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Archives by Tag 'Quick Hitters'

3 Proven Offensive Sets to Produce Quick-Hitting Shots

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

In need of a few proven last-second sets for your playbook this season? Read on to learn about three highly-effective plays used by elite coaches at the high school and college levels.

Angle Box Set Quick Hitter

Submitted by Brad McGhee, Liberty High School, Mountain View, MO

Setup: Players are lined up in a box formation with 4 and 5 at the elbows and 2 and 3 on the low blocks. 1 has the ball at the top.

Action: Player 1 dribbles off a screen set by either 4 or 5. Player 5 then immediately screens down for 2, who comes off the screen and pops to the top. If 2 is open, 1 passes to 2 for an open three-point shot.

Options: If 2 is not open, 1 keeps the ball. After the screen by player 5, player 3 then screens across for 5, who cuts across the baseline/lane and sets up on the ballside block. Player 1 then looks for 5 on a post-up shot. If 5 isn’t open on the post-up, 3 comes to the top thanks to a double screen set by 2 and 4 just inside the free throw line area. 1 passes to 3 or looks to get the ball into 5 on the low block.

Quick Hitter Out of the Flex Set

Submitted by Gary Williams, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Setup: This play is run out of the flex set, with 2 and 3 down low on opposite blocks, 4 up high behind the three-point line near the wing, and 5 on the elbow and the same side as 3. 1 has the ball up top.

Action: Player 5 makes a V-cut toward basket and sets an on-ball screen for 1, who dribbles to the right side wing area. Players 5 and 1 run a pick and roll game on the right side, while 2 and 4 set staggered screens for 3 on the ballside low block and the weakside elbow. Player 3 will then cut hard along the baseline and up towards the weakside elbow.

Finish: If no shot is available on the pick and roll between 1 and 5, 1 quickly passes to 3 on weakside elbow for a quick jumper.

High

Submitted by Gary Barnes, Calhoun HS, Calhoun, GA

Setup: This is a simple set that Coach Barnes has had a ton of success with. Player 1 brings up the ball on the left side of the floor. Player 4 starts in the corner and on the same side as 1. 2 is in the opposite corner. Players 3 and 5 line up in the middle of the court, with 5 at the top of the key, and 3 just inside the three-point line (and both in a stack). Player 3 should be your best shooter.

Action: Player 1 dribbles off a double screen up at the top of the key set by 3 and 5. As 1 comes off the shoulder of player 5, 5 rolls to the hoop on the ball side. As player 5 establishes his position in the post, player 3 then makes an inside pivot and pops to the top of the key. 1 can look to hit player 3 for a three-point shot.

Options: At this point, 1 has four options coming off the ball screen. A) Drive and kick to player 2; B) Drive to basket for a score; C) Play a pick and roll game with player 5; or D) Pass to player 3 for a three-point shot.

Tips: Timing is the key. As 5 rolls, 3 must wait a half second before popping to the top. Most times, 3 will be open for that shot because player 3’s defender often gets caught playing help defense on the pick and roll between 1 and 5.

Coaches: Do you have a favorite quick hitter that has worked for your team?

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “”Over 50 Game-Winning Quick Hitters” produced by Winning Hoops. To pick up more plays for your playbook, head over to our basketball library by clicking here.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: Basketball Coach Newsletter, Issue #50, Quick Hitters, special situations & inbounds plays, Winning Hoops

A Pair of Game-Winning Quick Hitters Featuring NCAA Tournament Teams

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, March 21, 2012

With March Madness in full swing, buzzer beaters and last-second shots are a common sight across the college basketball landscape. Pick up a pair of proven game-winning quick hitters submitted by two of this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament participants. The first play is effective against man defense and submitted by Jim Calhoun of UConn, while the second play is a dual-option by VCU using the 1-4 high set.

Power vs. Man Defense

Submitted by Jim Calhoun, UConn, Storrs, CT

The Set-up: This play has been a top need play for Coach Calhoun in previous seasons. 1 brings up the ball and in this scenario, starts on the left side of the floor. 3 is on the opposite wing. 4 is at the free throw line. 5 is on the left low block and 2 is on the weakside/right low block. 5 should be your best low post scorer. 2 should be your best overall scorer.

