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Let's take a look at a simple Four Out DDM Entry that can open up great attacking opportunities into double gaps.
After an extremely successful 2016-17 season, we graduated six seniors, including our 6'8'' Center whom we had built our offense around. The previous three seasons our offense was a more traditional motion offense centered around getting the basketball into the post. The roster we had returning was much different. They were more guard-oriented, and I thought, better suited for a dribble drive style offense. So after observing our 2017-18 team perform in Summer League I made the decision that we would move away from traditional motion and towards a dribble-drive style offense.
There is an endless amount of information on the dribble drive offense, and we incorporated many of the basic concepts; double gaps, loop action, the drop zone, rack zone, etc. However, one wrinkle that I was really intrigued by was the concept of incorporating a blur screen on any slot to slot pass. Mark Cascio (@coachcascio), the boys' basketball coach at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, LA was the first person I observed using this concept. Coach Cascio's offensive system is much more in-depth than this simple action, but I wanted to take that particular element and incorporate it into the dribble drive system we were employing.
Check Out of Other DDM Related Posts:
I - Spacing & Reactions
Spacing -
Our version of dribble-drive motion was done with four out spacing. We wanted to provide our players with a few basic court markings in order to guide our spacing.
The Drop Box - after an initial post up in transition our 5 man would attempt to position himself opposite of the basketball with 2-3 feet of the block.
Lane Width Spacing - we wanted our two players in the slot to positioned about lane width apart when the ball is passed.
Helps Creates Confusion
Helps Cutter Get Through
Corner Spacing - the two corner players should position themselves no higher than the second lane marker.
This Creates a Longer Closeout
Makes Quick Decision Easier to See
Reactions -
These are the basic rules that we would set on any Slot to Slot pass.
The Passer makes a '45 Cut' to the Ball Side Corner
The Backside Corner Player fills to the Slot
The 5 Man Slides Away from any Drive
II - Read Progressions
A. "Rack-It" -
What we really want to do is create confusion at the point of attack which will allow the driver to get all the way to the basket.
Rack-It - this is just a simple term to describe the driver being able to get all the way to the rim
Teaching Points:
Timing is Everything
Drive off the Cutter's Back
Use the Cheat Dribble
Angle to the Rim is Important, try to cut defender off
Work on Finishing Technique
One of my first blog post series two years ago was on different finishes when attacking the rim. The Finishing School series included three posts on Game Finishes, Practice Drills, and Practice Progressions. You certainly do not need to be employing DDM principles in order to work on finishing, but in order to be efficient, you need to work on attacking finishes and decision making.
B. "Drop Pass" -
The #1 priority with this action is to rack the basketball. However, if that can not be done then the driver has to see where the help is coming from. The help can only come from two places; the Middle or the Corner.
The Drop Pass - is a quick pass to the post player located in the drop zone around the rim.
If the driver sees help coming from the middle then he should make the Drop Pass to the big.
Teaching Points:
Big Slides Away from the Drive
The Earlier, the Better
Bigs Have Hands Ready
*Key* Big needs to Seal Out any help from X3 (Opposite Corner)
C. "Quick Pitch" -
The most common form of help on this action is going to be from the corner. If that one pass away helper is coming off the corner then the driver makes the Quick Pitch pass.
Quick Pitch - a kick-out pass made when perimeter players help on the drive.
Teaching Points:
The Earlier, The Better
Be Shot Ready
Hold Your Corner Spacing
Back Cut or Loop if Help Comes Late
One concept that we would work on quite a bit is the idea of Driving the Elbow off of a Quick Pitch pass. In these clips you will see players either A) "Being Shot Ready" and taking the three-point shot, or B) "Driving the Elbow" and attacking the basket. We always encourage players to drive through the elbow area if they are not going to shoot off of the Quick Pitch pass. We feel as though this drive allowed the driver a clean exit out of the paint, opened up a great driving lane for the ball, and allowed the backside to be available for catch and shoot opportunities.
Concluding Thoughts -
The beauty of this action is in its simplicity. A simple slot-to-slot pass with a 45 cut underneath the ball defender can create a small advantage that ends in a shot at the rim or a chance for great scoring opportunities off of the help defense. We spent a ton of our practice time working on reading the help options, finishing at the rim, and how to seamlessly flow into the action without stopping. The goal was to become great at those things and allow our guys to play freely and aggressively when attacking the basket.
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