How to Choose the Correct Offense for Your Basketball Team

It would be rare if all players on a starting team to possess the same abilities; therefore, the coach should use the positive abilities of each player into his offensive planning.

At the same time, t he coach should never use players at a position where they show no ability. He should assign duties that best utilize the abilities of each player. Good ball handlers should handle the ball most of the time, and good cutters should be exploited. The best rebounders should be in position to rebound, and good shooters should be constantly screened for by teammates who know how to set screens.

The types of shots each player takes should be determined by his, or her, ability. Perfection comes from constant practice of correct techniques. You accomplish this using:

1. small groups of two or three, using station drills incorporating various aspects of the team offense.
2. team groups, using slow motion, then speed up stressing the importance of timing and deception.

A coach should be learning constantly. Read basketball books, magazines and attend clinics. Weave any new tactic suitable to your personnel. Offenses that I have seen, or read about, are rarely original. Odds are good that a popular offense ten years from now, will be an adaptation of something used ten years ago.

The coach should know his, or her, personnel before choosing a system. The success of any system is due more to the players than to the coach. More players made coaches than coaches made players. The wrong system, regardless of the coach's ability, cannot succeed. For example, if a coach has slow players, the fast break is out of the question. If the players are tall, but uncoordinated, a four or five man weave would not be effective, either.

Personnel at Hand

Changes in personnel should be made quickly and decisively because the team will probably know before you, the coach,  that changes should be made. Usually, two or three subs are needed in most teams to operate at their highest efficiency. You will need changes at the center position, the forward position, and the guard position.

These substitutions must have as much practice time and game time as possible in order for them to coordinate their movements with the starters. Coaches should never wait until pressure situations to insert a first-line sub.

What Type of Offense Suits the Personnel?

1. free-lance - players create their own offense depending on the defensive deployment and the ability of the opponents. Free-lance is not as free or uncontrolled as the term implies, because all one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three plays are practiced over and over.
2. controlled - a system whereby a team maintains control of the ball until a player gets open for a high-percentage shot. Any basic system can be used to implement a control-type of basketball.

Physical Makeup of Personnel

1. Five Taller Than Average Players. A team composed of this group should not use the fast break unless two players are quick and one of the five qualifies as a ball handler. This team should use a set offense, shooting over screens. If they have one good ball handler, I would recommend the stack offense. If they have two good ball handlers, they could use a two-three offense, with the low men screening for each other and watching for the easy inside shot.
   
2. Four Bigger Players and One Small Player. Assuming that the small man has good or better-than-average speed and ball handling ability, this team should use a controlled fast break with a set offense. The set could be a two-three if one of the taller men can handle the ball. It could also be an unorthodox offense devised by the coach, taking advantage of the overall team size and using low double screens for the bigger players.
   
3. Three Bigger Players and Two Small Players. This is normally the ideal type of basketball team. The team can use the fast break and/or a set two-three offense in which the three big men stay in close for offensive rebounds.
   
4. Two Bigger Players and Three Small Players. The fast break is recommended for this team. They can use a three-two offense with the two big men as a double pivot, side by side, or in tandem. They could also use a one-three-one set offense.
   
5. One Big Player and Four Small Players. This team should use a controlled fast break, followed by a good quick-shot secondary attack, transitioning into a good set offense. A good set offense could be a four-man weave, using the one big man as "big dog" and a moving pivot. You can also use a one-three-one offense with the big man as the high pivot and the next tallest player as an inside man moving toward the corners. Another good offense for them is a three-two with flash pivot players.
   
6. Five Small Players. This team's offense should incorporate aggressive defensive tactics as an offensive weapon. Depending upon the player's speed and ball handling ability, their offense should be designed to penetrate toward the basket quickly as possible. They can use a three-two moving offense or a five-man weave offense. The players should only take good high-percentage shots from within the eighteen-to-twenty foot area.

It would be rare if all players on a starting team to possess the same abilities; therefore, the coach should use the positive abilities of each player into his offensive planning.