screen to go long.

The Finish: 1 hits 2 in stride with a long pass. Depending on how much time is left on the clock, 2 looks to take an open jumper or drive to the hoop, even if there’s another defender back deep.

Bama Back Door from 1-4

Submitted by David Offerle, Basketball Coach at Arlington High School, Arlington, Tennessee

This play utilizes a backdoor cut from a 1-4 set to provide the offense with a close-in shot at the basket.

The Set-Up: 1 starts out with the ball at the top of the key. Meanwhile, 3 and 2 are situated on the opposite wings just beyond the three-point arc. 4 and 5 begin on the opposite elbows of the free throw line.

The Action: 1 passes to 2 on the wing. 1 then closes the gap with 2 and receives a quick pass back. All the while, 4 springs to the ball-side corner and 3 steps to the weakside elbow. Next, 1 dribbles toward the free throw line area and 3 steps out hard before cutting backdoor.

The Finish: As 1 makes his move to the free throw line, he hits 3 with a pass after the quick step-out and then backdoor move.

Side Box 2

Submitted by Tim Trotter, Head Boys Coach, Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro, Texas

This play is perfect for a quick and close basket with less than two seconds on the clock.

The Set-Up: 4 takes the ball out of bounds on the sideline. 2 begins on the near low block while 1 is on the far low block. 5 and 3 start out on the opposite elbows of the free throw line, with 3 being on the far elbow.

The Action: The play begins when 5 sets a down screen for 1 in the lane. Meanwhile, 2 breaks to the near corner and 3 pops out toward half court. 1 uses the pick and loops around to the three-point line near the top of the key. Then, after setting the initial screen, 5 turns to receive a lob pass.

The Finish: 4 fakes to a decoy and then lobs a pass to 5 right at the rim for a close-range basket.

The previous plays can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD titled “Over 50 Game-Winning Last Second Plays” produced by Winning Hoops. For more play-specific videos, check out our exclusive catalog here.

Filed in Basketball • Tags: Basketball, Basketball DVDs, Basketball Plays, Basketball Videos, Last-Second Plays

4 Game-Winning In-Bound Plays Used by the Pros

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Whether it be at the end of a quarter, following a timeout or the last seconds of a game, the need for a quick basket stemming from an in-bound situation occurs quite often.

With the execution and implementation of these plays, teams at every level can develop a vast playbook of in-bound options and improve their pressure situation scoring chances. The plays — which were executed in NBA games during the 2008-09 season — are set up from various spots on the court and provide options for every player on the floor.

Boston Need 3

The Set-Up: In this play, the 1 player starts out with the ball on the sideline. Meanwhile, the 4 and 5 players line up on the opposite elbows of the free throw line and 2 and 3 line up on the opposite blocks below the basket.

The Action: From this set, 4 and 5 both set picks on the low blocks for 2 and 3. Then, 2 and 3 flare up to the top of key on opposite sides. The first pass goes to 2 at the top. Next, 3 sets a pick for 2 and 2 dribbles around the screen to the right side. As this is happening, 1 sprints to the far corner. 5 then sets a screen in the lane for 1, who cuts baseline and around the pick to the far corner, setting a diversion. Next, 4 sets a pick at the free throw line for 3. Using that screen, 3 cuts around and flares out beyond the three-point arc.

The Finish: Using the screen from 4, 3 flares out and takes the pass from 2 for the open three-point field goal.

Orlando Need 3

The Set-Up: As 3 takes the ball out on the sideline, 5, 1, 4 and 2 are lined up in order across the free throw line. The best shooter on the floor should take the role of the 2 guard.

The Action: The play gets underway as 5 sets a pick on 1’s man at the line and 1 pops out to the top of the key and has the option for the three-pointer following a pass from 3. If 1 doesn’t have an open look, 3 and 5 then set a double screen for 2, who loops around and heads to the near corner after using the double picks to get open. 4 serves as a decoy on this play and simply loops around the players at the free throw line and runs to the far corner of the court.

The Finish: 1 takes the open three-pointer from the top of the key OR passes to 2 in the corner for the long jumper opened up thanks to the double screen.

Utah Starburst

The Set-Up: 3 will in-bound the ball on this play. Meanwhile, 1 starts out under the basket and 5 is at the free throw line. 2 begins on the far side wing and 4 is stationed at the top of the key.

The Action: The play gets underway when 5 sets a pick in the paint for 1, who sprints up to the top of the key. Meanwhile, 4 sets a pick for 2 on the far wing. 2 uses the pick and sprints around the defense and into the near corner.

The Finish: 2 takes the pass from 3 in the corner and has the open three-point chance. The second option is for 3 to jump right into the play and position himself for a shot just beyond the three-point arc. After 2 gets the ball in the corner, the player makes a quick touch pass back to 3 on the near wing for the long-distance chance.

Chicago Need 2

The Set-Up: 1 begins with the ball on the sideline. 4 and 5 start out on opposite blocks below the hoop. 3 is in the near corner and 2 is at the top of the key.

The Action: The play gets started when 3 runs hard to the ball and cuts toward half court looking to get open. Meanwhile, 4 and 5 both set foul line screens for 2, who flares to the corner. Most likely, the double screen will force the defense to switch and that frees up 5.

The Finish: 5 receives the pass from 1 as he’s cutting back toward the hoop and has the option to drive to the lane or pull up for the jumper.

These four in-bound plays are featured in Championship Productions’ DVD “25 Game-Winning In-Bound Plays From the Pros.” Check out additional play-oriented videos in our extensive basketball catalog.