Important Offensive and Defensive Fundamentals


By Jeff Hoyle
Head Coach
Dartmouth High School
Date: 03/17/2001

OFFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS

3 on 3 basketball is such an important part of learning to play 5 on 5 and the "team" game. Here are some things that I feel are important in that area. First, players should work on getting open to receive the ball. Speed change and getting "close to get open" are important skills to understand as well as the 4 ways to get open (V-cut, L-cut, inside pivot, backdoor cut). Once they have received the pass, they should square to the basket and be in a triple threat position. Now, protect the ball as you wait for the screening play to develop.

Players also need to work on the 4 ways to come off a screen by reading what the defense is doing. [If players start to look at the defense instead of instinctively going out to the wing every time they'll be much better players in the long run.]

Here are 4 ways to come off screens:

  1. Defense goes behind screen-fake low, rub off shoulder and move out toward ball (V-cut).
  2. Defense fights over screen - fake low, rub off shoulder and curl towards basket (curl).
  3. Defense steps over screen - fake high, rub off the low shoulder of the screener and go to the
      hoop (back door).
  4. Defense jumps behind screen - run at the screen, then fall back calling for the ball (fade).

Now you can run most anything using the above 4 options. You may want to play with:

(Play 1) A basic screen away. Point passes to wing and goes and screens for the other wing (this assumes they are setting up wing-point wing. See options above off the screen on all examples). You can also work the quick give and go on this point to wing pass. Make sure the point jabs away then cuts in front of the defender (ball side cut).

Now set up with a post player and a (Play 2) down screen (wing screens for post).

(Play 3) Option may be a back screen (post comes out to back screen for wing).

(Play 4) High post screen (1 passes to 2 on the wing, post player screens at high post for the 1.

(Play 5) 2-Stack - Basically all the options you get from a screen down you get from the stack.

(Play 6) Double low - 1 point, 2 post players, 1 screens away for the other.

Remind the players that the screener should always "open to the ball" Most all the time on a good screen, the screener is open if, and that's a big IF, they open to the ball. (Just like on a pick and roll. The screener should open "belly to the ball".)

Some other ideas:

DEFENSIVE FUNDAMENTALS

"I want us to play mother-in-law defense: constant nagging and harassment" Rick Pitino

In man-to-man be in a "ball-you-man" position. Play the ball and see your man. Remember good defense will save you when your offense isn't working. Whether in zone or man, we should always be playing "team defense" and looking to help each other out. We should never have and "off day" on defense.

  1. Cut down their number of shots.
  2. Cut down their percentage of shots.
  3. Cut down their second shots. Box out!
  4. Pressure the player with the ball. Don't allow the passer the chance to find the receiver ("dead"
      or "stick" when they have given up the dribble - but don't reach!).
  5. No cheap baskets!
  6. Keep hands active. Knees and elbows bent. Butts to the basket. If you get beat to the outside,
      beat them back to the spot. If you get beat to the inside, hustle back and look to tip it.
  7. Permit only the lob pass. (There should be help.)
  8. Permit only retreat or parallel passes.
  9. If the ball passes your line of defense, retreat to a deeper position for help, recovery or interception.
  10. Be in a good defensive position at all times (knees and elbows) and always deny the ball side cut.
  11. Weak side help must be ALERT and ready. Anticipate!!!

We show we are unselfish when...