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RI Magic Plays

Zone Plays

Zone Philosophy

  1.  Score before they set up

  2.  Run an even front vs an odd front zone (Dice vs 1-3-1) and an odd front vs an even front zone  (1-3-1 vs 2-3)

  3.  Must shift the zone at least once by moving ball from one side to the other

  4.  Get the ball to the high post and you will good options from there

  5.  Dribble with purpose-shorten passing lanes and get in gaps

Dice

Man Plays

East
Butler

Butler

B for backdoor, so it is easy to remember. Run this for your best shooter who is being overplayed, your best cutter or a player who is getting guarded by a weak defender. Can easily be run from both sides. The double screen is opposite of the player gets the layup. 

 

  1. 2 and 3 start off short corner above the block and 4 and 5 start at 3 pt line above the elbow

  2. 1 dribbles toward the 4/5 double screen, then reverses and dribbles toward the opposite wing. 

  3. When the 1 reverses the dribble and starts towards the opposite wing, that G in the short corner cuts towards the 3 pt line. They should touch the line and then cut backdoor. 

  4. The 4 and 5 set a double screen for the other G in the short corner, who curls off that screen.

  5. 1 has backdoor option and then opposite G curling off of the double screen.

Boston
Flex

Flex

I think everyone has seen or used the flex offense at some time in their coaching career but I find it very effective, especially in AAU at the end of close games. With no shot clock, and good spacing if run correctly, it can take time off the clock and lead to easy baskets as well. A detailed description of the offense can be found here: https://www.basketballforcoaches.com/flex-offense/

X

Quick Hitter with a few options because of spacing

  • Best shooter in ball side corner, 4/5 in opposite corner

  • 4/5 starts at block and comes up to top of key

  • PG passes to 4/5 and cuts for a fake handoff while the opposite G runs right after him for the

  • If the handoffs aren’t there, the 4/5 has a 1-1 matchup at the top of the key.

In this play, we started from the wing to get to the top of the key, but it is usually is from the block

Out of Bounds Plays

College

College + #

# is for their 1-5 number of the floor. This confuses teams if you have your 1 and then your 2 shoot it. You can call Duke 1 and then later Duke 2 and they think it is a different play. You can also call Duke and then PC and even though it is the same play, other teams don’t know that. 

Key points-

  • 4 and 5 under the basket start above the block. Guards on the elbows. 

  • Inbounder needs to hesitate and then sprint to the corner. Footwork on catch and shot. 

  • Ball side 4/5 pop out and pivot to the outside to create a passing lane. Weak side 4/5 pops out and repositions for rebound. 

  • Ball side guard brings the ball the other way for a dribble and then back to corner

  • 4/5 screens bottom guy in a zone deep enough so the shooter has space.

  • Weak side guard crashes to the front of the rim. Passer rotates back.

Connecticut

Connecticut

C for cut, so it is easy for players to remember. Run this after college and pro and works much better vs M-M. 

Key points-

  • 4 and 5 pop out all the way to the corner. 

  • Ball side guard pops out 3-4 steps to 3 pt line like college, and then quickly cuts to the basket

  • Inbounder fakes pass to corner and throws bounce pass to cutter for layup

Tip Plays

Tip Play

  • Best passer who is big is squared up with the player jumping. They need to give a big, wide target.

  • Quickest G is on sideline. When ball is thrown up, he breaks for the basket.

  • 2 other players are back defensively in paint.

  • Jumpers taps it to the player in front, who pivots and hits the G for a layup

Press Break Plays

Zone Press Break

This press offense is highly effective vs any full ct zone press. It starts off with the F/C inbounding, F/C on the offensive block and the PG/Best shooter at mid court while the other 2 guards are at the FT line.

  1. Inbounder should run the baseline if there is pressure on the ball while guards move to open space, not in the corners. The PG starts off at 1/t ct ball side and can slide down if necessary, but is a mainly a decoy when the ball is being inbounded.

  2. The inbounder passes to a guard(2)and then trails the play. The G with the ball will dribble hard to the trap, reverse pivots and passes to the inbounder. After passing to the inbounder, the G(2) will cut to the middle and be option #2.The inbounder will immediately swing it to the other G(3), who is ahead of the play. While the ball is being swung, the PG/best shooter will clear out towards the sideline of where the ball is being swung. G(3) first option is the PG/best shooter on the sideline. The 2nd option is the G(2) in the middle. One will be open!

  3. If the ball goes to the PG/best shooter on the sideline, it is an open 3 or a 2-1. If the ball goes to the middle, the G attacks and has the F/C on the block and the PG/best shooter on the wing

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