Spurs Motion Offense - Additional Plays

In today's post, we will look at some other plays that the Spurs run.


In this clip we see the Spurs bigs at the elbows and two wings in the corners (much like the spacing that occurs when the weak-side wing is denied in strong). The ball is entered into Splitter at the elbow, then the ball handler cuts toward the corner to set a down screen.  Here the strong-side wing step fakes toward the screen and his defender bites hard, so Green cuts baseline toward the weak-side corner instead.  The ball handler comes back to Splitter for a DHO (prompting Bonner to set a down screen for the weak-side wing).  Splitter takes out the ball handlers defender with a pivot as Joel Anthony jumps out to hedge the ball handler.  The action draws the attention of Green's defender, who decides to camp in the lane to prevent an easy basket.  The ball is kicked out to Green who is ready to fire and knock down the corner three before the closeout can get there.



We see the ball entered into the elbow again.  The ball handler moves down to set a screen but the pass to Green can't be made so Blair reverses to the other side.  This keys Splitter to set a down screen for the weak-side wing (Stephen Jackson), who receives the dribble weave hand off from Blair.  Blair takes out Jackson's man with a screen, allowing Jackson to get deep enough to draw Marc Gasol to help.  Meanwhile, Danny Green has completed his cut to the weakside corner.  Once again, the DHO action has captured his defender's attention.  On Jackson's drive, Green drifts to the wing and Jack finds him for the catch and shoot three.



We see a big at the elbow again, but the shooting ability of Diaw allows him to drift out to the perimeter.
- The ball is entered into Duncan
- The ball handler cuts off Duncan to set a down screen, then heads towards the weak-side corner
- Once the DHO is made, Diaw moves to down screen for the weak-side wing
After making the DHO, Duncan rolls but stops short of the basket at the block.  Parker doubles back and uses Duncan as a screen.  Parker's defender cheats over the top so Parker fades and knocks down the easy jumper.


In the next set of clips, we will see an action that is referred to as "trailer to post" ("TTP"):

Here we see the ball handler dribble towards the strong-side wing, which keys the strong-side wing to loop.  Instead of looping up top, the trailer signals Green to set a screen.  This keys the post to duck in, then head towards the other block.  From here the trailer has the option to go to the vacated post or screen the ball handler.  Diaw sets then slips the screen, drawing Duncan's defender.  Duncan smartly moves to the top of the charge circle, giving Diaw an easy angle for a dump pass leading to Duncan's layup.



Another trailer to post.  This time the first big down the floor, Matt Bonner, decides to spot up rather than fill the post.  The strong-side wing screens for Duncan who then goes into a pick and roll with Parker.  Jackson's cut through to the weak-side corner is enough to force Bonner's defender to momentarily dig in, giving Parker a window to get the ball to Bonner for a quick three.



Another trailer to post.  This time the post man floats to the elbow as an outlet for the pick and roll instead of ducking in towards the opposite block.  As Diaw holds the ball, the defense is preoccupied with Duncan's position in the lane.  Diaw ball fakes to Duncan to hold the defense long enough to skip the pass out to the wide open Green who attacks the closeout.  Danny draws Duncan's defender and makes the correct read by dumping the ball off to Duncan for the jam.


Next is a play the Spurs often use in the beginning of the games to get Duncan a touch:
The play begins with Duncan out in the perimeter as the strong side wing.  Green sets a back pick for Duncan then goes to the wing to receive the ball.  Duncan curls around, allowing him to solidly seal his man. Green feeds Duncan and cuts to the weak-side corner.  As always, the off ball players are constantly moving without the ball, occupying the defense enough so no one is quite in position to help on Duncan's drive.



Another set up to get Duncan in the post.  Duncan banana cuts through the lane towards a Blair cross screen.  Meanwhile, Richard Jefferson has moved down from the strong-side wing to set an additional screen for Duncan to come out to the strong-side wing.  From here the play is similar to the last clip: Duncan moves down to the post, Jefferson comes out to receive the ball at the wing, then Jefferson feeds Duncan in the post.


The last two clips focus on another set where the Spurs use a screen-the-screener action:

The play begins with:
- The strong-side wing (Manu Ginobili) down on the block
- The two bigs at the elbows
- The weak-side wing (Kawhi Leonard) at the weak-side wing
Leonard cuts across a parallel double screen (set by Diaw and Duncan) to receive the ball at the strong-side wing.  This keys:
- Parker to cut across to the weak-side corner
- Manu to set a cross screen for Duncan to get to the post.
- Diaw to come down and screen Ginobili, who had just screened for Duncan

The Lakers switch on the cross screen, and the big center Andrew Bynum is not prepared to fight through Diaw's screen.  Ginobili easily makes his way up top and sinks an open three.



The same action again:
- Manu at the strong-side block
- Duncan at one elbow (and Diaw moving towards the other)
- Weak-side wing cuts through a double screen to the strong-side wing, keying:
- Ginobili to cross screen for Duncan
- Diaw to screen-the-screener
Metta World Peace sticks with Ginobili up top so Diaw sets a ball screen.  Duncan drifts to the top of the key as the Lakers softly trap Ginobili.  Manu gives up the ball to the rolling Diaw.  Bynum rotates to help leaving Duncan wide open.  He shot fakes Gasol out of position and goes right over Bynum with a floater for two.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Counters

In today's post we will revisit Strong, Weak and Loop to see some of the countersthe Spurs use when defenses get used to their regular actions.


