Lob Series vs. Man by Will McKethan
As a fan of easy lay-ups, I am a firm believer in having a few set plays that set-up lob opportunities on the backside. No matter if you have an athletic rim breaker or a team of junior high girls, these few basic sets can lead to easy buckets when called upon.
The first set incorporated into this lob series is one called Texas. This play is based off the idea of overloading a side against a zone. You begin in a 1-4 High Set with the PG passing to a guard who v-cuts to get open. As this is happening, the ball-side post slides to the block with the offside post flashing to the ball-side elbow. The offside guard runs the baseline and ends up in ball-side corner thus pulling their defender from the backside. As this is taking place the PG follows their pass to receive a handoff from the wing with the ball.
After the exchange, the wing who handed the PG the ball lob cuts off the high post who sets a “brush screen” as to keep their defender from realizing they are screening. Without a ton of movement or screening taking place, many view this play as limited in its options. However, with a PG who can read the defense you can really take advantage of holes that the defense leaves.
Option #1: Lob Cut
Option #2: Low post in 1-on-1 if defender releases to help on lob
Option #3: High post catch and shoot if defender helps on lob
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The second lob set in the lob series starts in a Box set. The posts start high with guards on the block. The high post on the right side starts the action by setting a down-screen for the guard on the right block. After setting the down-screen the low post should post hard working for good position to draw the defense. The guard comes off the screen to the wing to catch a pass from the PG. The opposite guard sprints to ball-side corner. The remaining high post sets a lob screen for the PG who comes off of it directly after making the pass to the wing.
This is the definition of a quick hitter that is either there or not. If you fail to get a look at the quick lob or 1-on-1 in the post then you begin your half-court offense.
Option #1: Lob Cut
Option #2: Low post 1-on-1
Option #3: High Post
A lob set out of your secondary break can be very effective as well. This is an example of a lob set in a push/pull series in which the ball-side guard either pushes through to the opposite side, or pulls and stays on ball-side for the halfcourt offense. Push 54 – Reverse gives you a chance to get a quick look at a lob in your early offense. In the push series, the two (or ball-side guard) will push through to the opposite side. As this is taking place, the PG will pass to the trailing post (4) who stops above the 3 pt. line. The post with the ball will reverse the ball to the three. As this is happening, the low post (5) will come up and set a back-screen for the high post who just reversed the ball. The high post will cut hard and look for the lob pass.
The 5 (sprinting post) sets the screen for the 4 (trailing post) after the ball is reversed, thus 54 – Reverse.
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A lob set out of your secondary break can be very effective as well. This is an example of a lob set in a push/pull series in which the ball-side guard either pushes through to the opposite side, or pulls and stays on ball-side for the halfcourt offense. Push 54 – Reverse gives you a chance to get a quick look at a lob in your early offense. In the push series, the two (or ball-side guard) will push through to the opposite side. As this is taking place, the PG will pass to the trailing post (4) who stops above the 3 pt. line. The post with the ball will reverse the ball to the three. As this is happening, the low post (5) will come up and set a back-screen for the high post who just reversed the ball. The high post will cut hard and look for the lob pass.
The 5 (sprinting post) sets the screen for the 4 (trailing post) after the ball is reversed, thus 54 – Reverse.
The last lob incorporated into the series is called “Money.” It is the most complex of the series and has multiple actions that can be tough to defend when ran well. This set begins in a 1-4 High or Horns set, whichever you prefer. The PG dribbles at a wing who bumps corner. As this is taking place the offside guard sprints to the rim and then directly up the lane through a fake elevator screen from the high posts. Again, the posts get set for an elevator screen but do not “close the doors.” As the defender gets through the elevator screen, the offside post sets a back-screen on him. The guard who ran through the elevator screen now comes off the back-screen looking for a lob from the PG.
This set offers a great opportunity to get a post touch as well. As the back-screen is being set by the offside post, the ball-side post is taking two big steps back and then rising to set a back-screen for the offside post. The offside post sets the lob-screen and then rolls over the screen set by the ball-side post trying to get solid positioning on the block for an easy lay-up or a 1-on-1 post touch.
Option #1 – Lob Cut
Option#2 – Low post
Option #3 – High post
Coach Will McKethan is currently the head coach of the Holland High School girls program in Holland, Texas. He is in his first year in this role at Holland after spending last year as an assistant girls’ basketball coach in Slaton, Texas. Coach McKethan graduated from Baylor University in August 2013 where he worked as a manager for two years under Coach Scott Drew and the Baylor men’s program. After doing this for a few years, Coach McKethan started an elite level girls AAU program in Central Texas. For the next three years, he focused his time and efforts on this and built a club basketball program in the area that has sent multiple girls to play at various levels of college basketball.
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