Basketball Plays

Make the Grade With Your Team's Basketball Plays

At the beginning of the season, basketball coaches need to develop a series of offensive basketball plays that capitalize on the strengths of every player.  These plays need to be concise, simple and to the point.  When basketball plays become too convoluted and difficult, they tend to fall apart under the team’s feet.  Try coming up with a series of plays that are easy enough to remember yet varied enough to be effective for a variety of different defensive strategies.  Feel free to use the following basketball plays as outlines for developing your own offensive style.  

Basketball Play #1- The Possibilities are Endless  

These basketball plays are all for the 1-3-1 offensive format.  For the first play, the point guard is in the center at the top of the key with the wings on either side.  The left post player is at the free throw line while the right post is in deep on the right side of the net.  

To begin the play, the point guard passes the ball to the right wing while the right post cuts to the corner of the court.  Try to keep the wings playing as wide as possible to keep the inside passing lanes open.  The right wing passes to the right post then makes a break for the net.  The right wing is now the first option to receive the pass from the right post.  If such a pass is possible, then the right wing should receive the pass and take the shot.

If the right wing is being covered by the other team’s defense, then the right post should pass to the left post who has moved in behind the right wing.  In the meantime, the point guard now stands where the right wing began the formation and the left wing takes the point guard’s place at the top of the key.

If the right wing is unable to pass to either of the players near the net, then they pass it back to the point guard, who in turn delivers it to the left wing.  In the meantime, the players near the net resume their initial positions of wing and post in an attempt to free themselves up to receive the pass. The left wing passes to the other wing, who is either free to take a jump shot or pass to either of the posts.  

Basketball Play #2- Three’s Company 

Next, we have another one of the many-optioned basketball plays that can prove successful in a game play situation.  For this play, the point guard is at the top of the key with the wings on either side.  The left post stands near the left side of the basket while the right post stands at the free throw line.

To begin the play, the point guard dribbles to the right wing’s position.  As the point guard dribbles, the right wing cuts towards the net as the right post makes a break for the deep right corner of the court.  Now, the point guard can either pass it to the right post in the corner, the right wing directly at the net or the left post at the free throw line, depending on who’s open and has the best chances of making the shot.