In the first clip we see the ball handler Gary Neal swing up top to the trailer and stay on the strong-side of the floor, keying "strong":

Neal and Tiago Splitter come down to set the double screen for strong-side wing James Anderson, but the post man Matt Bonner has not ducked in.  Instead, Bonner sets a screen for Anderson to slip to the weak-side corner.  Bonner then uses the Neal-Splitter double screen to go up top.  Weak-side wing Danny Green decides to keep the ball so Bonner sets a screen.  Lamar Odom positions himself to hedge, so Bonner slips the screen and Green gets the ball over to Neal.  Splitter seals his man in the post but Neal's man plays tight, inviting Neal to attack the basket.  Neal misses the floater, but Splitter's defender is forced to help allowing Splitter an easy tip in.



This time the trailer is denied so Boris Diaw cuts backdoor.  This cut keys the ball handler to dribble towards the weak-side and pass the ball directly to the weak-side wing.  The post player then goes to the weak-side wing to initiate a pick and roll as Diaw settles on the block Tim Duncan vacated.  Duncan slips the screen, drawing Diaw's defender.  The Jazz defender guarding the weak-side corner rotates to Diaw.  Duncan gets this defender back to the corner with a nice pass fake, then finds Diaw for a layup.


Another trailer denied clip:

- The trailer, Matt Bonner, is denied so he cuts backdoor.
- The ball handler, Tony Parker, dribbles to the weak-side and passes the ball to Manu Ginobili
- Tim and Manu go into a pick and pop.
- The Big Fundamental unleashes a step back jumper on Blake Griffin.



This time the ball handler is able to swing the ball up top to the trailer, but the weak-side wing is denied.  On the denial, the weak-side wing cuts backdoor and the trailer "DHO's" to the strong-side wing.

The Spurs then settle into a 3-out-2-in spacing with the two bigs at the elbows.

Green enters the ball into Duncan and cuts.  Duncan keeps the ball so Green continues his cut towards Richard Jefferson to set a down screen.  The Nets switch the screen giving Duncan space to pass the ball to Jefferson.  Jefferson dribbles his defender into a Duncan screen and gets a pull up jumper off against the soft coverage.


Next we see the Spurs run a weak counter from a side out of bounds:

The ball handler pass ahead to the strong-side wing and cuts across to the weak-side, keying "weak."  The ball is swung up top and the weak-side wing looks to set the cross screen on the post.  Instead of cutting to the wing, the ball handler cuts back door to a waiting double screen.  The weak-side wing settles to the corner and the strong-side wing cuts across to the opposite wing.  Parker receives the ball on the move and easily gets to his spot at the elbow for the pull up jumper.  (This action can also be used as a counter when the ball handler is being denied the swing pass from the trailer after cutting to the weak-side)



In this clip, we see weak:
- Parker passes ahead to Ginobili and cuts through to the weak-side
- Ginobili swings the ball to Splitter who swings to Parker.
- Kawhi Leonard sets the cross screen for Bonner in the post.
- Splitter goes to down screen.
- Bonner, instead of using Leonard's screen to go to the opposite block, cuts up top using Splitter's screen and just misses the catch and shoot three.



Again we see the post go up top instead of using the cross screen:

Parker, not as confident in Duncan's shot, holds the ball and waits for the trailer, DeJuan Blair, to set a screen.  Parker's defender goes under the screen.  Tony gets Blair's defender to ball watch by faking a shot, then passes to Blair who punishes the mental lapse with a quick baseline spin.


Next we see a "loop" setup:

Out of the loop we see a "floppy" action (where two perimeter players change sides of the floor, with a screen being set by one of the two, and the two bigs on each block to set additional screens).  The primary read is for Parker but the pass can't be made so the ball is reversed to Green on the other side.  Parker continues his cut towards the corner and Duncan sets a screen on the ball.  The Jazz simply watch Green come off the screen and he obliges their kindness with a layup.


Sometimes the looping player will come off a down screen set by the post:

After the screen, Duncan has acquired deep position.  Ginobili feeds Duncan and quickly cuts for a nice give and go.


We see the post hit again after a loop is called:

Even on one-on-one post ups, the Spurs continuously occupy the defense with off the ball cuts.  After feeding Duncan, Parker cuts to the weak-side corner and Blair waits on the opposite block (where his defender can not help for fear of an easy dump pass to Blair, also a likely spot for an offensive rebound).  Leonard sees his defender ball watching so Kawhi cuts to the basket (he continues his cut towards the weak-side corner but Parker directs him to the wing).  As Duncan sizes his man up, Jefferson's defender digs down prompting Jefferson to cut to the basket.  Duncan makes his move, once again capturing the attention of Kawhi Leonard's defender.  Leonard makes one last cut as Duncan finishes his move with a nice bank shot.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Pick and Roll

In today's post, we will look at some of the various pick and roll sets that the Spurs use.



