Backdooring into a motion offense. (Basketball).

BASKETBALL IS A complex game that demands a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals and basic strategies, plus a philosophy predicated on the needs of the players.

In the Greek National Program, coaches have translated this philosophy into a motion offense complemented with several sets of quick-hitting plays.

The primary break is our first choice and the secondary break is our second choice. That, as you can see in Diag. 1, will prepare us to go into our motion game. Note that #1 is our point guard, #2 our shooting guard, #3 our small forward, #4 our power forward, and #5 our center.

Also note that we end up in this set in all of our set plays.

In motion offense, you have to know who can catch the ball, who can screen, who can make the difficult pass, and who can shoot coming off a screen.

You can also add the number of passes to make before a shot, who will take the shot, and from where the shot will be taken. By keeping the players organized, we can help control the pace of the game and utilize the strength of the players.

We designate each player's role in the offense and his involvement in our back (rear) screens and flare (side) screens, as well as flare, back, curl, and give-and-go cuts.

All of these moves are clearly visible in the accompanying diagrams of our plays.

Flare screens are set up at an angle to the outside of a defender's shoulder and are designed to disrupt his path. They are set on the intersection of the foul line.

We use the flare screen to set up a good shooting guard on an open side of the floor. It can also be used to loosen up defenders who are putting a lot of pressure on the offense.

Notice in Diag. 1 how the center (5) sets a flare screen for 3, the small forward, and how in Diag. 2, he sets a flare screen for 1, the point guard.

Our set plays (Diags. 1-15) are designed for our personnel. The entry remains the same for all situations. Since these plays are not continuous, any time we do not get the shot, we can go immediately into our motion game. We will also turn to our motion game whenever we get disorganized.

Back screens can be set up by anyone moving out from the low post area to set the screen behind a defender, enabling the cutter to go over the top or underneath the screen, as shown in Diags. 1-3 -- by #2 in Diag. 1, by #5 in Diag. 2, and #3 in Diag. 3.

This quick series can help the players take advantage of mismatches and offensive strengths. They will produce quick shots when necessary - all of which will enable our players to maintain pressure and give the opponents different plays to defense.

With the motion offense and the quick series, the players have to be cued, but we do not use verbal signals. Our big man's movement after the first flare screen will cue the subsequent play.

If, say, the big man (#5) moves down to the weak-side medium-post area, he will cue our motion offense (Basic Set, Diags. 1-3).

If he moves to the high-post area, he signals the scissor quick hitter (Diags. 4-6).

If he comes to the ball-side medium-post area, he cues our parallel quick-hitter play (Diags. 7-9).

If he goes to the left elbow, he signals the diagonal quick-hitter play (Diags. 10-12).

If 5 comes to the right elbow, he cues the vertical quick hitter.

Whenever the defense is really pressuring us, we have to go to quicker movements and backdoor cuts. If the defense sags, we look for back and flare screens.

We believe in the backdoor offense because we have to do different things against different defenses. Note: Whenever the players are aligned in the basic set, the idea is to put the ball in one player's hands and have everyone else work for the good shot.

RELATED ARTICLE: BASIC SET

1. 5 sets a flare screen for 3 and 2 sets a rear screen for 4 with 5 going down to the weak-side medium post area.

2. 1 passes to 4 then cuts over 5's flare screen. Meanwhile 3 has cut over 5's rear screen looking for the pass from 4.

3. 3 sets a rear screen for 2 who cuts for the hoop. 3 then flare-screens for 4 who passes to 5 and cuts over 3's screen to the wing.

4. As 1 dribbles toward 3, 5 flare-screens for 3 and 2 rear-screens for 4. After 3 comes over 5's screen, 5 moves down the lane and then up to the high-post area.

5. As the ball moves from 1 to 4 to 2, 5 sets a back screen for 4 and 1. 4 looks for the lob from 2 while 3 comes ball-side.

6. 5 sets a screen for 1 and a flare screen for 3, white the ball is moved from 2 to 5 to 4. Meanwhile, 2 has cut around to the opposite low post.

PARALLEL

7. Same entry as for Basic Set with 5 flare-screening for 3, 2 back-screening for 4 and 5 moving to the ball-side medium area.

8. 5 sets a rear screen for 4 who cuts over it and moves up to the opposite elbow.

9. 3 comes off 5's screen and moves to the corner at the same time 2 comes off 4's screen and goes to the wing.

DIAGONAL

10. 1 passes to 4 and goes opposite while 2 sets a back screen for 4 and 5 flare-screens for 3 then moves to the opposite elbow.

11. 5 sets a diagonal screen for 4 as the ball is reversed from 2 to 4 to 1 to 3 with 4 cutting off 5's screen.

12. As the ball is moved from 3 to 1 to 5, 2 sets a back screen for 1 who drives over it and goes to the corner.

VERTICAL

13. Same entry as in the Basic Set with 5 flare-screening for 3 and 2 rear-screening for 4.

14. As 1 dribbles over to the middle 2 and 3 come off the screens of 4 and 5 with 2 going to the corner and 3 returning to the wing.

15. The continuity continues with he basic set.