Offense for Small Fast Up Tempo Team

Ask The Coach! -Question 6#

Question #6- I have taken over as the head coach of a varsity basketball team. They are all very small, but very fast. I will of course have them run the ball, but what set offense is easiest to set up for a running team? (In all aspects from continuous offense to set plays). Would the triangle motion work well?
Coach Joel Bradley

The answer to your question will depend a great on the type of fastbreak you choose to run. If you were to run a basic right wing, left wing break, with the first post coming ball side off the break, and then reversing to the opposite for a secondary option, and the second post player trailing the play, the simplist entry would be an offense that begins nearest these final positions. Basically, the double stack, works well, although you could very easily run the triangle offense, by having your wing, from side opposite your low post, go to the block opposite, and the trailing post player stop at the high post. Then the triangle offense could be entered by having your shooting guard or wing on the same side as the low post cut off of either low post block when the fastbreak has been stopped and as soon as the ball is returned to the point guard position. Your three triangle players would be in good position, and your wing (depending upon which one is on the same side as the low post has gone), can quickly initiate the baseline cut off of either single screen on the baseline to begin the triangle motion.

A third variation might be to run only 1 post to the box (because you are a very small team) and run a 4 man passing game with only 1 post, or the flex offense. I don't particular like the flex offense with a small team because it tends to cause the defense to sag the paint and takes away penetration possibilities. I'd probably lean toward running something like Bob Knight's highly successful 4 or 5 man passing game, where the middle of the paint is kept open. Thank you for asking the coach and good luck with your running game.

The Coach