In this clip, Tony Parker pushes the ball up to the left side wing.  Before the defense can set, DeJuan Blair sets a screen on the ball.  The Spurs two shooters space the floor on the weak-side and Duncan fills the opposite block.  The defenders loose track of their assigned man in transition and mistakenly leave Richard Jefferson wide open for three.




In this clip, the Spurs simply settle into a spread pick and roll with the ball handler up top, a shooter in each corner, and another shooter at the weak-side wing.  The post man Tiago Splitter comes up from the block to set a screen for Parker.  The defense shows hard on Parker but can not stop him from turning the corner.  He gets such deep penetration that the defender covering the weak-side corner must help.  The defender assigned to the weak-side wing rotates over, leaving Matt Bonner open for three.




In this clip, the shooting big Matt Bonner is the first down the floor, so he fills the post position.  With the non-shooting Duncan as trailer, he signals Bonner to vacate the post in preparation for the pick and roll. Bonner carefully times his move to spot up to match the timing of Duncan's screen.  After multiple ball screens, Duncan's defender losses containment positioning and the rest of the Clippers stand by and watch Parker dart through the lane for the layup.



In this clip we see the Spurs run a "staggered screen" (a parallel double screen on the ball):

Out of transition, Bonner crosses the floor to act as the first screener of a staggered screen that will be set by Bonner and Duncan.  Bonner pops to the wing and Duncan rolls to the basket.  Duncan's defender shows hard on Parker to allow Parker's defender back to the ball but no one rotates over to Duncan.  With Marc Gasol scrambling to return to Duncan, Parker throws a nice bounce pass to Duncan who finishes with an and one.



Another staggered pick and roll with Bonner popping after the first screen.  The defense chooses soft coverage on both screens and Tiago Splitter rolls hard to the basket.  The threat of a Matt Bonner three scares his defender off helping as Manu finds Splitter in stride for the easy dunk.




This time the Spurs initially show a standard spread pick and roll.  Duncan, instead of screening the ball, screens for Bonner to begin a staggered screen.  The action results in three Clipper defenders running into each other.  As Duncan rolls, he seals Bonner's defender.  Upon receiving the pass, Bonner quickly shot fakes to force a rotation from the corner leaving Danny Green wide open to for the catch and shoot three.



Next we will see the Spurs run a "twist" action:

This clip begins with the two Spurs bigs at the elbows.  Instead of a staggered pick and roll, the first big independently sets a screen, quickly followed by the other big's screen.  As Blair moves to screen, his defender goes jumps out to hedge, so Blair slips to the basket.  Parker initially heads towards Duncan, prompting Duncan's defender to jump out as well.  Parker backs up and awaits another screen from Duncan.  Tony dribbles Steven Nash right into Duncan, prompting Duncan's man to play soft coverage.  Parker uses a quick in and out move to get space from Marcin Gortat and knocks down the pull up jumper.




Another twist action except the first screen is from a popping Matt Bonner.  The Jazz bigs stick with the Spurs bigs through each screen and Parker's defender chooses to go under.  A normal spread pick and roll would have forced a long 18 foot jumper if Parker's man choose to go under.  The twist action forces Parker's man to go under two separate screens - all the way down to the free throw line area.  By the time the screens clear, Parker has a mountain of space to attack before his defender can return.  Parker easily gets to his spot at the elbow and knocks down the pull up jumper.



We see another action where both Spurs big set their own screen:

This time, the trailing Matt Bonner goes down to screen for the post man Boris Diaw.  As Diaw comes off, the Suns bigs switch.  Diaw sets the screen for Gary Neal and the Suns show hard and recover.  In a normal pick and roll action, Bonner would simply duck in on the pick and roll.  Indeed, Bonner ducks in, lulling his defender who is ready to help on the rolling Diaw.  Once Diaw is clear, Bonner quickly runs out to set another ball screen.  Although Bonner isn't the fastest player, the initial decoy pick and roll was enough to slow his defender down.  By the time Bonner reaches Neal, Robin Lopez has scrambled out too far to properly contain Neal's drive.  Diaw ducks in and as Bonner pops, he draws Danny Green's defender.  With no Suns left to rotate over, Green is left open for a corner three.  Although he misses the shot, he draws three close out defenders, allowing Kawhi Leonard to roam in and clean up the miss.




Again we see the trailer coming down, but Bonner sends the post to the opposite block instead of screening for him.  The ball is passed ahead to the strong-side wing Gary Neal and Parker cuts to the weak-side corner after the pass.  Bonner motions Splitter to set the screen and times his fade to the strong-side corner with the pick and roll.  The Nets hedge on the pick and roll but the timing of the off ball actions combined with the timing of the screen forces the help to come from the strong-side corner.  The help is late to rotate over and Neal finds Splitter for an easy dunk.


