Easy baskets from a 1-4 set.

THE BETTENDORF freshmen have been getting excellent scoring opportunities on missed shots and turn-overs from the 1-4 sets in the accompanying diagrams.

If the opposing shot is made, our #4 man (power forward) will inbound the ball and then join the play as a trailer, setting up the 2-3 halfcourt offense shown in Diag. 1. We can run any number of plays or sets from this alignment. On missed shots or turn-overs, we want everyone to break to the opposing baseline as quickly as they can. Our idea is to force the defense to get back and cover the entire floor.

[Diagram 1 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Since we do not inbound the ball on missed shots, we do not need a trailer. We simply sprint to the baseline. You might ask: Why not have #4 trail on everything? Because we have discovered that it makes #4 become too concerned about being in the right spot to run our offense.

By giving him different assignments on missed shots, we enable him to use his speed and ability and be less predictable to the defense.

Coaching point: It is sometimes better to give the players a little liberty (to exploit their individual ability) rather than to keep them rigidly structured. Our philosophy is to give the players a little freedom while still being able to call a set or option play we like.

"Dribble Chase." This is our first option out of the 1-4 set. As shown in Diag. 2, we have our point guard (#1) dribble the ball toward one of our wings--our #2 man (right wing) or #3 man (left wing). Soon as the wing in question sees #1 put the ball on the floor, he must start moving--cutting into the lane and around the screening post (#5).