Basketball Plays - 3-Out, 2-In "Options" Series

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net

Contributed by: Coach Jeff Farquhar, 7th-8th Grade Boys Basketball, Metro Christian Academy, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"Option"

The first is called "Option" because of the many options available off this play.

Diagram A. Set up in a double stack as shown. O2 breaks out to the right wing and receives the pass from O1. O3 cuts out to the left wing. O4 posts up hard on the ball-side block. If open, O2 can make the pass to O4 for the post move and shot (Diagram B).

Meanwhile, after making the pass, O1 cuts around O2. If O1 is able to lose the defender, O2 can simply handoff to O1 passing by (Diagram C), or make a little delayed "dump" pass to O1 who is cutting toward the hoop (see Diagram D). In either case, O1 dribbles the ball to the hoop for the lay-up. You will note that O4 moved out of the low block area, up to the high post, to clear the area for O1. O4 should be taught to move to the high post if he/she does not receive the pass immediately from O2.

If O1 does not receive the ball, he then moves along the baseline, receives a screen from O5, and cuts to the weak-side corner-wing area (Diagram E).

Diagrams E and F. Now the ball-side is cleared out for a pick and roll play with O4 setting the pick for O2 and then rolling to the hoop. O2 can drive to the hoop for the lay-up, or dump the pass off to either O4 for the lay-up, or O3 or O1 for the outside three-pointer.

"Fist" Option

See the diagrams below. After the opponent begins to "cheat" on O1 coming off the screen on the "Options" play above, then use this play. It starts the same way with the double low stack, and once again O1 passes to O2 on the wing, and makes the cut around O2. O4 immediately moves up to the high post area. This time, O1 cuts around O2 and sets a screen for O5 (Diagram B). O5 receives the pass from O2 for the lay-up (Diagram C). If O5 is not open for the pass, he/she clears to the short corner area and once again, you have a pick and roll play with O4 setting the pick for O2 (Diagram D).

While O5 is making his initial cut, O3 sets a down-screen for O1. O1 pops outside to the three-point line. O2 can drive to the hoop, or pass to O4 for the lay-up, or O1 for the three-point shot (Diagram D).