In the last post, we saw how the Spurs can flow from their regular offense into a pick and roll.  Here we see a pick and roll come after a loop setup:

After the loop, Parker settles into the right side corner and Duncan comes up to set the screen.  The Suns lazily tip off a hedge so Duncan slips.  All three help defenders watch Duncan and no one rotates over to the wide open Blair.  As Duncan passes to DeJuan, the three Suns help defenders converge on Blair leaving him the choice between a wide open James Anderson or wide open Tony Parker.




In this clip, we see Parker dribble toward the strong-side wing.  Instead of looping, the strong-side wing James Anderson cuts along the baseline towards a weak-side double screen.  His defender (Deron Williams) initially stays behind, so both Nets defenders guarding the side pick and roll feel comfortable sticking with Parker.  But the weak-side double action recaptures Williams' attention and no one is left to cover the rolling Tiago Splitter.  Unfortunately, Splitter can't convert on the reverse layup.


What makes the Spurs offense so difficult to guard is the player's versatility to naturally flow from a motion offense to a pick and roll.  In this clip, the Spurs flow from a spread pick and roll into a post up for Tiago Splitter:

On the post entry pass, Matt Bonner cuts to the opposite corner.  Meanwhile, Ginobili sets a back pick for Gary Neal.  Manu sees his defender jump out to deny Neal, and Ginobili also knows the lane will be cleared after Bonner cuts through.  Ginobili quickly digests the situation and cuts to the basket.  Splitter finds Ginobili in stride and the defense has no choice but to foul to prevent the easy dunk.


Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Pick and Roll within the Offense

In today's post, we will look at how the Spurs incorporate pick and rolls within the flow of their offense.



In the first clip, we see the Spurs run "Strong."

The ball is swung to Manu Ginobili.  Kawhi Leonard curls off the double.  Manu holds the ball and Duncan goes to set a screen.  Meanwhile, Matt Bonner has floated to the right side corner and Tony Parker has drifted to the left side corner.  Leonard continues his cut towards the left side corner but Parker directs him to the wing.  As the on ball screen happens, the Spurs have flowed into a spread pick and roll attack.  The screener's defender chooses a soft show as Manu's defender fights over the screen.  Matt Bonner's man rotates over to the rolling Duncan and Ginobili immediately fires a pass across his body to Bonner.  Bonner attacks the feet of the closeout and draws Ginobili's defender in the process.  However, Bonner opts to fire a tough floater.


Another spread pick and roll from strong.

Again we see strong, but this time, the strong-side wing is outright denied the pass up top, so Tiago Splitter goes to set a screen on the ball handler, Gary Neal.  Once again, we see the post man (this time Boris Diaw) float to the right corner, the original ball handler fades to the left corner, and Danny Green heads towards the open left side wing.  The Jazz soft show and send help from the right side corner.  Neal smartly step back dribbles drawing two defenders as Splitter seals Diaw's defender.  Neal makes the easy pass to a wide open Diaw who sinks the catch and shoot three.



Another strong is initiated.  This time, the ball handler elects to come up top instead of setting a screen for the strong-side wing.  Immediately Parker and Blair go into a pick and roll.  Parker step fakes his defender into Blair, then goes away from the screen.  As he attacks the basket, Parker draws all five defenders.  The weak-side wing, Kawhi Leonard, spots up on the left side corner.  Leonard's defender hesitates as Parker drives past him and he runs right into a waiting Duncan leaving Leonard open in the corner.  Parker finds Leonard, who attacks the closeout, dribbles to his spot, and knocks down the pull up jumper.


Next, we move onto pick and rolls that develop from "Weak":

We see Parker initiate weak by passing ahead to the strong-side wing.  The Spurs go through the progressions of weak but Parker elects to hold the ball.  Duncan comes to set a screen on Parker.  The Nets soft show, so Parker attacks and hits his patented floater for two points.



This time, the post man comes to set the screen immediately after receiving the cross screen from the weak-side wing.  Tiago Splitter's man runs into Lebron James in the action, affecting the defender's ability to hedge on the pick and roll.  Splitter rolls to the basket, drawing DeJuan Blair's man.  Danny Green's defender is forced to rotate over to Blair to prevent the dump pass, leaving Green wide open to knock down the most efficient jump shot in basketball.



Again we see the post man (this time Matt Bonner) come to set a screen after receiving the weak-side wing cross screen.  Patrick Mills chooses to get the ball up top to Gary Neal and the Spurs flow into a pick and pop.  Bonner's defender does a poor job slowing Neal with the hard show and the ball handler is able to turn the corner.  Sensing his defender is off balance, Neal leaves his man on skates and unleashes a nasty step back jumper.



Once again, we see the post man come off the cross screen.  This time, Ginobili step fakes towards Bonner's screen and slips to the left side corner.  Bonner fades to the right side wing, with Neal in the corner and Patrick Mills drifting to the top. As Manu's defender recovers,  Ginobili quickly attacks.  Duncan glances Ginobili's defender then quickly slips his screen as the Sun's try to trap Manu on the baseline.  Since Phoenix's only shot blocker was forced to help on Ginobili, the Sun's have no choice but to foul to prevent the easy basket.


