Conceptual Offense 101: Barkley, Nash, Dribble Out

I loved the way my friend, Randy Sherman, described the goal of our basketball offense:

“Design an offense with enough robustness in the form of reads, counters, options, depth to exist on its own over the course of seasons.“

Our player movement helps create space that allows for the ball-handler to attack and create an advantage – for himself or for a teammate. But sometimes, defenders are able to contain the ball-handler, preventing an advantage for the offense. So, then what?

Here is the main teaching point this week. I got this from Coach Doug Novak:

If the ball-handler can’t get a foot in the charge circle on the drive, keep your dribble alive. Barkley, Nash, or Dribble Out.

The effectiveness of our team’s offense increased two-fold when our players learned to keep their dribbles alive with a Barkley, Nash, or Dribble Out. Most players, when stopped by a defender, pick up their dribble. At that moment, their options are immediately limited. It also kills the pace in your offense, which makes it even more difficult to create an advantage.

Barkley

Here are the two scenarios you’ll most often get a chance to Barkley. Frame 1 is after our slot-to-slot / slice action. Frame 2 is off a baseline drive.

In Frame 2, when the driver turns to Barkley, perimeter defenders turn to the see the ball, allowing shooters to get to open windows. The Barkley can also draw help post defenders, which opens up a pass to the post…

Nash

The Nash can come off any drive to the basket, but the two times I see it most are off the triple gap drive shown in Frame 1 or on a baseline drive.

I did a short web clinic (with game footage) on how to use the Nash within your offense…

Dribble Out

The third option for the ballhandler is the dribble out. Like the Nash, the most common time to use the dribble out is after driving the triple gap from the top, the player continues to dribble out to the same side perimeter. After facing up, he can now attack either way with the dribble.

A dribble out opportunity may also happen off a drive from the corner…

Questions?

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