Basketball Offenses:
Plays that Open Up Opportunities

Finding new basketball offenses will not make you a championship contender overnight - any play is just a way to organize your team on the court, not a magical formula for winning. But a good offensive play will help you position players where you want them and open up scoring possibilities that will help you put points on basketball scoreboards.

Basketball plays are a dime a dozen - a quick search online will pop up a dozen sites, each offering dozens of plays. But you don't need dozens - you need two, maybe three. One play that works well against a man to man defense, and one that works well against a zone. And maybe one more to mix it up a little. Any more than that and you'll just confuse your players.

Some plays will focus on strengths - e.g., the play will focus on getting your big man open, or isolating your star guard. I have nothing against setting up your best scorers, but I like plays that give everyone a shot at scoring - the more opportunities, the better it is for everyone.

Here are a few possibilities for you, plays I have used in the past - and present - that have worked well for me. I'm not showing many, because I don't use many. Two well-executed basketball offenses, along with a good fast break and a couple of special situation plays, is all I have time to teach in one season. With that in my playbook and a strong focus on fundamentals, I'm confident my teams can win against the best of opponents.

Do you have a team that is young or inexperienced? This easy basketball play focuses on fundamental movements, is not complex at all, and can be used with young players or with a team that has players capable of playing several positions. The X is another play that isn't too difficult, but one that I return to time and again because I find it to be very effective. The X would work best if you have two strong big men, though.

If you have a strong post player that passes well, this spread offense will likely work well for you. Or if you are blessed with a good shooter or two, then try the swing.

Quick players? The shuffle is a great basketball offense to use if your players can cut and pick and roll with speed. Or try the continuity offense, which features constant cutting and screening.

Another great offense to run with a quick team is the flex offense - really effective if you don't have any big men and players that can play several different positions.

These are all good basketball offenses, and will open up scoring opportunities for your players. They all offer more than one scoring option, as a good play should. And they allow you to reset and run the play several times - as many times as you need to get someone free.

Remember that patience is a virtue, especially when you are running a set offense - you need to be quick to act on an opening when it arises, but you don't want to force a shot or pass or drive that just isn't there.

And when your team runs these basketball offenses in practice, be sure they run them as if in a game situation - solid screens, hard cuts, strong passes, and take the ball to the hole like you mean it. How they perform in practice is how they'll perform in the game - it's a learned response. There's no "game magic", except for those spectacular moments when a practiced play is executed perfectly.