5 Quick Hitters for Your Motion Offense

By design, a motion offense is supposed to be free form and interpretive. That does not mean it should be random or hap-hazard.

Here are some quick hitter entries you can use to enter into your motion. A quick hitter is a play with one pass and maybe one or two cuts that are designed to get your scorer an open, early shot. When finished, it will leave your players in good position to continue your motion offense if you don't get that early shot.

These cuts can be run out of any set and generate any motion. The sets that I have used here are solely because they had to be illustrated somehow. You should adapt these plays to sets and offenses you are comfortable with.

Instructions for Set Up

This is the initial set when beginning your motion offense.

Instructions for 2-5 Cross Screen

  1. Player 3 steps up for a ball screen.
  2. Player 1 dribbles off the ball screen.
  3. Player 2 screens for Player 5, timing it so Player 5 arrives at the block as Player 1 brings the ball to the wing.
  1. Player 1 looks to the low post.
  2. Player 4 screens for Player 2.
  3. Player 2 cuts to the wing.
  4. Player 1 reverses to Player 3 for a pop out jumper.
  5. Player 3 passes to Player 2 off the screen for a shot.
  6. Offense then continues into motion offense.

Instructions for 2-5 Diagonal Screen

  1. Player 4 steps up to ball screen.
  2. Player 1 dribbles off ball screen.
  3. Player 2 sets a diagonal screen for Player 5.
  4. Player 5 cuts off screen into low post, timing his cut so he arrives in the low post as the ball is arriving at the wing.
  1. Players 2 and 4 set stagger screens for Player 3.
  2. Player 3 comes off the screens.
  3. Player 1 passes to Player 5 in the low post (1st option).
  4. Player 1 passes to Player 3 for shot (2nd option).

Instructions for UCLA Cut into ball screen

  1. Player 1 passes to Player 2.
  2. Player 5 steps up to set a back screen for Player 1.
  3. Player 1 makes a UCLA cut to the low post.
  1. Player 5 steps out to ball screen for Player 2.
  2. Player 2 dribbles over ball screen.
  3. Players 3 and 4 set stagger screens for Player 1.
  4. Player 1 cuts off stagger screens.
  • 1st Option- Player 1 looks to score.
  • 2nd Option- Player 1 looks to screen and roll with Player 5.
  • 3rd Option- Player 2 passes to Player 1 off the stagger screens.

Instructions for Zipper Screen

  1. Player 1 dribbles to the wing.
  2. Player 2 sizzler cuts to the top.
  3. Player 3 flashes to the corner.
  1. Player 1 passes to Player 2.
  2. Player 4 steps up to ball screen, timing it so he arrives to screen as Player 2 is catching the ball.
  • Option 1- Player 2 comes off the ball screen looking to score.
  • Option 2- Player 2 penetrates and kicks out to Player 3 for a shot.

Instructions for 3-Special

  1. Player 3 steps out to ball screen for Player 1.
  2. Player 4 screens for Player 2.
  3. Player 1 dribbles off the ball screen.
  1. Immediately after the ball screen,Player 5 flare screens for Player 3.
  2. Player 3 cuts off the flare screen.
  • Option 1- Player 1 looks for Player 3 over the top.
  • Option 2- Player 1 looks for Player 2 in the corner.

In each of these quick hitters, players space out to appropriate spots for the type of motion offense (5-out, 4-out, 3-out, 2-out).


Related Products & Articles

How to Develop a High Scoring Motion Offense

Priceless Offensive Coaching Tips and a Simple Yet Effective High/Low Offensive System

Do You Recommend the Motion Offense to Youth Teams?




Comments

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Allen Miles says:
11/27/2009 at 9:18:41 PM

I'm the Varsity and JV boys coach at the Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province in China. Last year we ran a motion offense using cutters off of the high-post. This year I have several new players that can shoot well from the outside, so this motion offense will be great for my team! Thanks for a simple, well spaced, flexible plan with good options...This is exactly what I was looking for in a motion offense.

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ange says:
2/4/2010 at 2:14:26 PM

In UCLA shouldn''t the 2 look to hit 5 off the screen and roll?

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Ben says:
6/10/2010 at 4:32:44 PM

@Ange - The pass from the 2 to the 5 is a difficult one to make - unless the 5 slips the screen if his defender hedges too high....I have found that if the 1, instead of cutting off the double screen on the weakside, pops to the strongside corner, and then rises out of the corner to the wing as the 2 comes off the 5's pick and roll/pick and slip, the 2 can reverse the ball back to the 1 who has a much better angle to deliver the pass to the 5, who would seal his man (or even better, the 2's defender if he tries to go under the screen) and get a good low post feed for the 5 to go to work. On the weak side, those players can interchange, screen away for the shooter coming towards the 2 for the jumper, or position the shooter in the high post, and set a fade/flare screen, with of course the screener then diving down the middle for the wide open bucket. There are many good options here!!!

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zuri says:
7/15/2010 at 12:00:23 PM

thank you for your quick hitters they help me a lot on my team, im coach for itsrll at durango mexico, your webpage is a great help for myself and my team. thanks a lot... god bless you....

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Ian Longmuir says:
10/28/2010 at 8:56:52 AM

Looking for Quick hitter plays with a two guard front, and one post player.

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Muriel Johnston says:
11/11/2010 at 10:36:42 AM

I am an OLD SPURS fan (90 next month) who left San Antonio to be near kids (in their fifties!) in Dallas. I have an NBA pass so I can watch my beloved SPURS. I am alone new (lost hubby of 67 years) this year. Just wanted you to know that I am adding a new dimension to my viewing "skills" through your Breakthrough Basketball. Sean Elliot is good at explaining plays but the action is very fast--now I can study plays in print...and continue to learn about a game I love.
Thanks, Ben.

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Tony says:
12/28/2010 at 4:47:07 PM

The motion offense is works best against which defense. 2-3, 2-3 Zone, man to man etc. And what drills are best to run to teach youth about the motion offense.

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gerard says:
2/8/2011 at 12:40:16 PM

THX its a verry good site, i buy already a few books also, annyway a good site for coaches..greets from belgium

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Shahid Ulhaq says:
2/12/2011 at 8:49:28 AM

Thank you for your free coaching

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Wesley says:
3/30/2011 at 11:32:45 AM

Ian Longmuir - contact me bballten@comcast.net

I have a ton of stuff out of 2 guard set with one post player.

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