Sideline out-of-bounds series.

Two plays that start out exactly the same and can score against man or zone defense

Many, perhaps most, basketball coaches contradict their philosophies when it comes to out-of-bounds plays. They will look for the score when they take the ball out from underneath their basket, but will be content just to put the ball into play when they take it out from the sideline.

I believe the accompanying two plays can be run against both man and zone defenses, but especially against man. Both start from the same 2-2-1 alignment, with 5 and 2 deep and 3 and 1 several feet apart, out in the middle of the court on line with the inbounder (4).

In our system, 1 is the point man, 2 our best shooter, 3 our small forward, 5 our best post player, and 4 the inbounder.

Once the play is called (by the coach) and 4 slaps the ball, the player movement begins.

In the first play (Diag. 1), 3 screens for 1 who moves into the backcourt, as 5 goes into the middle of the lane to set a quick screen for 2. The latter may cut high or low over the screen, but he must make sure to get out past the 3-point arc.

At this point, 3 must roll back to the ball and 5 roll back to a point just inside the lane. Diag. 2 shows 5 and 3 in their positions after rolling off their original screens.