Basketball Plays - Last Second, Half-Court "Buzzer-Beater" Plays
From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.netHere's the situation: the game is tied, or your team is down 1 or 2 points, with a few seconds left in the game or period. You have the ball out-of-bounds at the half-court line (or just inside half-court). You need to run a quick sideline play that will get you a last second shot, often a "catch and shoot" shot, since there isn't time to make a dribble or a pass. In addition to the two plays below, see the sideline plays "Pairs", "Stack" and "Line-1", which can also be used in this situation.
"DePaul"
Contributed by: Coach Ken Sartini (aka "Coach Sar"), Arlington Hts, IL.Here's a play you can try with several options. See the diagrams below. You can change the player assignments to fit your team's strengths. Have your two three-point shooters (O2 and O3) start down low, with your posts (O4 and O5) spaced out on the three-point arc (or higher) as seen in diagram A. O2 and O3 will set back-screens for the post players, and O1 may attempt the long pass to either O4 or O5 for the lay-in (diagram B). Now, if the defense switches and sags and denies those passes, or if you need a three-pointer, look to diagram C... after setting the screens, O2 and O3 roll out to the three-point arc for the pass and shot.
Coach Sar says that in his experience, oftentimes the O5 defender does not like to leave his man and give help defense. In this case, you could switch the roles of O5 and O3, especially if you have a very athletic O3 (one of those slender, long-armed, quick kids that can really jump, catch the ball and finish). This option may also work too if you have a O5 who can step outside and shoot the three-pointer.
Now suppose the defense decides not to guard the in-bounder, but instead positions him/her in the paint to prevent the long pass (diagram D). Run the play just the same (diagram E), but hit then in-bounder (O1) with the return pass for the three-point shot (diagram F).
One way to set this up, assuming you have a time-out, is to get ready to run the play. Then if you notice that the in-bounder is not being guarded, call time-out and have your team go to this option instead. If the players know both options, or you have no time-outs left, just yell "Option 1" ("1" for the in-bounder, the point guard).
"Chicago"
Contributed by: Coach Ken Sartini (aka "Coach Sar"), Arlington Hts, IL.This is another "catch and shoot" play with several options. The pass receiver must be ready to catch and immediately shoot if there is no time for a dribble or pass.
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Diagram A. O3 must read the defender. If O3's defender is playing down in the paint, O4 screens him/her and O3 V-cuts out for the skip pass. O4 posts up on the block and O3 can either take the shot or O3 and O4 can run a two-man game. Diagram B. Now if the X3 defender is playing out on O3 then the second read is O3 cutting baseline off double staggered screens by O4 and O1, to the ball-side corner. After screening, O4 moves up to the high-post. |
Diagram C. O4 drops down and sets a screen for O1, while O5 moves to the high post and also screens for O1. O1 cuts around the double staggered screen to the point, looking for the pass and shot.
Diagram D. O5 slides to the ball-side elbow and O4 moves to the weak-side low block. The pass from O2 could go to O3, O5 or O1.
Diagram E. If O2's defender is sagging way off, O2 could get the return pass and shot.Also see:
"Pairs", "Stack" and "Line-1".