This isolation play could also be executed to the opposite side (for 03 to isolate his defender in the post on his own side of the court.) This instance has 03 breaking up & then making an “Iverson Cut” to the opposite side’s wing area over the top of 05 & 04. As 03 cuts off of 04, 04 then makes his own “Iverson Cut” off of 05. This places 04 on the offense’s left wing, 03 on the offense’s right wing, 05 on the left side’s high post, 02 on the offense’s right mid-post area & 01 at top of the key. 01 could make initial passes to either 04, 05 or 03 or to 02 on his delayed “Duck-In Cut.”
In this case, 01 makes the pass to 03. At same time, 04 then sets a flare-screen for 01 to flare-cut & 05 flashes to the new ballside high post. This action completely isolates 02 (& X2) on his mid-post position. This play has inverted a perimeter player (this time it is 02) & therefore forces an opponent’s perimeter defender into a defen-sive disadvantage. To further the defensive disadvantage, X2 is com-pletely isolated with the defense’s two big-gest defenders at the high post & at the top of the key. 03 could make a bounce pass to 02 if X2 plays behind him, or 03 could make a lob pass if X2 fronts 02. 03 also has passing options to 05 at the high post, a possible skip pass to 01 now at the WS Wing area or to 04 now at top of key.
There are two different ways this play could continue, which now will be described as Options 1 and 2. This option is the same as discussed in earlier entries of plays, called the “Shuffle & Stagger” option. Specifically, if 03 chooses for some reason not to make the inside pass to 02 or to 05, he reverses ball to 04 out on top. Immediately, 03 has luxury to either cut off of If 02’s back-screen down on the block or to scrape off of 05’s high post back-screen. If 04 does not hit 03 in the lane on his cut, 03 continues to the opposite side’s mid-post position. As soon as 04 swings ball to 01, both he & 05 then stagger screen for 02 to use as he breaks to top of key for a likely ‘3 pt.’ shot. If shots are still not taken, all are in ‘3Out of 2-In’ spot-ups to maintain the attack with a designated Motion or continuity.
01 can dribble to FT Line extended on either side of floor after determining which side to attack.
Newly declared Ballside Post (04 in this case) makes a strong duck-in cut to middle of the lane. If fronted, 01 makes ‘lob pass,’ if played behind, 01 makes bounce pass to 04. 02 v-cuts before breaking up to receive ‘weave hand-off ‘ from 01 near FT Line extended. 02 then dribbles towards the top of the key, with 01 drifting away from the 02 and the ball.
As 02 dribbles towards top of the key, he first looks to hit 04 on his second strong duck-in cut. At the same time, 05 breaks up to ball-screen for 02 so he can turn the corner. 05 then ‘rim runs’ & loops to the bas-ket , looking for a lob pass from 02. 04 continues across the lane to post up. 03 spots up as a potential 3-pt. shooter or inside passer to 04. 02 looks to hit 04 posting up, for 05 with a lob pass, a skip pass to 01 on the WS Wing or to 03 in the BS Deep Corner. No shots produced still place five players in spot-ups to continue attacking.
02 can pass inside to 04, or to 03 for a shot or for 03’s inside pass to 04. 02 could ‘skip’ the ball to 01 or reverse to 01 after cutting to top of key. 01 could then look to hit 04 again ‘chasing the ball,’ or he could continue the swing to 05, who has popped out to the FT Line extended.. When 01 swings ball to 05, 04 continues across lane with 01 & 02 setting a stagger-screen for 03 to use for a possible “3” on top. This action again isolates 04’s defender inside.
Still if no shots are produced, it places all five players in a ‘3-Out/2-In’ Spot-Ups to continue attacking with a form of a ‘Motion’ Offense or a designated continuity offense.
John Kimble is a respected basketball coach, author, and educator with extensive coaching experience.
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