The Spread Offense
A Simply Effective Offensive Play
This spread offense isn't complex, but it can be very effective if you have a good post player who can see the court and pass
well, and quick guards that aren't afraid to drive. Because that's what
this basketball play does best - it opens the path to drive to the hoop.
This spread offense is best used against man to man defense, but don't be afraid to mix
it up every now and again, putting plays like this up against zone
defenses - used occasionally, offensive plays like this will confuse the defense and open up
scoring opportunities.
As the name implies, this play spreads the floor, pushing players to
either side, which leaves the key wide open for drives and cuts. It also
brings the defense high and far from the basket, which makes it
difficult for them to help out when one of their teammates gets beaten
on a drive, and makes them less effective on the rebounds.
Spread Offense
Basic Movement
- Players set
up as indicated in the diagram - 2 guards, 2 forwards, and 1 post man on
the high post. If the post man is being tightly guarded, he can begin
low on one of the blocks and flash to the high post just as the play
begins.
- The play begins with a pass from the point
guard to the post man. This is how we'd like to start every time - it
allows us then to use both sides of the court and thus opens up more
options. Sometimes this pass won't be available - what to do then will
be explained later
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- Immediately upon making
the pass, the point guard is going to screen down for the forward; at
the same time, the guard on the weak side will screen for the forward on
that side. Both forwards flash high on the wing; guards will roll out
as soon as the contact is made
Check out Pick n Roll Drills for practice on the pick 'n roll.
- With the ball at the foul line, both sides of the court are now open for a pass.
Spread Offense
Basic Scoring Options
- The post man
can pass to either guard as they roll out of their picks - if the pick n
roll is performed well, there is a good possibility that at least one
of the guards will roll out alone, with the defensive players tied up
with the forwards.
- The guard would take the ball hard to the hoop.
- If the guards take the defensive men,
then the forwards would be flashing to the wing alone - the post man can
pass to them for a shot
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Spread Offense
No-Post Pass
Option 1: Post Drives the Lane - If the post
man can't get free of his defensive man - the pass can't get in to the
high post - then the forward needs to shake his defensive man and come
higher to the wing to get the pass from the guard
- Immediately the high post breaks down the lane, looking for the pass from the wing and the drive to the hoop
- At the same time, the weak side guard screens for the forward, and the forward cuts across the top of the key
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Scoring Options
- The ball is
passed to the forward at the high post, who now looks to pass the ball
down to the post man, or to swing the ball across to the weak side
guard, or to take the shot or drive himself if open
- If nothing else happens, the forward passes the ball back to the point guard and everyone sets up to begin again
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Option 2: Weak Side Cut - If the post doesn't have a lane to drive down (i.e.,
defense is crowding him), the post will step up and set a screen for the
weak side guard
- The weak side guard cuts around the post's screen and flashes down the lane, looking for the pass and
drive to the hoop
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- After setting
the pick, the post player rolls out. If the pass can't get to the
cutter, the post player steps toward the ball and gets the pass from the
wing
Additional Scoring Options
- The high post immediately looks low for the cutting guard coming off the second screen from the forward
- The high post can also shoot or drive depending on what his defender gives him
- If none of that works out, the ball is swung to the point guard and we start all over again.
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The spread offense isn't difficult, but it can be a
very effective play for getting the ball inside and pulling the big
defensive guys out of the key. This set up really hinges on getting the
ball in to the post at the top of the key - from this position he can
pass to either side of the court, and should be a scoring threat
himself. Even better than that, it should pull one of the biggest
defensive men to the top of the key - and leave a clear lane to the
hoop.
Quick cuts and hard drives will win this game, since
the spread offense opens up the key and everyone is positioned at some
point to drive to the hoop. Tell your players to aggressively go to the
hoop whenever the opportunity arises.