The Action: 1 makes a dribble entry on the left side. He dribbles to the three-point line between the top of the key and wing. 1 then changes direction on the dribble and comes off a screen set by 4 at the top of the key. 1 then dribbles to the center of the top of the key. 2 sets a cross-screen for 5 in the lane, who rolls across the lane looking for the entry pass from 1. 3 reads the defense and either slides out top or cuts toward the baseline on the right side.

The Finish: After setting the cross-screen in the lane for 5, 2 pauses for a moment under the rim and then rolls hard off a downscreen set by 4. 2 curls to the left side elbow. 3 still reads the defense and slides either up or down depending on the help defense. 1 passes to either 5 in the low post or 2 at the left elbow for an open jumper. After setting the downscreen for 2, 4 gets into good position for a rebound.

Dual-Option 1-4 High Set Play

Submitted by Mack McCarthy, former head coach at VCU, Richmond, VA

The Set-Up: 1 starts out with the ball up top and center. 2 is on the right wing. 3 is on the left wing. 4 is on the right elbow and 5 is on the left elbow.

The Action: 1 makes a dribble entry to the right wing while 2 cuts through to the basket and to the opposite wing with the help of a weakside backscreen by 5 at the low block. 2 clears to the opposite wing area. 4 slides over and sets a screen for 3 cutting to the basket. 1 looks to hit 3 on the cut and 4 rolls to the top of the key after the screen.

Based on the current positioning (1 on the right wing, 4 up top, 2 on the left wing, 5 on the farside low block and 3 on the near low block), here are a few options:

Option A: 1 passes to 4 while 3 slides over and sets a cross screen for 5 breaking over to the ballside low post. 4 passes back to 1 and breaks to set a down screen for 3, who pops up to the top of the key. 1 looks to pass to 5 in the low post or to 3 popping free for a jumper at the top of the key.

Option B: 1 passes to 4, while 5 slides over and sets a cross screen for 3 cutting across the lane. 4 quickly swings the ball over to 2. 5 rolls to the top of the key. 2 can now either shoot a three-pointer, pass to 3 on the ballside low post, or hit 5 at the top of the key.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “”Over 50 Game-Winning Quick Hitters” by Winning Hoops. To discover even more plays for your playbook, head over to our basketball library by clicking here. Got a favorite quick hitter that has worked for your squad?

Filed in Basketball • Tags: Quick Hitters, special situations & inbounds plays, Winning Hoops

Two Dynamic Quick-Hitting Zone Plays with Tom Izzo

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

In this week’s team development feature, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reveals some of his favorite zone quick-hitting plays. These special situation plays – perfect for quick baskets or change-of-pace looks – have been used with great success by Michigan State over the years. Coach Izzo first breaks down each play before getting players to run through them with a ghost defense and then eventually 5-on-5.

Overview

Remember, these are just quick-hitting plays. They aren’t actual zone plays run to get continuity. We start in a 1-2-2 or 1-3-1 set in our basic offense. For these plays, if we start in a 1-2-2, we can get into the 1-3-1 pretty quickly by flashing the left low player up to the foul line area.

Rule: Never have the point guard and high post player in a tandem.

1-3-1 Special

The 1-3-1 Special can be done two different ways, especially if you have a good point guard shooter or a good 4-man shooter. We will enter the ball to the right-side wing. If we want the shot for our point guard, we call out “Special For Me” and the player taps his chest. The point guard will then run down to the block and post up.

The flash player will now pop out at the top of the key lane extended. The opposite wing player will now rotate up almost lane extended. Next, as the wing player with the ball is looking in down low for the PG, he will then reverse it around the key and the PG will cut baseline and into the opposite corner.

The remaining low-post player will set a screen down low for the PG (if the player fights over the pick, he should step into the middle man in the lane). The PG then receives the pass in the corner and hits the shot.

Adjustments

If the PG isn’t a great shooter, he should make the pass to the wing and then step away to the opposite side of the key. Now, the 4-man (or flasher) will run baseline for the corner shot.

As for the low-block screener, his job is to read the bottom guy in the zone because the zone has been shifted. If he steps out, then you must step into that middle guy. You can look to receive a pass from the guy up top, so be aware. Otherwise, we can hit the 4 in the corner, or the 4 can receive the pass and then pass it down to the low-block player for a layup.

Key: Look to get a quality shot off within 10 seconds.

