Simplifying Your Offense.

A half-court set with rules and alignments from which you can run anything you need.

BECAUSE OF THE ABBREviated pre-season basketball period, most coaches have to simplify their teaching and coaching. That doesn't mean they can skimp in their preparation. It does mean that they have to get the most out of what they do teach.

At Ansonia, we try do this with a half-court offense with rules and alignments that enable us to adapt to all our offensive needs: a pressbreaker, baseline inbounding, sideline inbounding, a stall, and a secondary fast-break.

Once our players learn this half-court offense and its rules, the rest will come more easily.

Our half-court set operates from a 2-3 with two points, two wings, and a high post. The points deploy between the arc and half-court at the parallel lines extended, the wings set up close to the sideline above the foul line extended, and the post aligns above the foul line.

The offense is launched with a wing entry pass from 1 to 2 or, as an alternative, a pass from 1 to the high post.

The rules for every option remain the same:

1. Enter the ball (Diag.1)

2. Create a low post. (Diag. 1)

3. Reverse the ball. (Diag. 2)

4. Use the low post. (Diag. 3).

5. Screen the low post. (Diag. 2, 3, 5).

The players can apply these rules of continuity to other areas of the court, ensuring multi-options against practically anything the defense is trying to do.

Diag. 2 shows how the ball can be reversed from wing 4 to point 1 to wing 3, as 4 goes baseline to the opposite low post and 5 screens down for 2.

Diag. 3 shows the alternative action with wing 4 passing to the high post before going baseline, and the post sending the ball over to the opposite wing (3) before moving down to screen for low-post 2.

The receiver (3) now has two good passing options -- 4 at the low post and 2 cutting low into the lane off 5's screen.

Diags. 4 and 5 show how easy it is incorporate the sideline plays into the five basic rules continuity, rather than burdening the players with different rules, screens, and cuts.

Sideline play, Diag. 4: We start from a box with 4 flashing across the lane to screen for 5 at the elbow, and 2 screening for 1. Inbounder 3 can now hit 5 at the low post, or 4 at the high post, or 1 (safety man) near by.

What we have done, in effect, is skip rules 1 and 2 (enter, create a post) and are now ready to reverse the ball.

Sideline play, Diag. 5: As high post 4 moves down to screen for low post 5, inbounder 3 passes to 1 and drives under the low-post to the opposite side, while 5 cuts over 4's screen.

Meanwhile, point 1 dribbles to the middle and then passes to opposite wing 2. The receiver now has two good outlets for scoring passes: 3 in the low post and 5 low in the lane.

The entire continuity provides 18 options--backdoor, up-screen, isolation, etc.

Our five basic rules offer excellent potential for the secondary fast break and quick sets.

Another rule that everyone has to observe: Box out immediately after every shot.