Perimeter Dribbling Lulls Defense To Sleep, Sets Up Cutter March 10, 2016 Issue 128 $5.99 < Chicago s Jimmy Butler is a master of the backdoor cut Successful Set Circle The Wagons On Baseline OOB Play Hoops Debate: Is It Time For HS To Move The 3-Point Line? Jab Then Go Backdoor Fake A Handoff, Score An Open Layup Basketball Brings Us Together
March 10, 2016 Issue 128 $5.99 < ChiCago s Jimmy Butler Is a Master of the backdoor cut Contents Basketball Ties Us Together Perimeter DriBBling lulls Defense to sleep, sets up Cutter Basketball Coach Weekly Issue 128 Basketball Coach Weekly 9325 SW Iowa Drive Tualatin, OR 97062 Editor-in-chief Michael Austin michael.austin@basketballcoachweekly.com Contributors: Wes Kosel Illustrations Mike Renwick Pictures Action Images Design Andy Shore BasketBall Brings us together Customer Services customerservices@greenstarmedia.net Managing Director Andrew Griffiths SucceSSFuL Set circle the WagonS on BaSeLine oob play hoops debate: is it time For HS to Move the 3-point Line? Jab Then Go backdoor Fake a HandoFF, Score an open Layup (c) Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Click here to read the full disclaimer. It s always the best weekend of the year. Once a year my college friends and I make the trek back to our alma mater, Marquette University, in the bitter cold of the basketball season to hang out, catch up, talk hoops and go to a game. Everything revolves around the game. Without basketball involved, I m not sure if this weekend would be an annual thing In October, the full schedule is released and within minutes I ve already compiled an email to the guys about potential weekends. A couple days pass and eventually a game is chosen and it s on our calendars in dark, thick, permanent black marker. And we re not talking about a few guys driving an hour to campus. I fly from Oregon. Another friend is close to San Diego. One person drives from Minneapolis to pick up another who is a doctor in the Green Bay area. Another person decided this was the year he was coming and flew in from Atlanta. On Friday night we catch up on old times, talk about our kids, families and work and break down the Marquette team to this point. There s the pessimist (me), the optimist, the guy who has been too busy to watch a lot of games, the guy who loves blaming the officials and so on. It s great to sit in a bar and talk hoops with a bunch of people you ve known for two decades and who all share a passion for the same team. Saturday always is game day. I decided in October the late- February date with Villanova would be the top option. Marquette is a freshman-heavy team this year so I expected them to be rounding into shape by late February (which hasn t really happened) and I knew Villanova would be good really good. The Bradley Center was a sellout for the game Saturday. Villanova entered the building at the No. 1 team in the country (see, I know what I m talking about sometimes). And, truth be told, the Wildcats played like the No. 1 team. Our beloved Marquette squad never could get over the hump. We lost by 10. Armed with voices much more hoarse than two hours earlier, we reconvened and broke down what went wrong (leaving shooters open, Nova being too good and some complaints about the referees). Without basketball involved, I m not sure if this weekend would be an annual thing. It s the basketball that brings us together. It s the basketball that allows for an event to dictate jumping on a plane for a vacation in Milwaukee in the winter. Basketball is the force that ties us together. Basketball may be the only thing bringing a bunch of us to Milwaukee in the winter Michael Austin Editor-in-chief In this issue... Pound Down The 3 Backdoor Pull your players toward the perimeter, use the high post and watch space open near the hoop for a well-timed backdoor cut Enter To Middle, 4 Dribble At Cutter Create fake action on the left to set up the high post stepping toward the right and setting up the backcut Dribble Attack Sets 5 Up Backdoor Cutter Lots of dribbling lulls the defense to sleep and sets up the right wing s backdoor cut for an uncontested layup Inside Circle Sets 6 Up Lob This successful set comes from Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts who drew up this beautiful baseline play vs. Golden State To subscribe to Basketball Coach Weekly please contact Customer Services at Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0AB, UK. You can contact Customer Services via Skype at basketballcoachweekly or via email at customerservices@greenstarmedia.net QUICK HITTER Steph Curry is so good at shooting, the narrative right now is if the three-point line should be moved back in the NBA. Beyond Curry, this also has to do with just the sheer number of three-pointers being launched by teams and if there simply are too many players convinced they have Move Back The 3-Point Line? three-point range. I can t tell you how many times I ve seen someone pass up a layup to kick the ball back to the perimeter for a 3-pointer. This filters down to the college game and to your level as well. So, I m curious, are you noticing more threepointers being attempted against and by your team now? Is this a good or bad thing? Are you in favor of moving back the high-school three-point line from the 19 feet, nine inches where it currently sits? Why or why not? And if so, where is a good distance? Send me your thoughts at michael.austin@basketballcoachweekly.com so I can share them with our readers. www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 128 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 2
