Phoenix Suns “7 Seconds or Less 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 Plays

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February 27, 2015

Phoenix Suns “7 Seconds or Less Offense

The 2009-2010 Phoenix Suns were one of the best offense teams the NBA has ever seen. Led by future Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash the Suns averaged 110.2 points-per-game en route to a 54-28 record; good for 3rd place in the Western Conference. The high powered Suns offense scored at a rate of 1.15 points-per-possession, a mark that would lead the NBA this season by over 5 hundredths of a possession (the Clippers score at a rate of 1.10).

Steve Nash led the NBA that season with an average of 11 assists per game with a large portion of those coming to leading scorer Amare Stoudemire as the roll man in their vaunted pick and roll attack. The Suns offense revolved around Nash and Stoudemire pick and rolls and floor spacing. During the 2009-10 season the Suns were the only team to shoot 40% from 3 as a collective unit. Wings Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Grant Hill and Jason Richardson all shot over 39% from 3 individually.

The clips below show a favorite play that the Suns use to run that utilize the brilliant passing of Nash, the floor spacing their wings provide and Stoudemire rolling to the rim. Nash starts with the ball and has Stoudemire set a ball screen as he moves from the wing towards the middle of the floor. The wing that Nash is dribbling away from is the “single-side” or only has 1 player occupying it. As Nash switches sides of the floor with his dribble, the single side defender becomes the weak side and is the help on the rolling Stoudemire. While Stoudemire roles the offensive player elevates from the corner and dragging the defender helping on the roll away from the rim. The play is run with perfect timing and Nash hits the rolling Stoudemire.

Of course the simplicity of the play is helped by the elite level of talent executing it. Stoudemire has great hands, footwork and was an explosive athlete during this season and he had Nash, the quintessential passing point guard. Surround them with knock down shooters and you have one of the best offenses in NBA History.

John Zall BIO

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.

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