Mahtomedi High-Low Quick Hitter

Photo courtesy of zephyrmclub.com

Today the St. Thomas coaching staff was watching film on Mahtomedi. They ran a really simple, quick, but effective high-low set for their stud Zach Linquist. The thing about it that's special is that it throws a little mis-direction at you, but really gets the ball where it needs to be quickly.

The set starts out with a 1-3-1 look with the stud (5) in the high post, another post player (4) in the low post, a shooter (3) on the one wing, and a second shooter (2) on the other wing.

The set starts with the point guard (1) dribbling at the wing opposite the low post (4). As he does the wing (2) comes up and sets a ball screen, then pops to the top for a three. As the point (1) is coming off the ball screen the high post stud (5) screens down for the low post (4) who pops to the elbow. The point (1) enters the ball to the high post player coming off the screen (4) who immediately goes inside to the stud (5) who sealed as soon as he set the down screen. When we watched it, the timing was perfect and the stud (5) was in perfect position to catch and score.

Mapooro Cantu BLOB Set

I would encourage you all to watch Euroleague games, as the coaches over there run some great offense. As a motion coach I personally love watching some of their motion actions. They also run some outstanding sets and a lot of good pick and roll action - something for everyone really. They play a fun style, are all skilled, and really move the ball well. Tonight I was watching Mapooro Cantu against Real Madrid and I picked up a slick baseline out of bounds set that I wanted to share. One of the great things about the Euroleague teams BLOB sets is their formations. Most US teams have standard formations, such as line, box, and flat. In Euroleague however,they are much more imaginative and run their BLOBs out of some very unique formations, like the one for the set below.

The set starts with a stack in the mid post with the post players, a shooter at the free throw line, and another player just inside the laneline opposite the ball. The player just inside the lane line comes up and off a screen by the player on the free throw line and makes it look like he's coming off the double as well. Instead of coming off the double, however, he curls the free throw line screen and curls to the rim. The screener then pops off the double screen for a shot.

My adjustment
Because this BLOB set is in the vein of what we say from the Shockers in the set two posts below, I think a good ending would be the second guy in the stack (5) upscreening for the first (4).

Two Eastern Kentucky Backdoor Sets

Now I'm re-watching West Virginia vs. Eastern Kentucky from earlier today. Eastern Kentucky scored a  couple of baskets early off of these two backdoor set plays. The first one is complicated and takes a lot of time to develop, the second is more of a quick hitter, however. Personally, I wouldn't run the first one on a high school level, as it's pretty complicated and takes too long to develop. The second one, on the other hand, would make for a perfect quick hitter to get into our motion offense.


Set #1
Set one starts in a 1-3-1 type set with the point guard (1) at the top of the key, the post (5) in the high post and other perimeters (2,3,4) on the wings and low block. The bigger perimeter player (4) is the one who is on the low block.

The set starts with the player on the block (4) and the wing (2) on his side interchanging with the wing going to the short corner. The point (1) passes to the player coming up from the block on the interchange (4) and cuts through to the backside block. Once the point is through the high post (5) steps out and receives the pass from the wing (4). The backside wing (3) down screens for the point (1) who comes to the wing. The player who set the down screen (3) fills to the deep corner.

After the point (1) gets out to the wing, the player who passed the ball to 5 (4) sets a down screen for the player on the block (2) and then sets a backscreen for the player on the opposite wing (1).  Once the backscreen is set for 1, the post (5) makes a pass to the left wing (2) and cuts to the ballside block. As soon as the pass is made, the 4 comes over and sets a ballscreen. The ballhandler on the wing (2) comes off the ballscreen hard across the top. The deep corner player (3) raises up as if he's going to get the ball then goes backdoor for a layup.

Set #2

In set #2, which I like better, it started in an odd looking set. The point (1) and off guard (2) start high with the point (1) at the top of the key and the off guard (2) starts high and off the laneline. One wing (3) starts in the deep corner opposite the off guard (2). The other wing (4) starts free throw line extended on the off guard's (2) side. The post (5) starts at the high post again.

To start the play the off guard (2) cuts and stacks with the post at the middle of the free throw line. The wing on the guard's side (4) raises up and receives the ball. The point (1) corner cuts after he makes the pass.

The player with the ball on the wing (4) starts to dribble to the top. The post (5) sets a backscreen for the off guard (2) who cuts to the block. He fills the ballside corner and the point (1) moves from he corner up to the wing replacing the wing (4) who's dribbling.  After setting the screen, the post (5) immediately cuts up like he wants the ball and then backcuts to the rim. The player with the ball (4) keeps dribbling across the key. The backside deep corner player (3) raises up like he's going to get the pass and then goes backdoor for a layup.

Great BLOB by Wichita State

Currently watching Wichita State Play Northern Iowa on ESPN3. ESPN3 is my saving grace as I don't have cable!

Anyway, Wichita State ran this BLOB play and I thought it was pretty slick. It's not fancy or complicated, but it gets the job done and I bet it'll fool at least a few opponents this year. The announcers on ESPN even talked about how UNI covered this play during their walk-through today and it still worked!

The play starts with two players stacked at and just below the free throw line. A scorer (3) starts in the three spot, just below the stack. A shooter (2) stands on the ballside corner to occupy a defender. The scorer (3) comes off the double screen by circling around the first and squeezing between the screeners back to the spot he came. Might get an easy lay up here, but chances are that 3s guy will sag.