One last weak clip:

Here, the on ball screen comes from the trailer immediately after the ball is swung.  Ginobili cross screens for Bonner and both continue the direction of their cuts, leaving the defense occupied as the pick and roll happens.  Splitter's defender opts for soft coverage but no other Net defender is ready to help so he is left to zone between Neal and Splitter.  Neal makes a quick ball fake, forcing the defender to step back to Splitter for a split second.  The split second window allows Neal to safely get his scoop shot off and he nets two points on the goaltend.


In the next clip, we see a quick side screen roll come from a "Loop" action:

After Green loops up, Parker heads towards the basket off Blair's back pick.  Parker quickly cuts back towards Blair and receives the ball.  Immediately Parker attacks.  With Deron Williams out of position, Blair's defender is forced to jump out and help to prevent Parker's drive.  Parker fakes a shot and finds Blair, who draws the defense leaving Green wide open for a three.



After the loop, Parker receives the ball off a double screen.  Parker draws two defenders off the double.  Splitter tries cutting to the basket but the passing angle is cut off.  Instead, Parker and Splitter settle into a pick and roll.  Both recognize the defenses intent to hedge, so Splitter slips the screen and creates a passing lane by bumping Parker's defender.  Parker hits Splitter in stride, who fakes a pass to prevent a double and hits a soft hook shot for two.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Loop

In today's post we will look at the play called "Loop."


"Loop" begins when the ball handler dribbles towards the strong-side wing.  This action keys:
- The strong-side wing to "loop" up to the top
- The trailer to fan away and head down towards the weak-side block.

The ball handler then passes the ball to the strong-side wing.



Players in this offense are all taught to cut back door anytime the defense denies.

Here, the strong-side wing, Danny Green, is able to draw a foul by cutting back door while being denied.


Once the strong-side wing has the ball up top:
- The trailer moves down (trailer can then set a down screen for the weak-side wing)
- The post player sets a back pick for the ball handler
From here, it's up to the players to decide what kind of action they want to run: single-doubles, staggered doubles, floppy, many options are possible.

Here Gary Neal receives a back pick from the post man Tiago Splitter.   Neal continues on through a double screen set by weak-side wing Danny Green and trailer Matt Bonner.  Bonner's defender is reluctant to help off the deadly three point shooter, so Shawn Marion is sucked in to help on Neal's drive, resulting in a wide open catch and shoot three by the strong-side wing James Anderson.


In the next clip we will see another double screen:

Parker draws all five defenders off the double and Duncan easily shoots over the much smaller Steve Nash.


Another double:

Parker's defender is already behind after the back pick set by Duncan.  Kawhi Leonard's man switches onto Parker during the double screen leaving no one on Leonard.  After setting his screen, Kawhi continues to the other side of the floor but misses the wide open corner three.


Here we see the weak-side wing screen for the ball handler underneath the basket:

DeJuan Blair sets a good back pick for Manu Ginobili.  On the pass to Leonard up top, Green heads down below the basket to set an additional screen for Ginobili.  Manu's defender is left no room to chase through the screens and is forced to go over the top of Duncan and attempt to cut off the pass.  Leonard and Ginobili both read the play and Kawhi zips the ball to the fading Manu for a wide open corner three.  Unfortunately, Ginobili is unable to convert.


In the next clip, we will see a similar floppy style action:

Again, the weak-side wing heads under the basket as Danny Green loops up top to receive the ball.  Rajon Rondo is caught by Bonner's back pick and is further delayed by Ginobili's screen.  Tim Duncan's defender is forced to switch on to Tony Parker.  Parker smartly fakes a pass to draw Rondo back, leaving Duncan wide open with a foot in the paint.  Duncan is able to get his shot off without even dribbling.



On the back pick, Boris Diaw's defender chooses to step off Diaw and deny the cutting Patrick Mills.  Green passes to the open Diaw and Boris immediately attacks the middle of the lane off the catch.  Diaw sucks in the defense and finds Mills for the spot up three.

In summary:
- When the ball handler dribbles towards the strong-side wing, the "Loop" series is initiated.  This keys:
- The strong-side wing to loop up top
- The ball handler to pass the ball up top to the strong-side wing
- The ball handler to cut off a back pick set by the post
- The trailer to come down to the opposite block
- From here the weak-side wing has a number of options: to curl off a down screen set by the trailer, to be a part of a double screen (along with the trailer) for the on coming ball handler, to cut underneath the basket and screen the ball handler there, and to continue on to receive a screen from the post.  These actions can be mirrored on the other side of the floor where the ball handler and post man set doubles or the ball handler screens for the weak-side wing.

Because Popovich prepares his players to freely run the offense, players naturally learn about each other and develop a feel for their own strengths and weaknesses.  Practice, preparation and coaching of fundamentals combined with the Spurs patient and selfless culture ensure that this freelancing style results in execution of high percentage shots.  While this years Spurs are best known for their deadly spread pick and roll, their ability to move without the ball and properly read the defense gives them a versatility that is hard to for opposing defenses to prepare for.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Weak

In this post we will look at the next action of the Spurs Motion Offense called "Weak."


