Throughout time, there have been a total of eight basic plays in basketball. In our first article, we discussed the Two-Step rule for receiving the basketball. This article is the beginning of a series of articles covering the eight-basic fundamental plays of basketball. You better bookmark and return often to keep abreast of each new addition to this subject.
Table of Plays
- PLAY #1 (one-on-One)
- PLAY #2 (Give and Go)
- PLAY #3 (Pick and Roll)
- PLAY #4 (Pick Opposite)
- PLAY #5 (Scissors Cut)
- PLAY #6 (Cut Through)
- PLAY #7 (Shallow Cut)
- PLAY #8 (Guard Around)
The most common three-on-three play in basketball is splitting the post, scissoring off the post, or first cutter and second cutter. This play utilizes an inside screen and a rear screen. It involves the high post man and both guards, or a medium pivot player with a forward and guard on the ball side of the court.
The high pivot man moves into a position in the outer half of the free throw circle. As he reaches the position, the ball is passed to him by either guard. The pivot man moves toward the ball, catching the ball with both feet in the air and landing on both feet simultaneously and facing mid-court, his back to the basket, with well balanced foot spread. In this manner either feet can be the pivot foot. This player should be extremely protective of the ball. it’s a good idea to tuck the ball under his chin and spread the elbows wide. It’s most always crowded in this area. Hesitating slightly, the passer cuts first following his pass, cutting close off the pivot man. The second guard cuts closely behind the moving first cutter in the opposite direction, timing his cut so that his defender is impeded in the crossing maneuver.
Scissor 1 - Basic Movement
This play involves two guards 1 and 2 and the center, 5. Guard 1 passes to 5, cutting to the outer half of foul circle and cuts to the right. Player 2 fakes a step toward the right, then cuts to the left. The passer is always the first cutter, going to the outside of the pivot. The other cutter cuts behind the first cutter in a scissors movement.
Scissor 2 - Basic Movement (used with a shot over double screen)
Player 5 receives a pass from player 2, who moves in his normal scissors movement to the outside of his pass. Teammate 1 fakes a cut to his left and completes the scissors. Defender 1 slides back behind offensive player 2 to negate the effectiveness of 2's cut. Teammate 1 stops, receives a pass from teammate 5 and shoots an 18 foot jump shot over the double screen set by teammates 2 and 5.
Rule: Pivot players must always catch the ball with both feet off the floor and land simultaneously on both feet comfortably spread. This way, either foot can be the pivot foot. Also, they should pass with both feet on the floor.
The pivot player must be quick to read the defensive reactions to determine whether the first cutter, or the second cutter, will be in the better scoring position. Also, he must be aware of his own defender’s reaction.
After handing off to either guard, the pivot player should step toward the basket with the foot to the side of his hand-off and move quickly toward the basket. This step opens his body toward the ball side, allowing a quick return pass if his defender switches to the cutter. It also brings him into good rebounding position in case the cutter, or man in possession of the ball shoots.
It is easy to neutralize opponent’s defensive tactics used to upset the scissoring action by using optional splitting the post maneuvers. Some defensive post players will overplay to the side where the play is initiated, expecting the second cutter, who will come this way to receive the pass. The post defender can step in and draw the charge. The offensive pivot player should see this defensive shift with a slight turn of the head and peripheral vision. A good fake handoff and a drop step with the foot opposite the defenders position and a one bounce dribble will usually get the post player an easy layup.
Scissor 3 - Basic Movement (Shows pivot technique)
Player 2 has passed to 5 and started his cut. The pivot man, 5, observes his defender move to the right in anticipation of 2's cut. Upon seeing this defensive manuever, teammate 1 delays his cut. Player 5 pivots on his right foot and steps toward the basket with a long left stride. He may either (1} dribble in for a lay-up or (2) take a jump shot.
Many guard defenders in a scissors attack will drop back about a step in front of the post player and switch on the crossing guards. To neutralize this tactic, the second cutter can change direction immediately after starting his cut behind his teammate and go through on the same side of the first cutter. Or the first cutter can stop in front of a defender on the same side as he passed instead of crossing, and the second cutter can stop behind the double screen formed by the post player and other guard for a medium range jump shot.
Scissor 4 - Movement (When defenders anticipate and switch prematurely)
Player 2 passes to 5 and cuts outside his pass. Teammate 1 starts his cut behind 2 and sees that 2's defender has stopped following 2 and that his own defender will pick up teammate 2. Player 1 immediately changes direction and cuts on the same side as the pivot as did his teammate.