Backdoor Plays Jimmy Butler has a knack for reading the defense, giving a quick fake jab step and exploding to the hoop to score off a backdoor cut Jab Then Go Backdoor A simple fake toward the ball handler by a wing player creates enough of an illusion a handoff is coming which perfectly sets up a backdoor cut and open layup Designed backdoor plays and cuts destroy an aggressive, overplaying defense. They also keep defenders honest when those players think they know what kind of play is coming if you send someone backdoor, then that possibility is in the back of their minds on every successive set. And while I ve used the pages of Basketball Coach Weekly to supply you with several backdoor sets this season (special thanks to Wes Kosel for providing some of these to share), today s focus is on how to execute the backdoor cut, which then leads into the sets on the next two pages. I wanted to use a prime NBA player as an example. Chicago s Jimmy Butler is a master in cutting backdoor and scoring at the rim. Let s use this video as an example. In the video, Butler torches an unsuspecting Milwaukee Bucks defense with a perfect backdoor cut in a similar situation to the two plays on the following pages the cutter takes a step toward the ball handler to simulate a potential dribble handoff is upcoming, then as the defender steps to get between the ball handler and his responsibility, that s when the cutter goes backdoor. In both plays and in the video, there is action created on the left side of the floor before it becomes what appears to be a two-man game on the right side. Butler s step toward the ball handler (in this case it s Pau Gasol) is more of a jab rather than an extended step with the foot. As soon as the jab is made, you see the Milwaukee defender lean toward the perimeter with his weight squarely on his right foot. That s when the backdoor cut takes place. Butler goes right by the defender who can t shift his weight back in time before Gasol s bounce pass skips through and hits Butler in stride for a layup. The other key execution component is that Gasol locks eyes with Butler on the wing to give another appearance a handoff is coming. Gasol never sneaks a peek toward the hoop. If he did, he d provide a clue to the defenders about the backdoor possibility. Teach your posts when coming toward a wing always to maintain a visual on the player until having to make the pass. Today s two plays are similar to the video and show you how one hard cut leads to two easy points. Words by: Michael Austin Plays by: Wes Kosel, assistant men s coach, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colo. www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 128 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 3
Backdoor Plays Enter To Middle, Dribble At Cutter Create a lot of fake action on the left side as the center catches the ball in the high post and makes it seem as if a handoff is coming before the right wing cuts backdoor WHY USE IT A lot of action on one side of the court occupies multiple defenders to create space on the opposite side for a backcut and score at the rim. The other advantage is that there are potential scorers coming toward the ball if the backdoor cut isn t available. SET UP Place your center in the middle of the free-throw line with wings spread wide on each side. 1 is dribbling on the right side with 4 extended beyond the 3-point line on the opposite side of 1. HOW TO PLAY 1 throws the entry pass to 5 in the middle. 1 then curs around 5 to the opposite block. 4 relocates low, then to the left corner as 3 comes high out of the wing [1]. The action on the left occupies those defenders as 5 dribbles toward 2 on the right. 2 takes a step toward the ball and the defense thinks a handoff is coming. 2 then plants and cuts hard toward the hoop [2]. 5 makes the backdoor pass to 2 for the layup. If that pass isn t available, 5 still has 3 coming toward the top or even 4 coming out of the corner for a potential 3-pointer [3]. TECHNIQUE This play also can be run with 2 coming to the ball and accepting the handoff instead of cutting backdoor. In that case, 5 rolls to the hoop and 2 looks to pass to 5 on the roll or 3 coming to the top. 1The point guard enters the ball, then runs off the right shoulder of 5 and relocates to the opposite block as backside actions with 3 and 4 also draw defensive attention 25 dribbles right and looks at 2 as if a handoff is about to be executed practice how you want this dribble to look with 5 looking at 2 and not toward the hoop 45 throws the best pass possible (bounce or in the air) to get the ball to 2 in stride for a layup 32 takes a hard step or two toward the ball to sell the possibility of a handoff, then cuts hard behind the defenders 53 and 4 circle higher out of the backside in case something goes wrong in the main actions and a backup option is needed Player movement Ball movement Dribble Shot www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 128 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 4
