This article is taken from a presentation by Canadian National Women s Team Head Coach, Allison McNeill. The presentation was given to British Columbia s Girls Centre for Performance. Motion Offense General Points: 1. Motion offense is based on the movement of players and the ball in reaction to the movement and position of the defense. It is a freelance offense based on reading the defense. 2. Do not mistake activity for achievement. 3. This statement best explains motion offence: Movement creates movement, Intelligent movement creates space, Space affords time, and time ensures accuracy 4. Motion can take on many forms: 5 out 4 out 1 in 3 out 2 in 2 out 3 in (Triple post) 5. Cutting Teams - Screening Teams - Penetrating Teams The best teams do all of these things - and do them at the right time. 6. Motion is offense based on reads - reading the defense and reading the floor. 7. Motion offense is most effective when players understand that the defense will dictate what the offense should do. Players must learn to quickly recognize what the defense is doing and make the appropriate play on offense. 8. Motion offense is extremely adaptable: (so based on a scouting report you can adjust to any defense). If a team denies entry passes to the wing then they are susceptible to back-cuts and back screens - which are part of motion offense If a team does not deny and sags tremendously on the weak side then back-cuts and back screens will not be as effective - instead flare screens on ball side and pin screens on the weak side will be very effective. It is possible to adjust yourmotion to attack pack defenses. Can be used vs. zone; match-ups or man to man defenses. Can be used for your end outs and side-outs
Canadian National Women s Team: With the Senior National Team we play a 4 out 1 in motion. This means we have 4 players on the perimeter and 1 on the inside. This does not mean that only 1 player plays on the inside, rather there are opportunities for players who are capable of scoring inside to get inside. At times we may find that we have two players on the inside because this is to our best advantage. There are other ways to get inside scores than the usual post up. We run 4 out to take advantage of our strengths. We set a lot of flare screens and back screens to get cutters to the basket and because we want to create a poor closeout so we can attack with dribble penetration. Dribble penetration is arguably the hardest action to defend. Screening is the 2nd hardest action to defend. We play quicker teams so we need to give our players an advantage and we do that by screening and cutting. Positions: Our 4 out 1 in motion spots are as follows: 2 swings - deep at the point 2 wings - wide at the wings an inside player. In transition we will flatten out to the baseline if the point guard gets by her defender in semitransition then we look to I cut or back-cut off her penetration. Types of Screens: 1. Flare Screens - butt to the corner of the gym. Tough screens to defend. Can create "time" for a player. 2. Back Screens - back to the basket. Great for relieving pressure - defense must help as the cutter goes to the basket. 3. Down Screens - always have your back to the ball. 4. Pin Screen - post screening a weak side defender who is sagging into the lane. The post should set the screen on the lane line. 5. Ball screens - are best to use when the defender on the post has chosen to sag off the post player on the perimeter. 6. Cross Screen - usually a small-big cross screen along the baseline. Also swing to swing cross screens can be very effective. 7. Continuous screens - staggers General Rules: Spacing is the most important concept. Why? Good offensive teams stretch out defenses. The more ground that the offense has to cover, the larger the gaps between defenders. The gaps between defenders are what create room for dribble drives; cuts and post feeds. Motion is NOT and equal opportunity offense - shot discipline is CRUCIAL! Just because you are open does not mean you should shoot. What is a good shot? Open, in range, in rhythm, and favorable momentum, stage of game, previous possession, time on the clock are all factors to consider. Don't take the shots the defense gives you - take the shots we want! Players must play to their strengths and the strengths of their teammates.