Weak begins when the ball handler passes ahead to the strong-side wing. This pass keys several actions:

1.  Ball handler Patrick Mills passes ahead to strong-side wing Manu Ginobili.
- Once this pass is made, the ball handler cuts across to the weak-side of the floor (hence the term "Weak") and the strong-side wing looks for the pass.  Here, Ginobili perfectly threads the needle and hits Mills in stride for an easy layup.


If the pass to the ball handler cutting through isn't available, the strong-side wing swings the ball up to top to the trailer:

- Again we see the ball handler, this time Tony Parker, pass ahead to the strong-side wing then cut across to the weak-side.  Parker's defender denies the pass.
- The strong-side wing swings the ball up top to the trailer Tim Duncan.
- The weak-side wing comes down to set a screen for the ball handler.  Parker's defender goes over the top of the screen, so Parker cuts backdoor and Duncan finds him for the layup.


If neither of these passes is available, the ball handler continues his cut to the weak-side and the trailer swings the ball to him.

1. We see the ball handler Tony Parker pass ahead to strong-side wing Kawhi Leonard.
- As Parker cuts through, the weak-side wing Danny Green comes down to screen.

2. Leonard swings the ball up top to the trailer, Tim Duncan.
- The weak-side wing continues towards the post man, DeJuan Blair and sets a cross screen for Blair

3. Duncan swings the ball to Parker, now on the weak-side of the floor.
Blair's defender chooses to go under Green's screen.  Blair flashes to the ball, giving Parker a wide open target.

4.  Parker passes to the post man Blair, who unfortunately misses the floater.


The cross screen by the weak-side man can also give the post man good position on the opposite block.

- Parker passes ahead to Leonard, who pops back to the ball, initiating weak.
- Parker cuts through
- Leonard swings up top to Tiago Splitter
- Green comes down to set the cross screen for Blair
- Splitter swings the ball to Parker, now on the weak-side of the floor
- Parker hits Blair on the opposite block.
  Green's defender gets caught ball watching and Blair finds Green for a wide open three.


If the post man can't be hit, the trailer goes down to screen the weak-side wing in a screen-the-screener action.

- Parker passes ahead to Leonard and cuts across to the weak-side, starting the weak action
- Green comes down to screen for Parker
- Leonard swings the ball up top to Duncan
- Duncan swings to Parker
- Green cross screens for Blair to go to opposite block
- Duncan goes down to screen for Green, who just cross screened for Blair, in a "screen-the-screener" action.
Green's defender momentarily left to help deny the pass to Blair on the opposite block, so Duncan's additional down screen leaves Danny Green wide open up top for the catch and shoot three.


Again we see the screen-the-screener action create openings for the offense:

- Here we see Ginobili set the cross screen.  His defender gets slowed down by his own teammate trying to stick with Duncan.  After the cross screen, Ginobili's defender stops for a beat to watch the ball and has to sprint to catch up with Ginobili.
- Manu's defender runs right into Bonner on the screen-the-screener action.
- Bonner's defender is forced to help on Ginobili, who has received the ball on the move.
Having drawn two defenders, Ginobili hits Bonner (who has stepped out to the wing).  Bonner, a deadly three point shooter, draws Leonard's defender.  Leonard takes advantage of the rotating Jazz and attacks the feet of the closeout.  Leonard makes a strong move to the basket and finishes for two.


Another advantage of quickly passing ahead is for a quick post up opportunity.

Parker passes ahead to Giniboli and cuts across, initiating weak.

Spurs big men are taught not to run in straight lines to the rim, but to banana cut to the block in order to quickly seal their defender.  Here Duncan banana cuts to the block and Manu easily feeds him.  The ball gets to Duncan so fast that he is able to face up with plenty of space between him and his defender.  Duncan makes a quick move to the middle of the lane and with one hard dribble is able to drive by his defender for a layup.

In Summary:
- When the ball handler passes ahead to the strong-side wing and cuts across to the weak-side of the floor, this pass initiates "Weak."  This pass keys:
- The strong-side wing to look for the cutting ball handler.  If the pass can't be made, he swings the ball up top to the trailer
- The weak-side wing to come down and set a cross screen for the post who sets up on the opposite block
- The trailer to swing the ball to the ball handler, now on the weak-side.  The trailer then sets a down screen for the weak-side wing
- The ball handler passes the ball to the weak-side wing who has come up top off the screen-the-screener action


Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Spurs Motion Offense - Strong

In this post, we will look at the play called "Strong"

Each number represents a pass.

1. Richard Jefferson passes ahead to Tony Parker:
- Parker pushes the ball ahead as the "ball handler."
- Kawhi Leonard fills the "strong-side wing"
- while Jefferson moves to the "weak-side wing"
- DeJuan Blair fills the "post" position
- Tim Duncan fills the "trailer"

2. Parker swings the ball to Duncan.
When the ball handler swings the ball up top to the trailer and remains on the strong-side of the floor, this pass initiates the "Strong" action:
- The first action in Strong is for the post to duck in towards the basket.  The trailer to look for a hi-low pass to the post man who ducks in

Chris Bosh decides to front Blair.  As Duncan receives the ball, Blair does a good job sealing Bosh giving Duncan plenty of space for the hi-low pass.  Blair sinks the quick hook shot.

