2 End of Game Plays For The Stretch Run

   As the season winds down, everything takes on more significance. If your program is doing things right, the sense of urgency grows this time of year.  Every practice matters more. Every game matters more. And every possession matters more. Before long, you’ll be in a survive and advance situation..  Your team must be prepared for the situations they’ll face. With that in mind, consider adding these two complementary end of game plays to your playbook.  Why These End of Game Plays Work Great In Tandem  The great thing about these plays is that they start exactly the same. That serves a few purposes.  First, it makes it easier for your players to learn. The formations are identical. Only a couple things change.  Second, it makes it harder for your opponent. If you run Eagle 1 early in a game, you can catch your opponent sleeping with Eagle 2 later.   Third, each play has an option for both 2 and 3 point shots, depending on what your team needs.   These plays can be run in 8 to 12 seconds left at the end of a quarter or end of game situation. Eagle 1 - DHO > Ball Screen > Flare  When you run these plays, it’s important to have your players positioned correctly.  1 should be your point guard.   2 should be your best playmaker.  4 should be one of your best shooters.  5 should be your post or biggest player.  3 can be any type of player, and is the spot for a non-scorer  To start, 1 cuts to receive the ball on the run going up the left side of the floor.  1 dribbles into a pitch or handoff with 2, who is blasting up out of the corner. 1 should try to dribble at 2’s defender to open space.  5 comes right behind 1 and prepares to screen for 2  On the other side of the floor, 4 sprints up court and towards the opposite slot.   1 clears to the corner after making the pitch to 2.   After receiving the pitch, 2 comes off 5’s ball screen. It’s important 5 set the screen slightly angled towards the basket so 2’s defender cannot go under the screen.   2’s first look is to attack! They must be thinking score.   On the weak side, 3 sets a flare screen for 4. 4 will often be open as their defender will look to help on 2’s drive.  After the screen, 3 slips to the rim.  Here’s where you have options.  If you are looking for a two point shot, have 5 roll after their ball screen. If their defender switches onto 2, you will likely have a mismatch you can exploit at the rim.  1 can then fill back up behind the roll. If their defender helps, they will be open for a three pointer.   If you’re looking for a 3, have 5 down screen for 1 after the ball screen. 1’s defender is likely to relax after the handoff, leaving them vulnerable.  This action will often result in 1 being open for a wing 3.   Eagle 2 - Fake DHO > Flare  Eagle 2 starts exactly the same way as Eagle 1.  It is best run after you’ve run Eagle 1 or if your opponent has seen you run Eagle 1 on film.  If they are expecting Eagle 1, Eagle 2 is a great counter that also offers multiple scoring options.  Just as in Eagle 1, 1 drives it hard towards 2, who is sprinting up out of the corner.   5 moves towards the wing to prepare for their screen.  However, instead of pitching it to 2, 1 fakes the pitch. It’s important that 1 hesitate slightly. They may even execute a half spin to sell that they are flipping the ball.  After the fake, 1 accelerates towards the rim. The first option (if you don’t need a three) is 1 scoring at the rim.  On the weak side, 3 again screens for 4. This time it’s a hammer screen for 4 filling the opposite corner.   This is a great option for a 3. If 3’s defender helps on 1’s drive, there is no help when 3 screens 4’s defender.  The last action in this play is a good one. 2 has already run past 5 after the fake pitch. Generally their defender relaxes.  2 slams on the brakes and comes back towards where they started. If 1 can’t score or pass to 4 or 3, 1 can back pivot and look to 2 filling behind them for a three pointer. After their screen, 5 dives to the rim.   Conclusion  Eagle 1 & 2 are great end of game plays.   Both make all 5 players scoring options.  Both make the defense guard multiple actions.  Both look similar.   Those three aspects optimize your chances of getting a good shot. And remember, the key to players executing last second plays is practicing them and being confident they can execute them come game time.  Consider adding these to your playbook to give your team options when you need a late game bucket!   All the best,  Jeff Huber Breakthrough Basketball  This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you indicated that you'd like to receive emails and updates from Breakthrough Basketball on 2016-12-16 05:42:39. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please [Change Your Email Preferences]( or [Unsubscribe All]( Copyright © Breakthrough Basketball, LLC. All rights reserved. Breakthrough Basketball, LLC. | 5001 1st Ave. SE, Ste 105 #254 | Cedar Rapids | IA | 52402 [email.gif] .   It’s our mission to build a strong community centered around basketball, personal development and most importantly - fun! We love to create extraordinary and useful products and share them with you! We love to help people learn how to enjoy the game of basketball at the next level by simply creating the right products that they use in their practices and games. Every day we are building and strengthening partnerships with companies and coaches that are in alignment with our own values. We particularly love working with coaches, players, and parents because through their passion and their craft they help elevate the game of basketball. As much as we care about basketball, we also care about your privacy. Breakthrough Basketball is owned and operated by Breakthrough Basketball. We are committed to advising you of the right to your privacy, and strives to provide a safe and secure user experience. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, store and use personal information, provided by you on our website. When you visit our Web site you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and Web site use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our Web site. For example, you may need to provide the following information: • Name • Website URL information • Email address • Home and business phone number It also explains how we collect and use non-personal information. By accessing and using our website, you explicitly accept, without limitation or qualification, the collection, use and transfer of the personal information and non-personal information in the manner described in our Privacy Policy. Please read this Policy on our website(s) carefully, as it affects your rights and liabilities under the law. If you disagree with the way we collect and process personal and non-personal information, please do not use this website. This Policy applies to this website as well as all webpages Breakthrough Basketball hosts. It regulates the processing of information relating to you and grants both of us various rights with respect to your personal data. It also informs you of how to notify us to stop using your personal information. We are located in the United States of America. You may be located in a country that has laws which are more restrictive about the collection and use of your personal information. However, by using our website, you agree to waive the more restrictive laws and agree to be governed by the laws of the United States of America. If you wish to view our official policies, please visit our website.