1-3-1 Double

Here’s another quick-hitter called 1-3-1 Double. To begin, the sleeper player starts out down low on the right block. The PG then passes to the right wing player. The PG goes through and posts up down low on the block. The player in the middle now pops out to the top of the key and the wing player with the ball dribbles down to the corner to shift the entire zone.

Next, the opposite-side wing player will now come down and set a double pick with the other low post player. The player with the ball passes back to the player up top, and then the PG down low cuts baseline and right off the double screen to the opposite wing. Finally, the top screener flashes to the top of the lane, and the low screener goes for the lob. You have three solid options here.

Note: Most zones try to get you to pass the ball around the perimeter, so if the ball gets into the middle of a zone defense, we are in business.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “Tom Izzo’s Basketball Smorgasboard of Drills and Basketball Wisdom.” Check out our entire Tom Izzo/Michigan State DVD catalog by clicking here.

Filed in Basketball • Tags: BasketballCoach eNewsletter, Michigan State Basketball, Quick Hitters, Tom Izzo, Zone Offense

Breaking Down 6 Effective Quick-Hitting Pick & Roll Plays

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2011

This week’s drill breakdown features six useful pick & roll plays designed for quick baskets. The “quick-hitters” were submitted by Vonn Read, who has worked as an assistant basketball coach at the University of Kentucky and University at Albany. The plays demonstrated below all begin on the left side of the basketball court, however, can easily be switched to the right side with just a few adjustments.

Play A

The Set-Up: In Play A, the 1 guard starts on the left side and dribbles off of 4’s high screen at the top of the arc. Following the pick, 4 then rolls off into the left corner. The 5 player, who started out on the right low block, sets a high screen for the 3 player, who was at the top of the key just to the right.

The Finish: The play finishes by the 1 guard passing to 4 in the corner or 3 in the low post for a backdoor layup.

Play B

The Set-Up: In Play B, the 1 guard starts on the left side of the court and then dribbles off of 4’s high pick at the top of the arc. Following his screen, 4 then rolls off to the left. The 3 player moves from the right wing of the court and into the near corner. Then, 5 starts out on the low right block before setting a high screen for the 2 guard, who was in the right corner to start. The 2 guard then cuts backdoor toward the basket.

The Finish: The play finishes by the 1 guard passing to 4 in the corner or 2 for the backdoor layup.

Play C

The Set-Up: In Play C, the 1 guard starts on the left side and dribbles off the high screen set by 5. 5 then sets another screen under the basket near the baseline, this time for 3, who had started out in the right corner. Now, 3 is running the baseline. The 4 player comes up from the right low block and sets a screen for the 2 guard up high. The 2 guard, who had started out at the top of the key, then cuts to the off-side right wing.

The Finish: The play finishes by the 1 guard passing to 3 in the left corner/baseline or to 2 for a long jumper on the wing.

Play D

The Set-Up: In Play D, the 1 guard starts out on the left side and dribbles right off of a high screen set by 5. Then, 5 moves into the lane and sets a pick for 3 under the basket. 3 started out on the right low block before running baseline to the left corner. Meanwhile, 4 starts out on the right low block as well before setting a high screen at the top of the key for 2. The 2 guard then cuts to the right wing off of the pick.

The Finish: The play finishes by the 1 guard passing to 3 for a 15-foot jumper in the corner or passing to the 2 guard for a 3-point attempt. This play is similar to Play C, but this time the players are starting out in different spots on the court.

Play E

The Set-Up: In Play E, the 1 guard starts out on the left side and dribbles off of a high pick set by 5. 5 then sets another pick, this time for 3 on the left low block. 3 is now running baseline after starting out on the weakside low block. Meanwhile, 4, who started out beyond the arc on the right side, sets a high screen for 2, who moves from the top of the key to the right wing.

The Finish: 4 then cuts into the lane off of the high screen and the 1 guard hits 4 while he’s cutting into the lane.

Play F

The Set-Up: In play F, the 1 guard dribbles off 5’s high pick up top and 1 cuts to the right towards the top of the key. After the screen, 5 then rolls to the left corner/baseline area. 4 then cuts from the weakside low block to the center of the lane.

The Finish: The play finishes by 1 passing to 5 for a short jumper on the baseline or by passing to 4 who is cutting into the lane.

These plays are featured in Championship Productions’ DVD “50 Game-Winning Quick Hitters.” To see similar DVD collections featuring basketball drills and plays, click here.