The High Powered Dribble Drive Motion Offense

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Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've probably heard about the NEW HIGH powered Dribble Drive Motion that is sweeping the basketball nation!!

So what's the scoop on this basketball offense?

In all honesty, it's just a fashionable new name for something that has been played for years. So don't go jumping on the band wagon (just yet)...

With that said, the Dribble Drive is a POWERFUL offense and you can probably learn something from it. But you need to understand what it's really all about.

Every few years a new variation on an old theme hits the college basketball world. This year it is the "Dribble-Drive Motion"!!

Where did it come from?

The nexus of the fascination has been the enormous success of John Calipari's University of Memphis team. Coach "Cal" is one of the most innovative coaches I have ever met and this offense fits his personnel like a glove. Vance Walberg, former Head Coach at Pepperdine and a speaker very much in demand is also an innovator and has brought this style back to the forefront of basketball thinkers. Though not credited, Jay Wright of Villanova used many of these concepts to take his four guard one post offense to great success in the Big East and the NCAA Tournament. The "Dribble-Drive" term hadn't been coined yet but Wright surely should be considered one of the innovators as well.

The roots of the Dribble-Drive Motion go back to the roots of the motion offense itself. Dean Smith, former coach at North Carolina, used the drive and kick aspect of his "passing game" with great success. It did not get great notoriety at the time because Smith coached much of his career without the 3-point shot. Rick Pitino used many of the concepts, beginning at Providence College with point guard Billy Donovan, and was at the forefront of effective use of the 3-point shot in college basketball. Pitino brought to his great Kentucky teams and while he doesn't use this motion at Louisville, he still incorporates many of the same concepts.

Just as an observation, both Coach Pitino and Coach Calipari used the 3-point shot to much greater effectiveness upon returning to the college game after years in the NBA. The NBA used the 3-point shot for several years before it was added to the college game. I think that their NBA experience sent them ahead of the pack in regard to using the 3 and the rest of us are still trying to catch up.

What is the Dribble Drive Motion Offense?

The Dribble-Drive Motion is first and foremost a motion offense, complete with its own discipline, rules and philosophy. The basic philosophy is the ballhandler tries to push the ball for a layup. If there is no help he continues for a layup. If there is help, he finds the open man for either a shot if on the perimeter or a dump-off to the post. Driving lanes are created by great spacing and constant hunting of open areas for kick-outs.

Personnel Needs

The Dribble-Drive is not for everyone. You need to have very specialized personnel. Your perimeter players must be equally adept at taking the ball to the basket and shooting from beyond the 3-point line. Your post players have to be comfortable catching the ball on the move. If he can shoot the ball a little, that will make you better. If he can put the ball on the floor, you'll have the whole package.

Athletic ability helps, as it does in most aspects of basketball. The Dribble Drive produces a lot of rebounds. If you are able to control the offensive glass, it is difficult for opponents to recover. You also have to be in great shape. The Dribble Drive, because of its aggressiveness tends to wear down its opponents.

The offense can start from any set. The one requirement is that the middle be open. If you are going to have a post player, he should be off the block, opposite the ballhandler and my preference is to put him on the baseline.

Here are some sample sets.....

2 Guard Front	5 Out Set
1-2-2 Set	2-2-1 Set

Below are some sample actions in the Dribble-Drive Motion. These are just examples. They are not meant to be the only actions of the offense. In fact, you might not like any of the actions. As with any motion offense, the only limitation is your imagination. If you are a coach who likes to control movement, this is not the offense for you.

For this offense to be effective, it has to be free-wheeling and active. Encourage your players to let go.

Here are some of the basic rules of the Dribble-Drive Motion. Some of the rules are notated in the diagrams. Remember, different coaches have different rules. It doesn't make them wrong and doesn't make it a different offense; it just makes them different than this one.

Perimeter Player Rules

Player with the ball first tries to penetrate, on the dribble. First choice is a layup.
Perimeter players step to openings, beyond the 3-point line, making passing angles and preparing for shot.
If penetrator meets defensive help, he kicks to the open man on the perimeter for a shot. If help comes from the post, he looks to dump to the post.
After passing, penetrator cuts out of the middle to an open spot beyond the 3 point line.
Player who receives the pass, if he has no shot, will attempt to dribble penetrate and repeats the process. He can also pass to reverse the ball and cut through the middle to clear it out for the next ball handler.
All cutters vacate the middle as soon as possible and find a spot beyond the 3-point line.
If player can't dribble penetrate take ball to middle for spacing
Ball goes to high post, open-side wing cuts backdoor. All players bump up to maintain spacing.
If the ball is dribbled at you, either go backdoor or take dribble handoff.