The scissors movement can also be used by a medium pivot, the forward and a guard on the ball side of the floor. Usually, the forward makes the pass into the pivot and cuts first with the guard timing his cut behind the forward. This action opens up many good shooting opportunities. If the forward receives the handoff pass as the first cutter he is in excellent range for a short fake and jump shot. The guard cutting behind the forward, is also in good short jump shooting range if the defense drops back, and the guard could also continue in to the basket for a lay-up.
The pivot should step to the basket opening up toward the ball. He will have inside position if his defender switches. Many shooting opportunities for step-away one-handers, hook shots, or turn-around jumpers may be available to the pivot player.
Rule: It is important that the two players not involved in these maneuvers, lure their defenders away from the point of attack and retreat so that good defensive balance is maintained should the ball be intercepted or possession is lost in the rebounding action.
Scissor 5 - Movement (Using the center by a guard and forward)
First, forward 3 passes into the pivot, 5, and cuts to the outside of his pass. Next, teammate 1, the guard fakes and cuts off 3's movement.
Coach McCutchan spent 10 minutes every day perfecting the many and varied scoring opportunities this play presents. It was always one of his stations around the court we use to begin each practice. It is a good idea to start early in the season with no defense, then add defenders soon as players understand the varied scoring opportunities. Practice 3 against 3 and 5 against 5 as well, always stressing defensive balance of the court.
Cutting a player through to the opposite side of the court is another play that has been around for ages. The cut through is almost a necessary part of every offense designed to attack zone defense. However, the good old cut through can be used against man-to-man just as effective. I’ve seen teams us it to get into a stacked offense after a reversal of the ball.
Remember, the usual two-step rule applies to all players when receiving a pass from a teammate, Also, stress that the cutter and screener should always pass to shoulder to shoulder on the screen and the screener should always open-up toward the ball. Spend some time, teaching your players how to read a screen.
Keep in mind that the cut through, as any other play, has many options. All these other options need to be practiced in order to attain complete success with this play. Your advantages often multiply when the defense either denies a pass or over-shift in their effort to stop the play.
The Basic Set
The following diagrams show examples of the cut through from the Wing, Guard, Forward, and Point positions:
Options for Play 6
As mentioned earlier, there are many options. The options that follow must be practiced in order to take advantage of situations that develop during the running of this play. Your players must recognize and counter whenever the opponent attempts to deny a pass or over-shift in their attempt to defend the play.
Teach Players to read the Defense
Do what defender allows
This is a good drill for teaching the offensive fundamentals of reading your defender. The way the defender moves dictates three counter moves:
- The Curl
- The Flare
- The Pocket
The drawing illustrates some of the passing options available during the exercise of this drill. In the beginning, the coach serves as the feeder and as he teaches ... always catches the ball in a triple threat position.
Once players become adept to this drill, the feeding position can be filled by #8 or players rotate clockwise, whichever if preferable. The purpose of this drill is to teach players the proper way to use screens by teammates. Use these options with any play using screens.
The Give and Go
Drill starts with #1 being closely guarded, making a crisp two-handed chest pass to the coach, and cutting to the basket. If open, he/she receives a return pass, jump stops, and lays it in the basket. (The coach must insist that all these are executed properly by every player.)
The coach is the feeder in the beginning; however, players are introduced once the players understand the proper execution of this drill. (This also becomes a good drill for teaching young players to properly execute the jump stop and prevent charging calls.)
All players must take their time using screens. Keep in mind the player receiving the pass can hold the ball 5 seconds, dribble it for 5 seconds, then hold it another 5 seconds. This is a long time! (Use this to illustrate the importance of taking your time. At least, in most cases, it is desirable for every ball handler to hold the ball long enough for a scoring opportunity to present itself.)
I always told my players to imagine the screener (5) as a big tree rooted in the ground. Simply play hide and seek with your defender.
Flare Cuts
All players must take their time using screens. Keep in mind the player receiving the pass can hold the ball 5 seconds, dribble it for 5 seconds, then hold it another 5 seconds. This is a long time! Take time for a scoring opportunity to present itself.
As the player comes off his/her screen, he/her, in this case calls, "Flare!" The player catches and shoots. For variety, the coach can have player, shot-fake then shoot, or shot-fake and drive. (Try to make this drill as game like as is possible. Add defender at the post position, for example.)