1. Cory Joseph brings the ball up and swings the ball to Tiago Splitter, initiating the Strong action.

This keys:
- Matt Bonner in the post to duck in
- Strong-side wing Richard Jefferson step fakes his defender towards the baseline
- After swinging the ball to the trailer, the ball handler Joseph moves towards Jefferson to set a downscreen

2. Splitter swings the ball to the weak-side wing, Gary Neal

- After the trailer swings the ball to the weak-side wing, the trailer moves to set another downscreen for the strong-side wing
- Strong-side wing comes off the double screen set by the ball handler and trailer

3. Weak-side wing passes to strong-side wing up top after coming off the double screen

Marion goes under Spiltter's screen.  The sagging Mavericks defense allows for an easy pass to the wide open Jefferson.  Jefferson steps into the pass and knocks down the in rhythm jumper.

1. Tony Parker swings the ball to Matt Bonner, initiating the Strong action:
- Blair in the post ducks in
- Strong-side wing Danny Green step fakes his defender towards the baseline
- Ball handler Tony Parker sets a downscreen for Green after swinging the ball to Bonner

2. Bonner swings the ball to weak-side wing Kawai Leonard
- Bonner moves down to set the second screen for Green
- Green comes off the double screen

3. Leonard feeds Green on the move
Jason Terry is caught trailing Green through the double screen.  Green takes a hard dribble to get by his defender then rises up to sink the floater over the contest of Ian Mahinmi.

1. The ball handler Patrick Mills swings the ball up top to the trailer Tiago Splitter keying the Strong action:
- Bonner ducks in
- Manu Ginobili step fakes towards the baseline
- Mills sets the first downscreen

2. Spiltter swings the ball to the weak-side wing Stephen Jackson
- Splitter sets the second screen
- Manu comes off the double

3. Jackson feeds Manu up top off the double
From here, the Spurs move into a spread pick and roll.  Manu momentarily draws both his defender and Splitter's.  Splitter rolls hard to the basket.  None of the Cleveland defenders are willing to help off the Spurs deadly perimeter spot up shooters and Splitter finishes the wide open layup.


Once the strong-side wing has come off the double he has multiple options on both sides of the floor.  Before we saw the Spurs flow into a pick and roll.  Now lets look at the built in options of the play.

Here we see another Strong action and pick up after Leonard has come off the double screen:

- After setting the first screen for the strong-side wing, the ball handler continues towards the weakside of the floor
- After passing the ball up top to the strong-side wing coming off the double, the weak-side wing moves down toward the baseline

From here, the ball handler and weak-side wing enter a two man screening game known as the "gaggle."  There are numerous options to run out of the gaggle: the weak-side wing can set a down screen for the ball handler, the ball handler can set a back pick for the weak-side wing to get to the basket,

The post man can also get involved in the gaggle: the post and weak-side wing can set a double screen for the ball handler, the post can seal his defender for a post up, the ball handler can set a back pick for the weak-side wing then receive a screen from the post in a screen the screener action.

In this case, the ball handler Cory Joseph goes towards the gaggle and receives a down screen from the weak-side wing Danny Green.  Splitter gets pushed off the block but is able to seal his man.  Joseph feeds Splitter and cuts while Matt Bonner sets a squeeze back screen for Leonard.  As Joseph cuts to the corner, Green drifts up to the wing.  Lebron helps off Bonner on Splitter's dribble.  Spliter skip passes to Green who swings the ball to Joseph.  Unfortunately the shot is off, but the Spurs showed their trademark patient ball movement to generate an open corner three (the most efficient jump shot in basketball).


If the gaggle is not available, the strong-side wing has another option.

Again we pick up after the strong-side wing, this time Danny Green, has received the ball off the double screen:

The gaggle hasn't developed, so Green enters the ball into the trailer Tim Duncan, who has settled at the elbow after setting the second screen for Green.  The two get into a two man game.  This elbow two man game is a drill that the Spurs constantly practice.  Much like the gaggle, this two man game has numerous options.  The typical drill setup has the trailer run a dribble hand off ("DHO") to the strong-side wing then cut hard to the basket.  If the strong-side wing can't hit the rolling trailer, the strong-side wing can come off the DHO to the corner and run a side pick and roll with the trailer.

Here Duncan shuffle passes to the cutting Green wing and screens the cutter's defender in the process.  Joel Anthony leaves Duncan to help and Green settles for a tough flat angle floater.

