By Scott Allen

Basketball Development Trainer & Former College Basketball Coach

For many summer’s, I traveled the basketball camp circuit searching for knowledge from the top coaches in America. If you have you have the opportunity to get out and work some camps of the top programs in the country you will learn more about the game than you can imagine.  The biggest lesson that I learned is “it’s not brain surgery.” The game is meant to be simple with correct fundamental instruction in mind. Here are some ideas that I’m thinking about for the upcoming season. I hope these ideas can aide in the success of your program. Please feel free to contact me via email to talk some hoops. I would love the opportunity to learn your ideas.

This is a brainstorm of offensive concepts that I put together on a flight to kill some time.  Please forgive the jumping around of topics.

1. Know your strengths and play to them.
2. Avoid playing to your weaknesses.
3. KISS-keep it simple stupid-teaching.
4. All you need is one good screen to have good motion.
5. Going inside= fouls, points, free throws and offensive rebounding.
6. Space your offense out to stretch the defense.
7. Dribble penetrate to force the defense to help and find the openings.
8. Leave a space and then fill the space, it creates good movement.
9. Make purposeful cuts and ball movement.
10. Learn the game to be able to teach it.  Study one solid program inside and out.
11. Patience will get you good shots.
12. If you want a jump shot, throw the ball in the post and pass out to shooters relocating.
13. To get the ball inside, have the post down screen for a teammate who is waiting under the rim. Wait for the screen, set the screen, and post up strong to seal.
14. Catch the ball in the post as close to the rim as you can.
15. Put your best athlete in the middle of the floor against pressure.
16. A 10 second count is better than a quick turnover against full court pressure because eventually you’ll see the gaps.
17. Where does your offense go after a successful break of pressure?
18. Pass the ball up the floor and have players run the floor wide on the wings.
19. Stretch the defense in transition.
20. Have a simple secondary break with no more than one or two simple screens.
21. One simple screen in secondary break and then space the floor and play.
22. Feed the fire…if it works keep going to it.
23. Good players play low and wide.
24. And 1 tapes and the moves on the tapes can stay out of my gym.
25. Play in straight lines.
26. When confused on offense, pull the ball out, space the floor, dribble penetrate with your best ball handler to create options or throw the ball in the post.
27. Good passes get good shots.
28. Bad passes make bad shooters.
29. Great shooters do not care about missing or getting their shot blocked.
30. You have to get second shots.
31. Over the back calls are ok early on to show your team will be aggressive to the offensive glass.
32. Think offensive rebounding before defensive transition.
33. If you have a good player on your team sit down with the parents to discuss the college recruiting process.
34. Best players get the most shots.
35. Call college coaches or send out profile letters about your team and the talent of the players. It won’t hurt.
36. On dribble drives to the rim, jump stop and power up strong.
37. Take it to the rim when you need to score.  You’ll either get fouled, score, or miss.
38. Simple offense action off simple offensive formation with simple screens.
39. Spread the floor. Screen and roll at the top. Put good shooters in corners. Read the defense.
40. Slow down offensive movement. Be solid, you have the ball.
41. On screens: wait, walk into, and explode off.
42. Have your best shooters back screen and then step out for jumpers or to get them the ball.
43. In a 3 out 2 in set, when ball is on the wing, have the opposite post flash high or set a stagger screen for the opposite wing. This occupies the help.
44. 4 Out 1 In Offense: Pass, screen away on perimeter or basket cut. Post works the paint.
45. Cut to the rim and space out high and wide.
46. Let the team know what you want and then teach it to them.
47. If you’re a patient offense team, show them what a good shot and a bad shot is…or they will never shoot.
48. Attack a defender in foul trouble. Put them in the post or take off dribble.
49. When passing to the wing from the top of the key, cut to the rim and rub off the post. After that the post can exchange. Get movement!
50. Teach the team how to play and not how to run plays. They will have no instincts when the play breaks down if you do not.

These ideas have been gathered from some of the best coaches in the country. Basketball is a game where every aspect of it can be discussed.  Philosophies, style of play, and personnel differ for every team. I hope that these ideas can help you in anyway. If you have any questions or would like to talk hoops please email me.  Thanks for your time…….

Scott Allen

Sallen9774@aol.com