Backdoor Plays Dribble Attack Sets Up Backdoor Cutter Lots of dribbling lulls the defense to sleep to set up the right wing s backdoor cut for an uncontested layup WHY USE IT Typically, you don t want to dial up a set involving a lot of dribbling, but every once in awhile it works. In this play, three different players dribble the ball before the backdoor cut is executed. Sometimes a lot of perimeter dribbling causes the defense to relax, which you use to your advantage in this set. SET UP Once again, you want all five players away from the basket to start. This creates space for the cutter to score uncontested at the rim. In this case, you start in a 1-4 High with your guards wide on the wings and the posts at opposite elbows. HOW TO PLAY 1 dribbles to the left wing at 3. 3 steps toward 1 [1]. 1 hands off the ball to 3. 3 uses the momentum to dribble toward the top of the set. 4 pops from the right elbow to outside the 3-point line. 3 fires a pass across the set to 4 [2]. 4 catches the ball, looks at 2 and dribbles at 2. 2 steps toward 4 and it looks as if another handoff is upcoming. But, 2 plants and cuts hard to the hoop. 4 fires a pass past the defenders to the open 2 for a layup [3]. TECHNIQUE It s important to keep your offensive players away from the hoop in this set so 2 has plenty of space to cut. Plus, this keeps potential help defenders out of the area. 1This dribble entry pulls defensive attention to the left side, which means 4 s and 2 s defenders slightly shift in that direction 23 grabs the ball from 1 and in the same motion places the ball on the ground to start dribbling right so there is no wasted time 41 spaces toward the corner and if 1 s defender sags low to help, then 1 is open for a 3-pointer 3As 3 starts coming toward the top, 4 pops to the perimeter as 4 s defender most likely has at least looked to help on the dribble attack 5With a half-step on his or her defender, 4 dribbles right drawing 2 s defender toward the ball before firing a backdoor pass to 2 in stride for a layup Player movement Ball movement Dribble Shot www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 128 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 5
Successful Set Inside Circle Sets Up Lob Portland s Terry Stotts drew up this beauty of an inbound play leaving a defender running in a circle and a step behind as his responsibility is elevating and scoring at the rim WHY USE IT Unique baseline inbound plays always are an important part of your playbook. This set is not a common one and perfect to catch a defense off-guard. The Portland Trail Blazers recently ran this play in a victory over Golden State. SET UP Have 2 and 5 align directly in front of 3, who is inbounding the ball. 4 starts a little more than halfway up the ball-side lane line. 1 is positioned far from the ball well beyond the 3-point line in the middle of the court. HOW TO PLAY 4 flashes across the lane to the weak-side block to pull the defender in that direction and out of the lane. 5 turns toward the lane to screen as 2 runs toward 5 s right shoulder [1]. 2 continues running between 3 and 5 and as 2 comes around 5, that s when 5 sets a second screen freeing 2 to go to the hoop [2]. 3 tosses a lob pass to 2. 2 catches and scores before landing on the ground so the defense doesn t have time to adjust [3]. TECHNIQUE What s confusing for the defense is as 2 begins his or her actions, 2 s defender has a decision to make follow 2 and get picked off, or go over the top of the screen, which allows for 2 easily to catch an open pass under the screen and score. 2 s defender almost always follows as that player assumes 2 is about to pop wide for an inbound pass, making the lob so effective. 1Have 4 relocate to the weak-side block rather than just having 4 start there the movement forces the defense to look at 4 and 4 s defender must follow rather than sitting in the middle of the lane 22 runs to the right shoulder of 5 as this is a tight space between the screener and the baseline, which forces 2 s defender to follow and be a step behind 3Typically, 2 pops to the wing and receives an inbound pass to start the actions, so when 2 cuts to the hoop, the defense isn t prepared 43 makes a lob pass leading 2 toward the rim so 2 doesn t have to land before shooting Player movement Ball movement Dribble Shot www.basketballcoachweekly.com Issue 128 BASKETBALL COACH WEEKLY 6