2015 NBA Playoffs Late Game Offense

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Offenses

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June 29, 2015

2015 NBA Playoffs Late Game Offense

The NBA Playoffs ended with a series for the ages between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. To get there, both teams had to endure 3 rounds preceding their Finals appearance. Those rounds and all 16 teams involved made for a great 2 months of basketball action.

To make the NBA Playoffs first and foremost you need great players. Without great players you’ll have nothing. However, as Steve Kerr and David Blatt proved this June you also need great coaching to put those players in a position to be successful. No other time is a coach tested than in late game situations when his teams need a basket. This 2015 NBA Playoffs Late Game Offense post features sets by Greg Popovich, Jason Kidd, Randy Wittman and the aforementioned Blatt during important junctures of a playoff game.

The NBA rules are unique in basketball terms in that they allow you to advance the ball into the front court for a sideline out of bounds (SLOB) opportunity after a timeout. This is where coaches utilize their understanding of time, score, match ups and creativity. The great coaches can put the ball in the correct players’ hands in their preferred spot on the floor with ample opportunities to make a play.

The following Youtube video and Diagrams show 8 outstanding after time out (ATO) actions that were drawn up by the best in the business during the NBA Playoffs. Some of the sets didn’t get the desired result, but the anticipation of a successful possession were spot on. For the Bucks and Wizards the sets resulted in made baskets after outstanding passes and shots by the players. For the Spurs, Cavs and Hawks the initial set might not of yielded the desired result but still their players in a great position to be successful. Enjoy these 2015 NBA Playoffs Late Game Offense Set Plays.

Steve Prohm Murray State Offense

Follow Coach John Zall on Twitter!!!

Coach John Zall just completed his first season as an Assistant Coach at Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. This past season Franklin Pierce University won 20 games and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Zall arrived at Franklin Pierce after spending the past 3 seasons as the Associate Head Coach/Head JV Coach at O’Bryant High school in Roxbury, MA. During his tenure at O’Bryant the program improved from 4 wins to 12 wins and qualified for the MIAA State Tournament twice.

Coach Zall also has experience as an AAU Head Coach for the Boston Warriors. As Head Coach for the Warriors his team won the 2011 16U State Title and twice competed in AAU Nationals down in Orlando, FL. On top of being a student at Northeastern University, Zall was named Head Coach of the Men’s Club Basketball team for the 2012-13 season. During his lone season as Head Coach, Northeastern finished second in the Northeast Regional Tournament featuring colleges from throughout the East Coast. Coach Zall has also spent time as a Head Coach in the Bay State Games where his team won the Bronze Medal in 2012 and at various camps including: Five Star, Boston Celtics, NIKE, Franklin Pierce University, Hoop Group and The Elite 75.

Click on the pdf link below to download the 2015 NBA Playoffs Late Game Offense: