Seize the Season Jamboree: Top Offensive Plays
Last weekend’s Seize the Season Jamboree kicked off Fall basketball in the Twin Cities. In addition to being a great event for young athletes to interact with former Timberwolves and Lynx players, it was also marked by a number of impressive offensive plays. Below are some of the top offensive plays from throughout the tournament.
Screen and speed
Beautiful use of the screen to get to the hole by 22 for Lakeville North @PrepHoops pic.twitter.com/wSn9ZCUDe2
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
The video above highlights great execution of a pic set by the power forward. The point guard initiates the pass to the shooting guard to set the play in motion. His ability to come out so far on the wing is what makes this play effective. It allows him to create space. If he doesn’t receive the ball beyond the 3-point line, then the pic will be set too close to the basket, and the defender will have the ability to recover off of the switch. Because of his positioning on the floor, he is able to exploit the defender with his speed and get by him once the pic is set. Before the defender even registers the switch, Lakeville North has already flipped the ball up for two.
Point guard in the post
#7 for Shackopee showing that size doesn’t matter as he posts up and gets the easy 2! #PrepHoops pic.twitter.com/cQMVajzygx
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
This had to be my favorite play of the weekend. Who was it who said a point guard can’t be effective in the post again? Clearly they didn’t watch Shackopee on Saturday. In this play we see Shackopee’s point guard cut into the lane, but when he doesn’t receive the ball initially, he doesn’t give up. He stays in the lane and makes himself available. Instead, he positions himself far enough away from the basket that he can create separation from the defender. When he receives the ball, he is able to use that space and speed to get his shot off. What an impressive play from the young player.
Sweet floater
#10 for the Panthers getting into the lane and hitting the sweet little floater over a closing big! @PrepHoops pic.twitter.com/1wD6G7vrl2
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
Recognizing space is critical if you want to be a good shooter, and this play highlights just how important it is. While the initial pass by the point guard to the wing is deflected, he doesn’t give up on the play. Instead, he backs out and makes himself available. When he receives the ball back he now has room to work with that he was able to create without the ball or pressure from the defense. He then takes advantage of that space and is able to pick the perfect time to get his shot off over the on-rushing defender.
Crashing the glass
#32 for the Falcons is attacking the offensive glass right now and converting second chances @PrepHoops pic.twitter.com/NBnHqvxl31
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
The younger you are, the harder it can be to play center, but that wasn’t an excuse for the Falcons big man on this play. Instead of becoming a spectator, the center recognizes the shot going up and immediately crashes the boards. His availability to do the dirty work of rebounding allows him the opportunity for second-chance points and he converts.
Shake-n-shoot
@PrepHoops #30 for OMGBA takes a step in side to shake the closing defender and displays a nice, clean stroke for 2! pic.twitter.com/G26qlAZnNe
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
Sometimes being aware of your abilities is the most critical part to success. On this play the point guard for OMGBA is the focal point. He brings the ball up the floor, passes it off, sets a pick to create space for his teammate to receive the pass and then pops out to receive it himself. What’s crucial here is that the defender goes for the steal. After he shakes him, he has the ability to shoot or exploit the space in front of him. All too often, young players want to get their shot off, but that wasn’t his game. Instead, he steps in to a range he is comfortable with and knocks down the open shot.
Simple action
#107 with a beautiful drive into the lane for an easy layup! @PrepHoops pic.twitter.com/QRFb0z51d8
— Jordan Kneen (@JordanKneen) October 26, 2019
Sometimes simple actions are all you need to jump start your offense. Prior to the play above Shackopee had been struggling to maintain consistency on the offensive end. The play above broke them out of that rut. In the play be see the point guard bring the ball up, distribute it off to his shooting guard and run to set a pick for his wing. This forces the defense to switch their smaller point guard onto Shackopee’s wing who the ball handler finds on his drive into the lane for two. The easy bucket set the table for consistent play on the offensive end after that.