Post Player Rules

Post player set opposite the ball, off the lane.
Post player can ball screen on the open wing or high.
Post player looks to pop or roll after setting ball screen.
If ball stalls on top, weakside forward posts to the top.

Options off a 1-2-2 Set

1,2,3 - Guards

4,5 - Front Court

All players can shoot and are comfortable putting the ball on the floor.

Rule: Ballhandler penetrates and looks for layup. Weakside wing fills to top

1 penetrates and looks to score

3 creates passing angle to the top

1 throws pass back to the top to 3.

3 looks for shot

Rule: On pass off, passer clears to the open side.

1 cuts to the right

3 dribble penetrates and looks to score

2 creates passing angle to the top.

3 passes to 2 for shot.

3 clears to the left side

2 has no shot

2 dribble penetrates looking to score

3 creates passing angle to the top

1 spots up for shot

4 & 5 step in

2 can shoot, kick to 1 or 3, or dump off to 4 or 5

Next Rotation

1 dribble penetrates looking to score (following the rules)

3 spots up and creates passing angle back (following the rule)

1 kick to 3

Rule: If you can't dribble penetrate take ball to middle for spacing

1 clears to the side (following the rule)

3 dribble to middle (following the rule)

Rule: If ball stalls on top, weakside forward posts to the top.

5 posts to the top (following the rule)

3 passes to 5

Rule: Ball goes to high post, open-side wing cuts backdoor. All players bump up to maintain spacing.

2 goes backdoor (following the rule)

3 cuts to open wing (following the rule)

1 fills spot for 3 (following the rule)

5 looks backdoor to 2, kicks to 3 for shot

5 kicks to 1 for shot.

5 ball screens for 1

2 clears to corner

4 bumps ups

1 dribbles off screen looking to penetrate

3 spots up

1 kicks to 3 for shot.

1 clears to side (following the rule)

5 bumps up

4 bumps up

3 dribble penetrates and looks to score.

3 can kick to any of the perimeter players.

Options off a 2-2-1 Set

1,2 Guards

3,4 Forwards

5 Post

Rule: Ball is dribbled at you, either go backdoor or take dribble handoff.

1 dribbles at 2

2 goes backdoor (following the rule)

1 passes to 2 for layup.

1 does not pass to 2

2 clears to open side (following the rule)

3 spots up (following the rule)

4 spots up (following the rule)

1 dribble penetrates looking to score

1 shoots or kicks to 3 or 4, or dumps to 5

1 kicks out to 4

1 clears to open side (following the rule)

4 looks to dribble penetrate

1 spots up

3 spots up

4 can shoot, kick to 1, 2 or 3 or dump to 5

4 does not penetrate

4 dribbles at 3

3 goes backdoor (following the rule)

4 passes to 3 for score

3 can shoot, kick to 1 or 2 or dump to 5

4 does not pass to 3

3 clears to side

1 bumps up

4 tries to dribble penetrate

2 spots up

5 ducks in

4 looks to score, kick to 2 or dumps to 5

4 does not penetrate

4 continues his dribble and dribbles at 2

2 cuts at 4 and takes handoff (following the rule)

2 turns the corner and looks to penetrate

2 looks to score, kick to the perimeter or dumps to 5.

Dribble Drive Motion in Transition

In transition, players run the lanes.

1 handles the ball on the side

2 runs right lane

3 runs left lane

4 (first post) run middle, opposite the ball

5 (trailer) runs behind, opposite the ball

2 and 3 run to corner, outside the 3-point line.

4 runs to the baseline, outside the lane

1 dribbles up the floor

5 trails opposite

1 dribble penetrates, looking to score

1 can kick to 2 or 3 or dump to 4 for shots.

Rotation now runs as if it were a half court Dribble-Drive Motion.

If 1 cannot penetrate

1 "head-mans" to 2

1 cut through and comes out opposite

5 fills for 1 (following the rule)

3 bumps up for 5 (following the rule).

2 dribble penetrates looking to score

2 can kick to 1 or 3 or dump to 4

5 spots behind ball

2 kicks to 3 for shot.

If no shot, 3 dribble middle for spacing

1 bumps up for 3

2 comes out and replaces 1

5 spaces

3 passes to 1

4 cuts opposite the ball (following the rule)

1 looks to dribble penetrate to score

1 can kick to 5 or 3 for shot or dump to 4.

2 spots behind.

If 1 does not headman to 2

1 passes to 5

3 pops to wing

4 cuts opposite the ball (following the rule)

2 cuts to fill corner

1 spots to wing

5 spaces out

3 looks to dribble penetrate and look to score

3 can shoot, kick to 1, 2, 5 for shot or dump to 4.

