OFFENSIVE STRATEGY
BASKETBALL
What is Offense?
• The team trying to score.
• An offense is your method to score baskets and
get open shots against your opponent.
POSITIONS
• Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever,
they have evolved as part of basketball. The following are the
basic 5 positions:
• Two Guards
• POINT GUARD- Normally calls plays and controls the ball
• SHOOTING GUARD- Normally scores a lot of points and is the best
player on the team
• Two Forwards
• SMALL FORWARD- Normally can guard smaller and larger players
and can score
• POWER FORWARD- Normally a taller player that rebounds and
scores in the key
• One Center
• Center- Normally the tallest person on the court and blocks shots and
rebounds.
NBA Player Positions
Shooting
• The most common shot used is the jump shot.
• The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, near the top of the jump.
This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the
player to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball
before returning the feet to the ground is a traveling violation.
• Another common shot is called the layup.
• This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the basket, and
to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard.
Scoring
• 2 point field goal- a shot made from anywhere during
play inside the 3 point line.
• 3 point field goal- a shot made from anywhere outside
the 3 point line.
• Free throw- 1 point is awarded to an unguarded shot
taken from behind the free throw line while the clock is
stopped.
Types of Offense
• Spread- normally deployed at the end of game to protect a
hard earned lead, or when a team is totally mismatched. By
spreading the court, it not only takes time off the clock, but also
increases the area the defense must defend.
• Motion- uses constant player movement to create open shot
opportunities for their teammates. The constant player
movement must have purpose and patience in attacking the
defense.
• Set- uses teamwork and screening actions in an effort to create
good shots. The type of set plays used are predicated upon the
team's player personnel. On the court, set plays are initiated by
a verbal or visual hand signal.
• Zone- used when teams are playing zone defense. Requires
ball movement and total team effort. Zone Offense changes
based on the Zone defense being played.
Offense Vocabulary
• Boxing out- a player’s position between an opposing player
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and the basket to obtain a better rebounding position.
Shooting- throwing the ball to make a basket
Pivoting- stepping once or more in any direction with the same
foot while holding the other foot at its initial point.
Rebounding- the recovering of a shot that bounces off the
backboard or the rim.
Air ball- a shot that completely misses the rim and the
backboard
Assist- a pass to a teammate who then scores a field goal.
Dunk- to throw the ball down into the basket with the hand
above the level of the rim
Fast break- dribbling or passing the ball towards your basket
before the defense can set up
Turn over- any loss of the ball without a shot being taken