Offensive Positioning

🏀 Team Offense: Mastering Offensive Positioning

Imagine you’re a superhero team. Each hero has a special spot to stand, a way to trick villains, and secret moves to help teammates score. That’s exactly what offensive positioning is in basketball!

The Big Picture 🎯

Think of the basketball court as a pizza with five slices. Each player owns a slice. When everyone stays in their slice and moves smartly, the defense gets confused—like trying to catch five butterflies at once!

One Simple Rule: Space creates pace. When players spread out, the ball moves faster, and scoring becomes easier.

1. Triple Threat Position 🔺

What Is It?

The triple threat is your superhero stance. When you catch the ball, you become dangerous because you can do THREE things:

1. SHOOT the ball 🏀
2. PASS to a teammate 👋
3. DRIBBLE past the defender 💨

How To Do It

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart
Knees bent like you're sitting on an invisible chair
Ball held at your hip, elbows out
Eyes up, looking at the basket AND teammates

Real Example 🌟

Picture this: You catch the ball at the three-point line. Your defender doesn’t know if you’ll shoot, pass, or drive. They freeze for just a second—that’s your moment to attack!

Pro Tip: Hold this position for 1-2 seconds. It’s like a lion crouching before pouncing.

2. Jab Step and Shot Fake 🎭

The Jab Step

A jab step is a quick foot fake. You step toward the defender like you’re about to drive, but you don’t go anywhere. It’s like pretending to throw a ball to a dog but keeping it in your hand!

How To Jab:

• From triple threat, step one foot forward quickly (6-8 inches)
• Keep your weight on your back foot
• Watch the defender’s reaction

The Shot Fake

A shot fake is pretending to shoot. Lift the ball like you’re about to shoot, but DON’T jump. The defender might jump up to block—now you can dribble right past them!

Example Play:

Maya catches the ball. She does a shot fake. Her defender jumps! Maya drives to the basket for an easy layup. The crowd goes wild! 🎉

Why It Works

Defenders react to movement. A good fake makes them move the wrong way. It’s like a magician making you look at one hand while the trick happens in the other!

3. Pivot Foot Rules 🦶

The Golden Rule

Once you stop dribbling, one foot becomes your anchor. This is your pivot foot. It must stay glued to the floor like it’s stuck in cement!

Which Foot Is the Pivot?

graph TD
    A["Catch the ball"] --> B{How did you stop?}
    B -->|Jumped and landed| C["First foot down = Pivot"]
    B -->|One-two step| D["First foot down = Pivot"]
    B -->|Both feet together| E["Choose either foot!"]

What You CAN Do

✅ Spin around on your pivot foot (like a ballerina!) ✅ Lift your pivot foot to shoot or pass ✅ Step any direction with your non-pivot foot

What You CAN’T Do

❌ Slide or drag your pivot foot ❌ Lift it before dribbling ❌ Change which foot is your pivot

Simple Example:

Tommy catches the ball with his left foot touching first. That’s his pivot foot now. He spins right, spins left, finds an open teammate, and passes. His left foot never moved!

4. Cutting Techniques ✂️

What Is Cutting?

Cutting means moving WITHOUT the ball to get open. It’s like playing tag in reverse—you’re trying to lose the person guarding you!

Types of Cuts

The V-Cut in Action 🔻

Step 1: Walk slowly toward the basket (lure your defender in) Step 2: Plant your inside foot hard Step 3: EXPLODE back toward the ball

Example:

Sarah walks slowly to the basket. Her defender relaxes. Suddenly, Sarah plants and sprints to the three-point line. She’s wide open! Catch, shoot, SCORE!

5. Screening Technique 🧱

What Is a Screen?

A screen (also called a pick) is when you become a human wall. You stand still so a teammate can run past you and lose their defender!

How To Set a Good Screen

1. Stand with feet wider than shoulders
2. Hands crossed at your chest or waist
3. Stay COMPLETELY still (like a statue!)
4. Brace for contact (defenders will bump you)

The Right Way

graph TD
    A["Run to screening spot"] --> B["Stop completely"]
    B --> C["Set feet wide and strong"]
    C --> D["Hold position until contact"]
    D --> E["Roll or pop after screen"]

Illegal Screens ❌

• Moving while the defender hits you
• Sticking out arms or legs
• Leaning into the defender

Example:

Marcus sets a screen for his teammate Jake. Jake runs shoulder-to-shoulder past Marcus. Jake’s defender crashes into Marcus and can’t keep up. Jake is open for an easy shot!

6. Off-Ball Screens 🎯

What Are They?

Off-ball screens happen away from where the ball is. Two teammates work together while a third teammate has the ball.

Why They’re Magic ✨

The defense watches the ball. They might not see a screen coming. SURPRISE!

Common Off-Ball Screens

Down Screen:

A player near the free-throw line screens for a player in the corner. The corner player runs UP toward the three-point line.

Back Screen:

A player screens a teammate’s defender from behind. The teammate cuts to the basket for a layup!

Cross Screen:

A player runs across the lane to screen for someone on the opposite block.

Example Play 🏆

Lisa has the ball at the top. Meanwhile, Maria sets a back screen for Tina near the basket. Tina’s defender doesn’t see it coming! Tina cuts to the basket, Lisa passes, easy score!

7. Spacing Principles 📐

The 12-15 Foot Rule

Players should stay 12-15 feet apart from each other. This is about the distance from your bedroom door to your bed!

Why Spacing Matters

Bad Spacing (clumped together):

• One defender can guard two players
• No room to drive to the basket
• Easy steals for defense

Good Spacing (spread out):

• Each defender must pick one player
• Driving lanes stay open
• Kick-out passes for open shots

The Five Spots

graph TD
    subgraph Court Layout
    A["Top of Key"] --- B["Right Wing"]
    A --- C["Left Wing"]
    B --- D["Right Corner"]
    C --- E["Left Corner"]
    end

Fill and Replace

When a teammate drives to the basket, DON’T just watch! Fill their empty spot. It’s like musical chairs—someone always needs to be in each spot.

Example:

Carlos drives from the right wing. Immediately, Destiny moves from the corner to the wing spot Carlos left. Now if Carlos gets stuck, he can pass back to Destiny!

The Golden Spacing Rule 🌟

“When you’re open and your teammate has the ball, STAY open. Don’t run toward them!”

Putting It All Together 🎮

A Perfect Offensive Play

1. Catch in triple threat — You’re dangerous now!
2. Jab step — Test the defender
3. Shot fake — Make them jump
4. Pivot — Protect the ball
5. Read the screen — A teammate helps you
6. Cut hard — Get to a new spot
7. Stay spaced — Don’t crowd teammates

Remember 🧠

• Triple threat = Power stance
• Fakes = Free your shot
• Pivot foot = Your anchor
• Cuts = Movement without the ball
• Screens = Helping teammates get open
• Spacing = Room to work

Your Superpower Unlocked! 🦸

You now understand the SECRET LANGUAGE of offensive basketball. When you watch NBA games, you’ll see these moves happening constantly. Every open shot starts with good positioning!

The best players don’t just score—they help EVERYONE score by moving smart and spacing the floor.

Now get out there and move like you mean it! 🏀🔥