Mike Fratello Ukraine Shuffle Stagger by Adam Spinella

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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December 24, 2014

Mike Fratello Ukraine Shuffle Stagger by Adam Spinella

The FIBA World Championships are a great place to find some fantastic and unique set plays for your basketball team. European coaches tend to have a different take on the game, and European players enjoy different spots on the floor to find their success. One of the exceptions to this was Ukraine, led by former NBA head coach Mike Fratello. Fratello put in a great sideline inbounds play that leads to a shuffle stagger – a post-up for a wing and a stagger for another shooter.

The initial formation is an overload towards the ball-side, with the bigs in a straight line from the corner to the opposite coaching hash. 3 takes it in, and 1 sets a down screen for 4. 4 pops up and catches the inbound pass at the lane line extended.

The point guard 1 pops out to the opposite wing after setting his down screen for 4, and he gets the ball off a reversal. That triggers a shuffle screen for the inbounder 3, coming into the ball-side post from the screen from 5. As 3 posts up, 2 then raises from the corner off a staggered screen and looks for the shot. As the ball moves across the floor from the inbound to the 1, x2 will shift to the middle, giving 2 the perfect opportunity to come off a screen without a contest.

Coach Adam Spinella is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach at Culver Acadelinmies in Culver, IN. Spinella spent the three years prior as a Student Assistant Coach at Division III Dickinson College. The Dickinson Men’s Team advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and accumulated an overall record of 59-26 (.694) during the three-year span, with the 2013-2014 season ending in the Division III Elite Eight. A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Spinella has a keen interest in X’s and O’s, particularly in professional basketball, and skill development.

Mike Fratello