One of the areas I have been studying this off season is early offense and how to flow into an organized attack with minor setup. In my head I think the more you can create easy structure early will create early momentum
One of the teams I studied was the Erie Bayhawks of the G-League. They used a very simple and effective attack in their early offense. A term I have heard is the idea of “stacking” an action on top of other actions. This could be an early handoff into a 2nd side mash. This could also be stacking within the same action like a stagger into a touch pass into a step up ballscreen. However it is done it adds to the effectiveness of the offensive attack.
For part 1 we are looking at off ball actions in the early offense like Flares, Staggers, and wide pins. For part 2 we will look at more on ball actions like ballscreens and dribble handoffs.
Delay Flare
The Bayhawks will do some delay stuff naturally in their early offense. One of the best things they do is use the flare screen out of this. The flare screen is really effective because it takes advantage of the defense trying to shrink the floor and be in the gaps. It is also tough to switch because of the nature of the screening angles.
The ball gets swung to #45 Zylan Cheatham, his dribble sets up a dho type look and makes #33 Vitto Brown’s defender pause. Brown then comes off a flare screen from #4 Jalen Adams. The defense switches, but Brown is able to rip and get to the rim.
Here the ball gets swung through Brown at the top. #22 Taren Sullivan gets the flare and because his defender goes under both the screener and his teammate gets an open 3.
One of the best things about the flare is the slip opportunity. The defense must get to the ball side of the screener and towards the cutter because of the slip. The Warriors and other NBA teams make a killing on this cut.
Cheatham is able to get over the top of his defender and draw the foul. Teams that switch have a hard time with this action.
Wide Pin
I have talked about the wide pin on here a couple of times. It can be a very effective action in all phases of offense. One of the things that I like about how the Bayhakws use it is that they build some really good action off it.
They use a variety of actions to disguise the scoring action on the front end and build action after the pin. This puts doubt and indecision into the defense. It is also an easier way to add variety in the offensive attack. Instead of adding separate actions, you teach concepts and then teach how you can add those concepts to other concepts.
This is the basic wide pin action for a shooter. They run a get game/delay entry to start and then have #13 Anigbogu setting the pin for #20 Scottie Lindsey. Lindsey does a good job of curling here and gets a rim finish.
This one takes a little longer to get into but Cheatham ends up setting a good pin down with his defender in the paint. As Lindsey comes off the screen with advantage, Cheatham sprints off his screen for the 2 vs 1 lob.
#24 Aubrey Dawksins shows a good set up and stops his cut when he reads the defense going under the screen. Brown changes his angle and gets a natural stagger because his defender doesn’t open up enough room for Dawkins defender to get thru.
The forced curl screen for the screener is one of the Bayhawks go to actions for Vitto Brown. Because of the frequency which they run the regular pin they can throw this in if they need a basket. It works so well because with this action, the defenders guarding the screen must change responsibilities on the fly to guard it. Leveraging your players strengths to create opportunities is a great way to get open shots.
Get/delay entry to start with Brown screening for Lindsey. Lindsey curls it hard and screens Brown’s defender for an open 3. Lindsey’s curl must be respected because he is very good off the pindown.
Similar to the above clip, the Magic try to top lock on the pindown and #5 Josh Gray is able to leverage that coverage to open up Brown on the screen in.
The next part of their wide pin attack is using a touch screen back to the PG. It is an easy action to flow into off a pindown or stagger. It also opens up the middle of the floor for the roller on the step up screen.
Gray throws it to #23 Bronson Koenig and Koenig touches it right back to Gray. Cheatham sets the step up screen for Gray to attack the basket. Gray reads the top help and finds Koenig for the 3.
Gray throws it to Adams off the pindown. On the touch action, Adams keeps it and turns the corner. This is effective against switches but even without the switch it sets up the drive for Adams.
In this clip they do not get anything off the pindown, so Brown sprints up into a mid PNR. The defense switches and this gives Brown a size advantage leading to a kick out
This clip shows the forced curl concept and knowing that Brown has a speed advantage the defense loads up on the nail to stop the drive. As Brown drives he passes it back to Adams who executes a catch & go to attack the rim. With the proper spacing, this is almost impossible to stop if you have a player that can breakdown the defense.
Stagger
The stagger is an effective offensive action to put into any stage of offense. It is simple and effective action that involves four players. Like the Pindown, they run the basic stagger and then stack actions and concepts on top of that.
Basic stagger action here with Adams making a tight curl for a layup. Adams gets the separation by leaving early and the screeners do just enough to reroute his defender. With no hedge on the second screen, its an easy drive for Adams.
One of the things that makes staggers effective is that all three defenders involved have to be on point with the coverage. Even then when proper timing and movement its extremely difficult to defend. Here shows that because the defense does a good job of guarding Dawkins thru the cut. However Brown spaces for a 3 that is open because of the crossing action of the two screeners.
Like the play above that had the screeners crossing after the stagger, this one is a secondary action involving Brown screening down for #12 Tony Carr. As the ball is swung, Brown relocates and gets the 3.
If no advantage is gained off the stagger, its easy for the top screener to turn into a PNR. Here Adams isn’t able to shake his defender so Brown turns and the two play in a PNR together. Adams gets downhill and Lindsey makes a great follow cut to get a layup.
Like off the pindown, the Bayhawks can add the forced curl and screening the screener action. As Adams comes off, he screens in for Brown. The Swarm try to emergency switch but Brown gets by for the layup.
Again similar concepts to the pindown, they use the touch screen to create advantage. As Carr hits Dawkins coming off the stagger the ball gets touched back. Cheatham turns and set the ballscreen rolling into a wide open middle. Carr drives it hard and gets the paint shot.
Adding the twist
The twist is another way to add variability and deception to the stagger. It is just one more thing for the defense to have to guard and account for.
Dawkins tight curls around Sullivan. Sullivans defender has to help for a split second and this frees Sullivan for a 3. Brown does a great job of setting an area screen and gives his teammate even more room.
The exit screen is another action to stack on top of an already effective action.
Sullivan twists off Brown and Brown comes up to catch. On Brown’s catch, Cheatham goes into a screen for Sullivan. Sullivan does a great job of waiting for his defender to relax and sprints off the screen.
Part 2 of this will be released down the road (maybe next week). It will feature early offense actions with the ball. Mostly ballscreens and handoffs.