Getting The Open Three

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 Plays

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August 8, 2016

You’re down two, with 20 seconds to go, and the ball – what do you do? Run your normal offense? Or pull out a special play?

I’m a big believer in practicing situations in practice, so that when it comes to situations like this in game, you and your players are calm and confident – you already know what you’re going to do.

And when I’m down three in a game with enough time to run a full play, my players already know which basketball play we’re going to run.

…For The Win!

Start with your point guard up top, and your other four players down split between the two blocks. You’ll have your shooter and your power forward on the left block, and your small forward and center on the other.
Pat August Dedicated post image 1

Now on the point guard’s command, the small forward is going to sprint up to the wing on the right side, receiving a pass from the point, who will then slide over the left wing. Your shooter will come up and around the power forward, and then under the center, sprinting out to the corner on the right side. As soon as the shooter has made this move around the power forward, he’ll sprint up to the foul line.

From here, the small forward will pass the ball to the power forward – this is the signal for the shooter to start running. The power forward is going to pass the ball right back to the 3 man, and then run down to setup a double screen with the point guard about halfway down the left foul lane.

Pat August Dedicated post image 2

In the meantime, the shooter will run up and over the center before coming back down to the baseline to create a good angle to go at the double screen. He’ll come off, curling around the point guard with his hands ready to shoot the open three.

The point guard will go and replace in the corner the shooter was just in. This is so that just in case the small forwards man helps and goes to contest the shooter, the shooter can pass the ball to the small forward, who will then swing it down to the point for another good look.

The defense will be packed in, expecting you to go for the tie and a layup or a mid-range jumper, and chances are you’ll get a great look at the shot that could win you the game!
If you’d like to see more plays like this, check out these free basketball coaching videos from 2-time NBA Coach of the Year Hubie Brown!