As the scorer (3) clears the screen he continues to head to the backside of the rim. The second guy in the stack (5) screens the first guy in the stack (4). The first guy in the stack (4) cuts to the ball and recieves the pass for a shot. If the player coming off the screen (4) is denied by the corner player's (2) defender, then the shooter (2) is wide open for a three.

Possible Counters

If the defense starts to sag off of 4 and blow up the play, then 5 can pin down 4's guy. 4 pops out to the free throw line extended for an easy three.

The stud (3) can start to come off the screen bu instead backscreen for 5.

Put the shooter in the 5 spot if they sag off you and have him pop to the free throw line extended after setting the three, or the corner spot (2) can flair for him.

Where Have I Been? And being Blessed at 0-5.

Well, I have not posted for an embarassingly long time! What have I been doing you ask? Nope, not on a secret mission to save America, didn't take a mission trip, and definitely wasn't on a trip around the world.

What I was doing, however was trying my best to be a great teacher for St. Paul Humboldt, a great husband to my wife Desiree, a great coach for St. Thomas Academy, along with buying a house, moving,  and being a first time homebuyer with no internet.

With that said, I am going to try to update this more often, as well as start a free basketball website where I can post all of my handouts, videos, thoughts, materials, links, etc. Coming soon - but not up and running yet.

At St. Thomas we've had a rough start to the year on the scoreboard - we've started out 0-5, but could easily be 4-1. Lost a game in triple overtime, lost a game by 5 (and had 25 turnovers), lost by 8 (had a lead), and lost, and lost by 5 and had a lead.

Some would be down about this - how are we losing? But there are are a couple of reasons that we are blessed:
1. We are blessed with a great head coach who is going to get us pointed in the right direction/
2. We are blessed with great player who are going to work hard and get better each day.
3. We are blessed with the knowledge of  what we need to improve on.
4. We are blessed that everyone is on board.

Because of this, we are going to turn it around. With the exception of the first game where John Marshall kicked our butts, we've competed in every game and given ourselves chances to win. Honestly, I would rather be 0-5 than 4-1 because our practices are more focused.


Happy holidays to everyone, whatever you celebrate, and remember to give thanks for the important things in life - family, friends, and the abilities you do have!

The Rubishko Files: Greece 2008 Olympic Horns Sets

Editors Note: Several weeks ago I was helping my head coach move and aquired several boxes of scouting reports, game film, and scouting tapes. The Rubishko Files are information from there. As a courtesy to the coaches I am not going to list the school and also out of respect I am not going to share any information from coaches who have helped me in the past.
Introduction
These sets come from a breakdown of the 2008 Greek Olympic Team's Horn Sets. These clips were actually put together by DeLaSalle's Coach Thorson who watches obscene amounts of tape each year! And I'm not a horns fan by any means, but I am impressed with what they do out of these sets. Simple, yet effective.

Set 1 - Swing and Slip
This is an interesting set, and a great compliment to the horns set published below. Also, in these sets Greece starts their posts higher than the other team did, which I like better - more room to operate.

The point guard (1) comes off the 4's side. The other post (5) slips to the rim and then the block. Look to get him the ball. The 4 who set the screen flairs to the opposite slot off the screen.

 The ball gets throw back across to the 4. The 4 then looks to drive. The ball side corner (3) comes up and gets the ball if the drive is not there.

 The 4 dives off the pass out and the 5 pops to the elbow and gets the ball. He can shoot it, dump into the 4, or kick across to the other wing (2) who came up.



 

Set 2 - Flair

This is another great counter to the bread and butter post entry horns set a few posts back.

 

In this set, the point (1) again comes off the 4's side of the ball screen.

 The backside post (5) sets a flair screen for the 4 who flairs to the opposite slot. We throw the ball back across to the 4 who can immediately go.

If the 4 doesn't immediately go to the rack the 5 pseudo rolls and then sets a ball screen for the 4 to go baseline.



 

**Obviously you can't run this with an unskilled 4, but if you've got a 4 who can play, and run a 4 guard system, this would be a great set for you to run. I would say you even could run it with your stud wing at the 4.

 

 

Set 3 - Switch and Slip

A dirt simple play, but it's the simplicity I fell in love with. So the 1 comes off the 4s side again. The 5 works his way out between the slot and the wing.

 This time the 4 turns and rescreens, the 1 comes back across the top and the 5 backcuts for a layup.

 

Closing Thoughts

The simplicity of these Greek sets is what's beautiful about them.  If you are into the high pick and roll game, or you've got a good post and need creative ways to involve him in the offense, these could work very well for you.

 

 

 

 

The Rubishko Files: Simple, but Great, Horns Set

Editors Note: Several weeks ago I was helping my head coach move and aquired several boxes of scouting reports, game film, and scouting tapes. The Rubishko Files are information from there. As a courtesy to the coaches I am not going to list the school and also out of respect I am not going to share any information from coaches who have helped me in the past.

This was a horns set that was on a scouting tape. This team has a nice post and ran this set for him OVER AND OVER with success. It's simple, but every coach should add it to their tool belt - I know I have! It's pretty similar to what Spain was doing during the Olympics - although this film was from 2008.


This starts as a basic horns set with the point guard (1) coming off the high screen on the side of the stud post. The point (1) bounces out to the wing, stud post rolls (look inside), and the opposite post (4) pops high.

Throw the ball back to the high post (4) and go right into the stud post (5) who sealed off the roll if he didn't get it.

 



So again, it's a super simple set, but