Offense then proceeds as if it was a half court set.

I hope this give you a little insight into the en vogue offense of 2008, "The Dribble Dive Motion." This is not the be-all and end-all thesis on the offense, just my experience with it. A Motion Offense is a constantly changing and evolving entity. The more you play it, the more you will see. The only limitation is your imagination and the imagination of your players. Teach the concepts (penetration and kick, spot up, space the court), don't teach the offense and your team will handle every adjustment made against you.

If you have the players, it will certainly be an effective offense for you. If not, wait 'til next year and there will be a new "en vogue" offense that might fit your personnel.

To learn more about developing a high scoring motion offense, check out...

https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/pr/kelbick-motion-dvds.html

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

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Comments

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Bruce Enns says:
3/27/2008 at 11:52:51 AM

You're right. This is nothing new. But it requires a coach that does not place players in a "position" i.e.1,2,3,4,5 with specific roles for each. All players have to be able to pass, catch, dribble, cut and shoot. The Asians have been doing this for years, and so have many Euros until the American coaches took over educating them. It has been at the heart of any offensive attack I've used in Canadian university basketball for years.

Ingmar says:
3/27/2008 at 3:15:04 PM

This is only an effective play if you have quick players with a devestating 1-1. This is freewheeling basketball which fits only a very talented group of players. In modern basketball the plays are more focust on role-players, who do not ever dribble the ball. I think it could be effective in youth basketball. If you have a talented group of young players who can drive to the basket and give a quick kick-out/dish pass.

Nevertheless, it is a beautiful way of playing the game, because of the quickness and anticipation that is required. It could also be very effective against a zone defense if you let your players attack the boundaries of the defenders zone.

Does anyone have effective drills to teach this play? To cut the play in pieces and build it up towards the whole package?

alan says:
3/27/2008 at 8:16:49 PM

good article. the dribble-drive motion system is ideal for five players that all possess one-on-one skills. the way they keep slashing to the basket puts the defense under great pressure and in danger of giving up shooting fouls.

however, like ingmar said, one of the best ways to beat this kind of offense is to play a strict zone.

steve dement says:
3/27/2008 at 10:22:56 PM

I used this with 9th grade and 10th grade girls this season at a brand new high school (these kids played a varsity schedule). a couple of suggestions......
if you use only 3 perimeter players and 2 posts, keep the posts in the short corner areas to receive passes when their defenders help.
second, if the defense starts to play the "high" side and not allow you to drive the elbow to midlane area to get to the hoop, have your perimeter player jab that direction and then have the short corner post on that side step out and set a screen with her back to the baseline and then "fade to the lane" (or elbow) for a pass. this will give the offense a new look and make the "d" play a little more straight up.

shevaun donaldson says:
3/29/2008 at 10:28:57 AM

it is good beccause the wing are the shoters and if that not an option the front court are going to be behind the deffense so theres lot of options

LaTeisha says:
4/10/2008 at 12:28:09 AM

When I played and it was about scoring a coach knows his/her players and a player knows what they are capable of. If I had techniques that worked for me and my teammates knew just like I knew theirs we go with it. So whatever works. With good defense and a strong offense and changing up every now and then I think in my opinion that equals success.

LaTeisha Washington says:
4/10/2008 at 12:31:55 AM

I say try it once and if it works keep on bringin it. Texas Extreme from what I have seen and know these guys are talented and have alot of potential. Once they practice that technique and show'em how its done alot of teams are going to be very susprised.

Kenny Robinson says:
4/22/2008 at 11:19:50 AM

I can't wait until summer camp!! I am going to install this with our team this year. We are still going to use our 3 out 2 in offense, but I am liking this 4 out 1 in set really well.

Lynx Coach says:
7/7/2008 at 1:49:24 PM

We have installed this offense this past season with 6th and 7th grade girls AAU players and have gotten a great deal of success with it. You must have really good athletes, and also having 2-3 good outside shooters is a must. The thing I like the most is how this teaches the girls to drive to the hoop, score, and see open passes. In my opinion this would not work without players in good shape who have some speed. If you have the above mentioned things you will be amazed at what you can accomplish with it.

Brianna says:
7/25/2008 at 10:00:13 AM

This was a good example of what it means and how to complete the dribble-drive motion I myself am in my teenage years and I''ve been playing basketball for some time now, but without most of the fundamentals. So this was an excellent display of the dribble-drive motion offense and it cleared up my outlook as to what it is. Thank you kindly.

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