FLOW- BALL – Continuous motion play by Walter Carvalho
During my years of participation as an athlete and coach in The North American, Brazilian and International basketball, I had the opportunity to play for and meet other coaches, attend clinics, and share professional experiences and philosophies. As a result, a philosophy that I call “Flow-Ball” was born. “Flow-Ball” emphasizes aggressive defense and a fast-paced transition game. This combination facilitates the control of the game rhythm, a very important factor in determining the winning team.
The offensive philosophy that I have adopted with my teams consists of a fast transition game, defense to offense, designed to create scoring opportunities without having to resort to a five-man half-court set play. Of course, I want my teams to be able to score off the primary and secondary break situations. If a scoring opportunity cannot be created, I have my team move into a two and three-man secondary motion attempting to isolate players in their respective areas of strength so they can use their abilities to overcome the defense. We are always looking for a high percentage scoring opportunity. A high percentage scoring opportunity is the one, not always the closest to the basket, but the one that finds one of our players in his respective area of strength attempting an uncontested shot while exploring mismatches situation. Our goal is to force the opponents’ best players to play defense and get in foul trouble as early as possible in the game.
By adopting this rapid pace game, my teams are able to control the rhythm of the game (we like to be the cat and not the mouse –which I believe represents one-third of the way to victory (We want our opponents to adjust to us defensively and offensively). The other two-thirds are included in the efficiency of our defensive system , execution of the game plan and player’s performances. This system does not diminish the importance of defense. In the past my teams defended well but could not take full advantage of ball possession against teams with superior talent. The increased speed and improved ability of my players in a full-court game have also improved the defensive efficiency of my teams, also making our practice sessions much more competitive.
In order to adopt “Flow-Ball”, practice sessions must be geared to the development of players’ individual skills and fundamentals on a full-court setting simulating game situations of two, three, four and five-man transition drills. Day-to-day preparation and dedication to the teaching and development of individual skills is extremely important.
Practice sessions organized on a full-court setting enforcing efficiency of performance and movement as related to time, speed and space will also improve players’ physical conditioning and reaction time. Players will be able to read, recognize and react to a variety of situations making better and more efficient decisions during games.
FAST BREAK — Basic Concept
During my coaching career, I tried different types of fast break systems. The one that I have observed to be the easiest for the players to learn and most adaptable to “Flow-Ball” is the numbered break. In the numbered break, all five lanes must be filled (one-middle, two-wings (rt./lt.), and two trailers). This break designates the assignments of each player on each lane according to their ability and physical characteristics.
Once the rebound is dominated and our team has possession of the ball, players have to react quickly and execute their assignments with proper timing and spacing. Players are numbered according to the following characteristics and assignments:
#1 – Point Guard – Characteristics: good ball handler, good game vision, good passer and generally the one with better skills. Has the ability to setup teammates in scoring positions. God outside shooter. Assignment: this player works hard to be open for the outlet pass, and runs the break on the middle of the floor, at times over the imaginary line between opposite elbows.
#2 – Second Guard – Characteristics: good ball control, good passer, likes to drive to the basket, shoots off-the-dribble usually possesses the ability to also run the point guard’s assignment. Assignment: runs the break on the middle or right side lane.
#3 – Wing Player – Characteristics: excellent outside shooter especially from the three-point range. Ability to penetrate and to look for inside of key passing opportunities to trailers. Assignment: Always run the left side lane.
#4 – Power Forward – Characteristics: strong on the boards, must possess the ability to play at least one dribble away from the basket. Must have the ability to play off the dribble and to pass the ball well. Should be a threat from outside as well as from inside of the key. Should look to use the glass and to use power moves to the basket. Assignment: runs the trail position, always opposite side of the point guard, stopping at the three-point line.
#5 – Center – Characteristics: strong on the boards, basically should have the same ability as the power forward. Should have good coordination and body control to perform moves to the basket without the use of a lot of space. Assignment: runs the trail position, going to the block ball side.
During practice sessions, it is critical to convey to team members the importance of running and getting the fast break formation moving as quickly as possible while reading and identifying the weaknesses of the defense. I want them to enjoy, as much as I do, the running game and to have confidence in their abilities to maneuver and perform in a rapid pace manner.(Refer to diag. 1 – primary Break)
It is important to stress during practice sessions that it is not always possible for the point guard, the #1 on the number break, to always be the one to get the outlet pass and to come back for the ball when we get the rebound. If the #1, point guard, is denied the outlet pass, or for a variety of reasons, the rebounder cannot find the #1 for the outlet pass, we designate the #5, the post player, as a pressure release, and the #2 player to be the ones eligible to get the first pass. Having these options available made the team’s fast break entry less predictable and harder to be defended. (Diag. 2)
Many teams may try to slowdown the transition game by attempting to deny the ball to the #1 player. Having more than one player eligible for the first pass will force the opposing team to go back to a three-quarter court and/or half court defensive positioning minimizing pressure on their offensive end. Teams may also attempt to deny both options by sending one more player to their offensive end leaving their defensive end less protected.
Another option we like to utilize as part of our primary break occurs when the opposing team takes a shot from outside the lane. The defender on the ball must have hands up contesting the shot and then, without rebounding responsibilities, must break to the other end of the court looking for a long pass. On made or missed shots and/or blocked shots, this player breaking away will be the first option for a pass on the break. (Diag. 3)
I have learned that opportunities for scoring off the primary break situations occur more often after the opposing team scores, after steals, after missing an outside shot attempt and while organizing a pressing defense. It is important to reiterate that players’ ability to react, to execute and to read the defense efficiently at a high speed, making good shot selections, can only be accomplished by consistently attempting to simulate realistic game-like situations during practice sessions.
To create other scoring opportunities in case scoring does not occur off the primary break opportunity, we like to run our secondary break (Diags 4-7) flowing straight into our continuous motion offense.
Diagrams 8-14 illustrates the continuous motion offense called “1-4” that we have utilized successfully in the past. The 1-4 includes a variety of screen situations, constant player movement and isolation opportunities as well as ball movement variations depending on the side of the first pass. The ball side and player we want to isolate, exploring mismatch situations during that particular game, will determine our ball movement and shot selection.
It produces high percentage scoring opportunities. I have used it effectively when trying to get the opponent’s best scorer or big man in foul trouble by forcing them to play defense having to defend the penetration and forcing body contact.
During practice session, we instill in all players, through the repetition of full-court drills, the importance to read the defense situation, to use space effectively and to constantly move with and without the ball in the attempt to create high percentage scoring situations.
For us, every ball possession should turn into a potential fast break situation (unpredictable rapid pace game). In order to utilize this concept effectively, the coach first must be committed to it and second, must be very patient during the teaching and learning phases. Success!
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Coach Carvalho holds a Masters Degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham and a BS. Degree from the State University of New York. Walter has coached at the University level in the US and professional clubs in Brazil, U.A.E., Lebanon and is currently coaching a professional Club and the national team of Bahrain.
Career Highlights
1981 – Signed first professional coaching contract in Brazil
1984 – Coached in the United Arab Emirates
1992 – Assistant coach Men’s Olympic Team of Brazil
1994 – Assistant Coach at U.A.B.
1998 – National Team Coach of Bahrain – Arab Championship Cup qualifier
2000 – Selected FIBA Expert for Asia
2003 – Selected Master Coach by the Bahrain Basketball Association
2002 – Coached in Lebanon
2003 – Coached in Bahrain – National League and Cup championship titles
2010 – Selected National Team Coach of Bahrain – Asia Games qualifier
2013 – Director of International Programs – Birmingham Basketball Academy
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