Curl Cut
If the defender tries to follow around the screen, the curl cut give the cutter an open path to an easy basket. As the cutter recognizes this, he/she shouts, "Curl!", as he/she executes the cut.
You need to use a number of perimeter and post drills in teaching your players to read the defense and learn spacing and floor balance that is much required in today's motion defense. Break your offense down into two and three-man plays.
In motion offenses, some coaches only involve perimeter players in three-man plays and post players in two-man plays; however, I do not subscribe to this theory.
Pocket Cut
In this diagram, the coach has dribbled in order to allow more time for a scoring opportunity for #1 to develop. Player #5 helps obstruct the defender's route to the elbow. Teammate #1 catches the ball at the elbow and shoots. (As with the flare cut, the a shot fake and drive can be substituted for variety. Make this drill as game-like as possible.)
Run drill on both sides of the floor
The shallow cut is used considerably in motion offenses; however, you can use it in many patterned offenses just as well. For instance, getting the ball to the wing is the key to starting most offenses.
Shallow Cut
Player 1 dribbles over and shallows 2 off the right wing. Player 2 relocates to the top of the key using the 3-point arc as reference point to help with balance and spacing. Player 1 shoots the jumper from the wing. 5 rebounds and puts back all missed shots.
Shallow Cut - Return Pass
Player 1 dribbles over to the right wing and 2 relocates at the top and steps up for the return pass from 1. He shoots the jumper. (You also need to mix this drill a bit and have player 2 use a shot fake and move with a one-bounce dribble, then shoot or he could drive and dish off to 5 who lays it in.)
Shallow Cut - Drive and Dish
Player 1 dribbles over to the right wing and 2 relocates to the top for a pass from 1. Player 2 comes to meet the pass, catches the ball, squares up, fakes a shot, drives to the elbow, drawing 1's defender and dishes to 1. Player 1 steps up for the shot.
Shallow Cut - From the Wing
Player 2 dribbles to the top and 1 relocates to the wing. Player 1 receives a return pass from 2 and takes the shot.
Shallow Cut - Fake Relocate & V-Cut
Player 1 dribbles at 2, as if to shallow him out to the top. Player 2 begins to relocate, but instead v-cuts, using 5's screen and fades to the corner for a pass from 1 and a shot. (NOTE: Put a defender on 2 and you can make this a good drill in teaching players to read the defense. For example, players 2 and 5 should pass shoulder to shoulder. If the defender follows 2, then 2 should curl. Don't try to hurry, but play it smart, like playing tag around a tree.)
Shallow Cut - Circle and Skip Pass
Player 1 dribbles at 2 who instead of shallowing to the top, continues through the lane to the opposite wing. Player 1 skip passes over the defense to 2 who squares-up for the shot.
Cut Through - V-Cut for Layup or Jumper
Player 1 v-cuts away. He can read the defense and either cut to the basket for a layup or replace himself for a shot.
Here is another play as old as the hills. Kentucky's pride, coach Adolph Rupp used it very effectively to compile his impressive record. With the arrival of the three-point play and if coach Rupp were alive and coaching, today, he would be running the old guard-around until the "cows come home."
The guard-around play, as Coach Rupp called it is still effective, today. Coach Rupp considered the following play options to be the best fundamental ball handling drills the he ever found. The old coach set his up in the same way as is illustrated in the first five diagrams that follow on the next few pages; however, you can fit it into most any offensive set known, today. The next four diagrams following Coach Rupp's drills are a couple of typical examples of how to use the guard-around with other sets.
COACH RUPP'S OFFENSIVE GUARD-AROUND PLAYS
As can be seen from the next five diagrams, the setup is the same in every case with five options for the guard to exercise as he sees fit. Here are a few pointers to help coaches in developing this play:
- A guard must be an excellent ball handler.
- A guard must be quick.
- All guard-around plays must be run with maximum speed in ball handling and footwork.
- A guard must always be in a triple threat position when he catches the ball.
- The guard-around play works best when the guard is near a sideline.
- The guard should cut right off the tail of the forward in a straight line at the basket, not a circular route.
The following four diagrams with explanations will show how each option is executed. These series of guard plays will work with any type defense. Regardless of how a defender maneuvers, one of these plays will fit the situation.
It was from these options that Coach Rupp developed the famous Kentucky offense. It can easily be seen that Rupp depended a great deal on his guards being scoring threats as his forwards and centers. He felt with clever ball handling, two of his smaller players could set up a well defined five player offense that fit well in his Kentucky patterned offense. When they exhausted the possibilities of two-man plays, they included the third (pivot) man into the play and many other high-percentage scoring opportunities than shown here were used by Coach Rupp. These plays can be used on either side of the floor. They are excellent ball handling drills in teaching basic fundamentals of basketball. Coach Rupp sent his players through these drills most every practice. Not only did the develop ball-handling ability, change of direction, goal shooting, rebounding, and other necessary fundamentals, but, at the same time, built his complete offense.
Guard Around - First Option:
Guard #1 passes to Forward #2 who steps out to meet the pass in every case and turns his body as if to pass to #3 at the high post; however, he flips the ball to #1 who is cutting outside. If #1 is a good 3-point shooter, he can usually get an open shot here, take one dribble and shoot, or dribble all the way in for a lay-up, whichever best presents itself.
Guard Around - Second Option
Guard #1 passes to #2 who turns toward the free-throw lane, takes one dribble, jumps in the air, and hooks a pass to #1 who cut by him.
Guard Around - Third Option:
Guard #1 passes to Forward #2 who flips the ball back to #1 as in Option 1, but this time #2 rolls to the basket expecting a return pass from Guard #1.
Guard Around - Fourth Option:
Guard #1 passes to #2 who takes one dribble, pivots, and passes back to #1 who cut around him to the basket.
In the guard-around play, the player with the ball may hand off to a teammate crossing behind him and set a lateral screen, or a player can set a lateral screen for the dribbler as the dribbler crosses behind him. In either case, the screener can stop close to the defender, because the defender can see the screen coming.
When the man with the ball hands off or passes to the dribbler and sets a lateral screen, he should stop and use an offensive roll immediately after the teammate move by him. Stepping imperceptibly toward the second opponent, in the direction of the end line, with the foot nearest the end line he pivots on that foot, away from the opponent he has screened. With this move he avoids causing any contact and obtains and holds an inside advantage on the opponent if there is a defensive switch, His pivot foot steps directly toward the basket. He should continue toward the basket quickly with his inside hand up as a target for a pass if the defensive switch occurs, the best passing lane opens immediately after the defensive exchange is made.
Guard Around - Fifth Option:
Guard #1 passes to #2 and cuts outside. #2 catches the ball with a jump stop, pivots, fakes a pass to #1, and dribbles inside to shoot.
Guard Around - Lateral Screen Guard for Guard:
1 passes to 2, then set a lateral screen on X2, 2's defender. 2 on moving to meet the pass, dribbles hard to his left off the screen. As 2 begins his drive, 1 slides his left foot imperceptibly toward the left corner. It is a very slight adjustment. As he makes this slide, X2, moving to stay with 1, bumps into 2, causing him to pivot on his left foot. 1 then takes a long 180-degree-arc swing with his right foot so that he steps directly toward the basket. He is now in front of X2. 2 makes a return pass to 1 if X1 switches. The lateral screen is set with 1's body perpendicular to the direction of X2's body.
Guard Around - Lateral Screen Forward for Guard:
Forward 3 has passed to guard 1 and set a lateral screen on X1. As 1 starts his dribble to the left, shoulder to shoulder off the screen so that X1 can not slide through, 3 slides his left foot slightly forward toward the free-throw lane. As X1 moves moves to stay with 1, he bumps 3. 3 makes a 180-degree-arc swing, pivoting on the left foot and swinging the right leg, stepping toward the basket with this foot. As 1 comes off the screen, X3 switches onto 1 leaving 3 in front of X1 and wide open for a return pass from 1.
Guard Around - Inside or Outside
Guard 2 has the ball and passes to 4. Player 2 has two options. After the pass to 4, he may cut to 4's inside between 4 and 4's defender to receive an inside hand-off or cut to 4's outside and receive an outside hand-off. Player 2 can either shoot, dribble into the basket for a lay-up or dish-off. NOTE: One of the best guards I ever saw play the game used to hit running hook shots from deep in the corner using this play. The hook shot from out here is practically impossible to guard.
Guard Around - High Post with a Screen
Player 2 passes to 4 and fakes away. Teammate 5 starts up from the low post opposite the ball and reverses direction to a medium pivot. Player 4 passes to 5 and follows his pass and sets a screen above the circle. Player 2 reverses and cuts off the screens set by 4 and 5 receiving a pass from 5. Player 2 can take a short jump shot, drive to the basket or kick it back outside.
