An open post motion offense.

In my article in the September 2003 issue, I delineated the pressure switching man-to-man defense that I had designed for a team that had no player over 6-foot-2. The success that I had with that defense went hand in hand with the companion open post motion offense shown in the accompanying diagrams.

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Since our league was usually loaded with big inside players, we realized that we'd not only have trouble defending them, but also trying to work any kind of inside offensive game against such a height disadvantage.

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It's hard to believe, but our most skilled player was only 5-10 and he'd be giving away as much as a foot to some of the opponents!

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Question: Was it possible to turn our lack of size into an advantage rather than a liability? Answer: Yes, with the open post motion concept of offense. It forced us to work diligently with our players on the fundamentals of shooting, catching the ball, and executing the proper moves while facing the basket.

Like many high school coaches, I had worked with these players since they were fifth graders in summer camps, and so we could focus our practice on shooting techniques, driving with the basketball, and good ball-handling techniques.

We quickly discovered that our open post motion offense was effective against both the man-to-man and zone defenses we had to attack. It helped us amass a 24-3 record and reach the state finals. Along the way, we made 265 three-point goals, including 25 in the district semi-final game, an Ohio State record.

The three-point shot became a huge weapon in our arsenal. It not only helped us score from outside but to make an inordinate number of layups against teams that began playing us close to prevent the outside shot. "Live by the three, die by the three" became "Live by the three, thrive on the three."

The basic concepts of our teaching and coaching plan:

RECEIVING THE PASS:

It is imperative for any player receiving a pass on the perimeter to catch the ball in a triple-threat position--facing the basket with the ball in position to be shot, passed, or dribbled in the following order:

1 SHOT. If the defender is playing off you and/or has his hands down, shoot the jumper immediately.

2 DRIVE. If the defender is playing tight, has overcommitted to one side, or has reacted to a shot fake, put the ball on the floor aggressively. Note: All of the dribble moves are taught to be executed with just one dribble.

3 PASS. Always the last choice.

THE JUMP SHOT:

Our players are taught never to shoot a contested three-point shot. If the defender is playing tight and/or has his hands up, the three-pointer becomes a poor choice.

We consider a blocked three-point shot a cardinal sin. We will look at our shooter and tap our temple with a fore-finger: Think! The fact that the shot was blocked will automatically tell him: "It's time for a shot fake."

Early in the season, we work diligently on the premise that we want no "tweeners"--two-point jump shots. We want to develop a certain kind of mentality in the players. As we develop our team game, however, the two-point jump shots become part of the offensive concept.

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Alignment: As you can see in Diag. 1, we start by filling in the five spots on the perimeter just outside the three-point arc--on top of the key, two wings at the free-throw line extended, and the two corners about three feet up from the baseline, allowing a corner man with the ball to drive to either side of his defender.

These are not static positions. Once play begins, the player movement becomes constant and purposeful. The players are constantly working to fill the five spots, especially the two spots closest to the ball. As the ball moves and the players cut, it is imperative to fill these two positions.

Diag. 2 delineates the proper fill-cut route. Note that the proper route to the spot closest to the ball is not a straight line--the kind of move that is very easy to deny. It is a V-cut, with the players taking two or three hard steps to the basket and then cutting to the spot. If the defender does not honor the initial cut to the basket, the cutter will have an easy layup.

BASIC RULES:

When a player passes the ball, he is taught to do one of three things:

1 Cut to the basket (Diag. 3). Like all our cuts, it is a V-cut. After passing, the passer fakes away, as if going backside to screen, then plants his left foot and makes a change-of-direction cut to the hoop. Point to remember: A straight line is always the easiest route to defend and deny.

2 Screen for a player away from the ball (Diag. 4). After his pass, the player V-cuts into the screen either for the wing (as shown) or for the player in the corner (broken line).

3 Screen for the ball, although this is rare (Diag. 5). It is, however, an excellent option for a player who isn't a good outside shooter. A solid screen will free the good shooter for an outside shot with just one dribble off the screen.

This V-cut has to be longer than usual since the cutter has to set the screen with his back to the basket, thus allowing the wing to drive to either side of the screen.

We make it very clear that we don't want anyone to pass and then stand around or replace himself. We want the passer to run an option while a new player moves into the spot.

Two other basic concepts are essential in the execution of the open post motion offense.

First, once a player starts to cut to the basket, he must go all the way through with it. This will help reduce the congestion that occurs whenever you have two players ending up at the same spot at the same time.

Second, whenever a player is denied, he must back-cut to the basket. He is not going to be able to receive a pass on the perimeter. His back-cut movement on the perimeter is going to make the defense work harder and likely produce an easy layup for the cutter.

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Summary: The open-post offense can be an effective weapon against any defense. We used it successfully against man-to-man, 2-1-2 zone, 1-2-2 zone, 1-3-1 zone, box-and-1, and triangle-and-two.

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Although this offense is supposed to be weak on rebounding, we averaged 12 offensive rebounds per game--with nobody over 6-2!

BY AL SUMMERS

Head Basketball Coach (1999-2000)

St. Henry (OH) High School