STRUCTURE is the starting point for your offense. Based on your players, your coaching familiarity, level of play, experience, base knowledge, and other factors…what are you going to run when you are in:

• Transition
• Half-court offense
• Zone offense
• Inbounds

Here’s an example:

• TRANSITION = rim runner to opposite of rim, guards to corners, trail man that flows into our drive and kick (if nothing early, we initiate with high drag ball screen)
• HALF COURT OFFENSE = Princeton Point + 5 Out Motion
• ZONE OFFENSE = Texas and 4 Out
• INBOUNDS = Box Series

As you can see, very simple. It doesn’t have to include EVERYTHING you’ll run this season…but what are you mostly running this year?

HOW are you going about intentionally creating shots within those structures?

Basically, how are you getting shots out of your offensive actions and concepts?

Examples…

TRANSITION = throw aheads, crossing the ball in transition, downhill drives before the defense is fully set, early ball screen action, drive and kicks, dump offs to post players, running 3s/finding our spots

HALF COURT OFFENSE = Point Series (backdoor cuts, quick post ups, ball screen), 5 Out Motion (flares and zoom action)

ZONE OFFENSE = high-low action, pin screens, ball screening the zone

INBOUNDS = screen the screener, flowing right into our drive and kick

It should go without saying that you should be DRILLING these common actions within your offense in both live action and your skill work.

Small-sided games (3v3, 3v2, 4v3, etc.) within these actions would also be useful as well.

If you are running a ton of ghost action for a stretch 4, they should be drilled within that action. A lot.

If you run Princeton Point every time down the floor, you should be drilling Princeton Point actions and decisions in your drill work. Daily.

This is where role identification (and buy in) comes into play.

Who should be taking which shots—and from where?

This can be a tricky spot for coaches - and may require a few unpleasant conversations.

But if you want your offense to run on all cylinders and reach its highest levels, you must have the right people taking the right shots at the right time.

And you must avoid the wrong people taking the wrong shots at the wrong time.

You need to remove as much doubt, hesitation, or gray areas from your players in this area. It might sound constricting, but it will actually allow them to better fulfill their role and improve your offense.

You can define roles in a couple of ways - here are some ideas:

• Have players anonymously (or not if you’re brave) fill out a ranking sheet for each player. You could also have coaches do this.
• Use shot charts that indicate shot quality. Instead of just filling out makes and misses…score each shot attempt using whatever system you come up with.
• Pausing film and not judging the value of a shot on whether it goes in or not - go over time and score, player shooting, situation, and more - and ask your team if it was GREAT, GOOD, or POOR shot
• Individual conversations with your players about what you want from them. Remove gray areas.

Basketball isn’t an equal-opportunity sport if you care about efficiency and winning.

Every possession and shot should be graded - here’s a sample one:

• 3 (Great): layups, open 3s from best shooters, free throws
• 2 (Good): shots you feel fine about
• 1 (Poor): contested jumpers, off-balance drives, wrong shooter

There are a lot of scoring systems out there - choose something that makes sense for you. Or make one up on your own.

What’s more important than what system you use is making sure your players understand your scoring system…and they have no doubt what type of shots you want from them or consider great shots.

When you can make this a part of your daily discussion and conversation during practice…and they can answer correctly about shot quality within their role…you’ll know they understand it.

1. Begin with the end in mind.

What are the 3–5 main ways you want to score?

1. Define priorities.

What (or who) is your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd look each possession? These could be actions (ghost screen), players getting the ball in certain areas (get Mike a post touch each time down), or a combination of both.

1. Clarify what’s not a good shot.

If you paused film mid-shot (before the result), would you be happy with it?

WHO is taking the shot and WHEN they are taking the shot = just as important

1. Apply this to every phase of offense:

• Transition
• Half-court
• Zone
• Inbounds

Start here, and you’ll instantly give your team something most don’t have — clarity.

Every player should know where they stand in the following areas:

Green Light: Let it fly. Yellow Light: Situational. Depends on game flow or matchup. Red Light: Don’t take it. Move it or drive it.

These roles can evolve over the season — but they should never be a mystery to your players, staff, or their teammates.