The basket cut is the most important movement in motion offense. It is the foundation of motion. This can be a straight basket cut or a cut off a screening action. (Curl cut; rejection or slip) A great cutter makes everyone better Manu Ginobli is a great example. Communication is so important - talk to each other. Why is it that we only emphasize communication at the defensive end. In our motion with the National Team the player closest to the baseline is the one who will communicate the screening action that will take place. Using a teammates name immediately gets their attention. The ball needs to be held at the swing spots to let screening actions happen. When you catch the ball at the wing - "catch to shoot" or drive and then see the basket and then look to reverse the ball. You are most open when you first receive the ball - so be prepared to do something immediately! Use your dribble wisely - to attack the basket; to change the angle to pass into the post; to improve spacing, and relieve pressure. Pass to productive places - a small player cutting through the lane with a big player on her back - the small is open but is it a good pass? Passing to someone as they are spacing out after a basket cut is a poor decision because usually all the player can do is dribble out to space. Everyone needs to know the strengths of everyone else on the team. We need to get to the foul line - attack the basket. The post is allowed 1 block to block cut per offensive position - you can only cut if you are open. Face in as the ball comes down the floor. Look to duck in when the ball is at the diagonal swing spot or high post and your defense is flat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following were the drills used in the on-court session. Geography lesson on the court! Swings - deep at the point on the NBA 3 pt. line Wings - wide at the wing on the NBA 3 pt. line and above the up-line Post - above the block - facing in as the ball comes down the court Up-line - all perimeters must stay above the up-line; imaginary line that goes from sideline to sideline through the bottom of the jump circle in the keys
Drills: 5 on 0 Transition into Motion Teaching Points 5 player break-out - All 5 on the defensive glass Fill the wings - wide - First to fill a lane gets the lane 1 st - look is to "Take on" - Know your strengths 2 nd - look is first big to rim - Seal up - Keep them on your back 3 rd - look is skip in Transition - Did weak side help on post - do we have a shooter on the skip 4 th - look is back to the top for - Are we being fronted on the low block a high low - or a penetration 5 th - wings flatten out if the point - Semi-Transition - use it! guard is penetrating. - Break out dribbles - head man the ball 4 on 0 Cut and Fill Teaching Points Fill both wings and swings - The swing positions must always be filled Stay deep at point and wide - Hold ball for 2 count at swings "See the rim" at the wings - After passing "be a cutter first" Stay above the up-line - Finish all cuts to the front of the rim Swing spots must be occupied - Communicate all cuts No screening - After each cut "space out and space up" Blast cut and back cut frequently - It is OK to stand on the weak side - Timing - blast cut so that you and the ball arrive at the same time! 5 on 0 Spacing/Timing Teaching Points Stay deep at point and wide - Hold the ball for a 2 count at the swing spots at the wings - After passing "be a cutter first" Stay above the up-line - Finish all cuts to the front of the rim Swing spots must be occupied - Communicate all cuts No screening - After each cut "space out and space up" Blast cut and back cut frequently - It is OK to stand on the weak side Buddy Screening Teaching Points 2 offensive players, 1 passer - Bottom player communicate screening Passer stays at one swing action and the 2 offensive players fill - communicate early and loud the opposite swing, wing and - "Be a quick screener" low post. Offensive players - "Be a quick 2nd cutter" execute continuous screening - Communicates all cuts action from the swing, wing and - Always maintain spacing low post. Players should complete - See the ball - but read your defense 4 or 5 screens before a shot is taken - "Drag the arc" "Run at the screeners nose"
2 on 0 screening with passers Teaching Points (4 Player 2 ball shooting) Ball Starts at wing and is passed - Bottom person communicates the screen to swing. Screening action occurs - If a down screen - "drag the arc" - run at the while the ball is in flight from wing screeners nose and make the read. to swing. 2 on 2 screening with passers Teaching Points Passer starts at the wing with ball - Timing - screening action starts when the 2nd passer begins at the swing. ball is passed from the wing to the swing. The offensive players being - Bottom player communicates the screen defended begin at the other wing - Cutter reads defender and screener reads and swing. Begin by passing the the cutter ball from the wing to swing. As - "Be a quick screener" the ball is in flight the screening - "Be a quick 2nd cutter" action takes place. If no shot, then the ball should go back to the passer at the swing and they can start another screening action. 3 on 3 screening on a side Teaching Points with a passer Players begin at the swing, wing - Get the ball inside and low post. Ball starts at the - Post player must be an active screener weak side wing. Players can - Follow all screening guidelines occupy the swing, wing or post - Communication position. A passer is positioned - Set backs; flares and high post rubs at the wing and swing on the weak side 5 on 4 Motion - 4 on 4 on Teaching Points perimeter and 1 on 0 in Post Post player can not score. - Spacing Emphasize passing to the post - Communication and playing off the post. Post - Timing should set numerous screens. - "Let the screening action develop" - "Bring the ball to the screening action 5 on 5 Motion Teaching Points 5 on 5 live with restrictions - Patience - Number of sides - Spacing - Number of post touches - Timing - Types of screens - Communication - Number of passes - Intelligent movement - Score off specific screen
5 on 5 Rating Game Teaching Points 4 = Lay-up - Stress shot discipline 3 = Good shot - Work to get your best players great shots 2 = OK shot - Emphasize ball reversal 1 = Bad shot - Emphasize post touches 0 = Turnover 5 on 5 Transition into Motion Teaching Points 5 on 5 transition off the board - 5 players on the D glass outlet or breakout dribble - Run hard and run wide Fill the wings - high and wide - 1st look is up the wing and take on unless point guard in penetrating. - 2nd look is up the wing and relay to post Flatten out if point has beaten her - 3rd look is skip pass check. 1st big to front of the rim to - 4th look is back to top for High low or "seal up"; 2nd big trail to swing penetration spot. - Then into motion