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How to coach, teach and use a half-court offense for
three-man teams
Three-man basketball tournaments are growing in popularity all around
the world. Perhaps this is the reason I get so many requests for ideas
and help in planning half-court attacks for three players. There are
almost as many ways to attack as there are players.
First of all, the more fundamentally sound players will win most of
these tourneys. Therefore, select well, focusing on role players. You
will need a good ball handler, a good rebounder with a nose for the
ball, an outside shooter who can slash and cut to the basket, and a
reserve player able to fill any of the three positions which which we
designate as point-guard=1, power forward=3, and post-player=5. The
offense will always start with the following set:
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Diagram 1 - Three man
basketball team double-post half-court set The offense always
starts with the double-post set. A mid-post set is illustrated
in this diagram; however, players 3 and 5 could start from a low
or high post as well, or variations thereof.
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To get the most out of this offense is that all three players
must be able to "read the defense." We will call the drill "flare,
pocket and curl" which will often result in a three-point open shot at
side, a two-point open shot near an elbow, or a curl-cut for an open
lay-up. To become competent at reading the defense, you should practice
the following drills and practice them often. Then, you will be able to
do what the defenders allow. I have already written and described a
drill for teaching this. For a full description, I
suggest you go there, now.
(To get back to this page, click your browser's back button.)
I always told my players to imagine the screener (5) as a big tree
rooted in the ground. Simply play hide and seek with your defender. Keep
that thought in mind as you practice these three ways to get open shots
at the basket.
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Flare Cuts
All players must take their time using screens. Keep in mind
the player receiving the pass can hold the ball 5 seconds,
dribble it for 5 seconds, then hold it another 5 seconds. This
is a long time! Take time for a scoring opportunity to present
itself.
As the player comes off his/her screen, he/her, in this case
calls, "Flare!" The player catches and shoots. For variety, the
coach can have player, shot-fake then shoot, or shot-fake and
drive. (Try to make this drill as game like as is possible.
Add defender at the post position, for example.)
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Curl Cut
If the defender tries to follow around the screen, the curl
cut give the cutter an open path to an easy basket. As the
cutter recognizes this, he/she shouts, "Curl!", as he/she
executes the cut.
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Pocket Cut
In this diagram, the coach has dribbled in order to allow
more time for a scoring opportunity for #1 to develop. Player #5
helps obstruct the defender's route to the elbow. Teammate #1
catches the ball at the elbow and shoots. (As with the flare
cut, the a shot fake and drive can be substituted for variety.
Make this drill as game-like as possible.)
Run drill on both sides of the floor.
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