In summary:
- When the ball handler swings the ball to the trailer and stays on the strong-side of the floor, this pass initiates "Strong."  The ball handler then moves to set a down screen for the strong-side wing.  The ball handler continues on to the weak-side of the floor towards the "gaggle"
- Post man ducks in looking for the hi-low pass
- Trailer swings the ball to the weak-side wing, then sets a second screen for the strong-side wing, then waits at the elbow
- Strong-side wing step fakes his defender and goes off the double screen
- Weak-side wing passes to up top to the strong-side wing, then moves down to set up the gaggle
From here the strong-side wing has two options:
- Find an open player off the gaggle
- Enter the ball into the trailer in the elbow to execute the DHO two man game
If all else fails, the Spurs can freely flow into a pick and roll attack.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

Basics of the Spurs Motion Offense

Starting in 1997, the San Antonio Spurs own the highest winning percentage of any team out of the four major North American professional sports.  The Spurs, anchored by Tim Duncan, forged an identity as one of the best defensive teams of their era on the way to four NBA Championships. Since their last championship in 2007, the NBA has changed to a quicker perimeter oriented league.  The Spurs can no longer count on an aging Duncan or their once heralded defense.  To adjust to the new rules, Gregg Popovich has turned the keys of his offense over to his perimeter players.  Now coaching the offense with the best Offenseive Rating in the NBA, Popovich has shown he isn't just a defensive guru, but an all around basketball genius.

The Spurs run an equal opportunity motion style offense.  Players are asked to fill certain positions on the floor and run through a sequence of options based on where offensive players are positioned in the early offense and what the defense gives.


The Spurs are setup in a 4 out 1 in alignment:

The players are asked to fill positions on the floor based on whether they are a big or perimeter player:
- Two interchangeable bigs: Post (usually the first big down the floor who fills the post) and Trailer (who spots up at the top of the three point arc).
- Three interchangeable perimeter players: a strong-side wing, a weak-side wing (who fill the strong-side and weak-side corners) and a ball handler that fills the wing.
- Depending on the versatility of a player, they can even be asked to fill all five positions

The offense isn't right or left "handed," players can fill the positions on both sides of the floor.  In the above picture, the positions are setup on the right side of the floor.  In the next picture, the players are on the left.

The sequence of actions the Spurs go through are keyed by the actions of the ball handler:
- Strong: Where the ball handler swings the ball to the trailer and stays on the strong side of the floor
- Weak: Where the ball handler passes ahead to the strong-side wing, then cuts across to the weak side of the floor
- Loop: Where the ball handler dribbles towards the strong-side wing, pushing the strong-side wing to loop up top


Players are taught reads and progressions and asked to take what the defense gives.  Various counters and automatics are also taught to keep defenses honest.  If a play breaks down, the players can use basic motion actions (dribble hand offs, cut backdoor when denied) to generate a look.  But most deadly of all, the Spurs can settle into a nightmare spread pick and roll attack.
Starting in 1997, the San Antonio Spurs own the highest winning percentage of any team out of the four major North American professional sports.  The Spurs, anchored by Tim Duncan, forged an identity as one of the best defensive teams of their era on the way to four NBA Championships. Since their last championship in 2007, the NBA has changed to a quicker perimeter oriented league.  The Spurs can no longer count on an aging Duncan or their once heralded defense.  To adjust to the new rules, Gregg Popovich has turned the keys of his offense over to his perimeter players.  Now coaching the second best offense in the NBA, Popovich has shown he isn't just a defensive guru, but an all around basketball genius.  Because Popovich prepares his players to freely run the offense, players naturally learn about each other and develop a feel for their own strengths and weaknesses.  Practice, preparation and coaching of fundamentals combined with the Spurs patient and selfless culture ensure the execution of a versatile, freelancing attack.

Visit: http://spursmotionoffense.blogspot.com to learn more about the Spurs motion offense.

The Triangle Offense Resources List

The list of the best explanations for the Triangle Offense I have come across.

- The Encyclopedia of the Triangle Offense by Championship Productions:

  This 3 DVD set of a Tex Winter clinic is pricey but by far the most useful guide to the offense that I know of.  Tex shows how to implement the offense from the ground up.  He starts with the very basics: the 7 principles, proper passing technique, and proper footwork. He then goes through the entire basics of the triangle: line of deployment, moment of truth, the two passes, solos, and some breakdown drills.  The 3rd DVD comes with a hit or miss film package of the the old Jordan Bulls teams and Shaq/Frobe era Lakers running the triangle.  The clips are great and the film package shows deeper levels of the triangle, but the audio dubbing is badly timed and becomes confusing.

- NBA Coaches Playbook:

  The chapter on the triangle, written by Phil Jackson and Tex Winter, is the clearest explanation of the offense I have come across.

- FIBA Assist Magazine:

  This also has an explanation of the triangle written by Tex Winter, but the translation is a bit off and the diagrams are terribly placed.  But hey, it's free!

Download link - File Factory

- Phil Jackson - In My Own Words:

  I believe this was filmed for Lakers season ticket holders.  Phil Jackson and his staff quickly go through the basics of the offense.  Good explanation of the moment of truth as well.

YouTube to Part 1:

- The Triple-Post Offense by Fred "Tex" Winter:

  Last, but certainly not least, is original bible on the offense published in 1962 by the innovator of the triangle himself, Tex Winter.  The triangle is described in painstaking detail along with diagrams for every option of the offense at that time.  Tex also writes about what he believes it takes to be a good coach complete with philosophical approaches, ideal practice schedules and advice for life in general. A lot has been added to the triangle since 1962, but a remarkable amount has remained exactly the same.

Visit: TheTriangleOffense.blogspot.com,to learn all about the basics of the triangle offense.