May/June 2019 - 8

CAMOUFLAGING
OFFENSES
Becoming more versatile and unpredictable with your attack
By John Kimble, contributing writer
When a team has a strong commitment and a particular level of
success running plays from the same alignment, it can be difficult
and unwise to uproot that offensive package. But because of the
opposition's scouting and defensive adjustments, those plays can
sometimes lose their level of unpredictability and efficiency.
By modifying an alignment's initial appearance before breaking
into your team's familiar positions, coaches don't have to make
wholesale philosophical and personnel changes that could disrupt
their offensive production. Finding ways to disguise your normal
offense could actually increase production and make it more difficult
for opponents to snuff out your attack.
Take a team that typically runs a 1-4 high set (DIAGRAM 1),
with three entries that all begin with 1 making a wing pass to either
3 or 2 at the free-throw line extended. The staff and players have
thoroughly practiced the intricacies of each play with a high level of
confidence, and the plays fit the team's personnel. But, after a high
degree of success, defenses are able to immediately predict the action
based on the initial set.
" Showing a new face " before executing your routine action is
a minor adjustment that can take away any advantage the defense
gained by scouting your system. Opponents have a difficult time
identifying what's happening and what's coming next from the
offense.
While each of the following cosmetic alignments puts players
in different starting positions, all players break to their original
positions in a five-up set. If a team runs three plays that can be
executed to either side of the floor, that gives it six different methods
of attack from the five-up set. But by incorporating new cosmetic
disguises, offenses could overwhelm their opponents with dozens of
new looks.
Keep in mind that teams should carefully select one cosmetic
change at a time. When that set is understood, and the plays can be
executed without difficulty, coaches might consider adding a new set.
Substitutions or additional changes can be added from one season
to the next, from one squad level to the next, or at specific times
throughout the season.
DIAGRAM 2: Hi-Lo Stax to five-up. 1 has the ball, and 3
breaks out from 5's pin-screen to his original position. At the
same time, 2 breaks up and out off of 4's pin-screen, followed by 4
making a vertical cut to his high-post elbow position. A coach could
then execute their plays to either side of the floor, with the initial
movements offering an entirely different opening look to the defense.
DIAGRAM 3: Horns to five-up. The horns set begins with 1
dribbling near the top of the key. 2 makes an Iverson cut over the top
8 MAY/JUNE 2019
DIAGRAM 2
DIAGRAM 1
DIAGRAM 3
May/June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2019
