FLEX MOTION OFFENSE By Brad Stricklin TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction to the Flex Motion Offense................................................................... 3 Basic Motion............................................................................................................ 5 Corner Options........................................................................................................ 8 Flex Offense vs. Switching Defenses.................................................................... 11 Disguising the Flex Offense .................................................................................. 15 Jamming the Ball Inside ........................................................................................ 20 Quick Hitters.......................................................................................................... 23 Breakdown Shooting Drills .................................................................................... 34 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 38 2 www.basketballclassroom.com Introduction to the Flex Motion Offense Over the better part of the last 40 years, one of the most popular offenses in the game of basketball has been the flex motion offense. Though considered the simplest motion offense by a great many coaches, the flex has been successfully used by countless middle school, high school, university, NBA, and international teams. The flex is a 4-out, 1-in (four perimeter players with one inside man) motion type offense where all five players may become interchangeable throughout the possession. In order to run a successful flex motion, your players will need to be fundamentally sound in all areas of the game and have the ability to throw crisp passes, set solid screens, execute sharp cuts, and make mid-range jump shots. Along with these skills, it is also extremely beneficial to have versatile, inside-out type players who can both post-up inside and shoot the basketball on the perimeter. While the flex is generally considered to be a jump-shooting offense, there are many post-up opportunities available for the team that favors an inside-oriented game. The flex is also a great offense for teams that are currently competing at the middle school and high school level. This is because the flex is extremely simple in its most basic form and can be taught and learned rather quickly. Many coaches also find that this offense offers them an opportunity to use basic motion concepts to teach their athletes the fundamentals of the game while still maintaining a level of offensive control. Over the years, many coaches have mistakenly dismissed the flex based on its reputation of being an easy-to-scout, easy-to-defend offense that has no options beyond the initial sets. Since there are actually hundreds of options and counters available to any team that wants to delve deeply into the flex offense, those coaches have done themselves and their teams a great disservice. This book was created to debunk the myth that the flex is a remedial offense, while giving you everything you need to know to run this outstanding motion offense successfully! In case you haven’t already noticed, this book is not your typical book on the flex offense. Though there are other books and articles out there, none go into the same amount of quality detail or provide the same quantity of information as this guide. In the next several chapters, we are going to discuss the basics movements of the flex, including how to combat switching defenses, clear-out options, ball-screen sets, how to disguise the flex, effective shooting drills, and much, much more! 3 www.basketballclassroom.com Benefits of the Flex Motion Offense: • Great offense for improving a player’s basic fundamental skills • All five players are interchangeable, forcing the other team’s defensive players to guard all areas of the court and all offensive positions • A true motion offense with only a few key principles, making it very easy to teach and learn • Has a myriad of sets and counter plays, making itan extremely fun half-court offense to coach • With its initial 4-out-1-in alignments, the flex transitions smoothly from any fast- breaking system. • One of the few offenses that can be equally successful against a man-to-man or a zone defense • Emphasis is on teaching rather than playing, which helps players improve more quickly • Provides the offense with multiple scoring opportunities • Excellent offense for teams lacking a true point guard or a true post player • Can be used as a delay-game offense and/or to control tempo throughout a game 4 www.basketballclassroom.com Basic Motion The flex, though a simple motion offense, is designed to get one of two wide open shots. • The first shot opportunity comes after the flex cut that occurs on the baseline. If this is executed properly, the defense will often get caught on the flex screen,giving the cutter a wide-open layup or an easy post up. • The second shot opportunity is for the player coming off the down screen on the weakside. Because the screener’s defender will often be caught giving help to the flex cut defender, the player coming off the down screen has an opportunity to be wide open. Diagrammed below arethe basic movements in the flex motion offense: Diagram 1A 1 passes the ball to 2. 3 cuts to the strong corner. Once 2 receives the pass, 5 steps out to the short corner to set a flex screen for 4. 4 makes a hard flex cut to the opposite block, looking for a layup or a post up. 5 www.basketballclassroom.com Diagram 1B After passing to2, 1 now sets a firm downscreen for 5. 5 comes off the downscreen to the top of the key looking for hiss hot. Diagram 1C 2 passes to 5. 1 fills to the strong corner after setting the downscreen. 4 steps out to the short corner, setting a flex screen for 3. 3 makes a hard flex cut to the opposite block, looking for a layup or a post-up. 6 www.basketballclassroom.com Diagram 1D After reversing the ball, 2 sets a downscreen for 4. 4 comes off the downscreen, looking for hisshot at the top of the key. Diagram 1E 5 reverses the ball to 4. Now, normal flex motion occurs. 7 www.basketballclassroom.com Corner Options Arguably the biggest drawback of the flex is its predictability. Most coaches believe that if you can deny the reversal pass at the top of the key, the offense will come to a halt. However, even if the reversal pass is being denied, you still have options. The next option of the flex is the pass to the corner. There are many options off this one pass, but for now we are going to show you the three most common. *When passing to the corner, a great option is simply to post up and jam the ball inside!! Single Screen: 2A: After 2 passes to 3 in the corner, 2 sets a crossscreen for 1 at the top of the key. 1 is coming off the screen towards the wing looking to receive a pass from 3. 2B: 3 swings the ball to 1. After 2 screens for 1, 2 continues to set a downscreen for 4. 4 comes off the down-screen looking for his shot at the top of the key. 2C: 1 passes to 4 and now the normal flex action occurs. After setting the down screen, 2 pops in to fill the strong side corner. 5 steps out to the short corner and sets a flex screen along the baseline. 3 cuts off the screen to the opposite block looking for a quick post up or a layup. Diagram 2A Diagram 2B Diagram 2C 8 www.basketballclassroom.com Double Screen: The double screen option is very similar to the single screen, where the passer is screening away. However, instead of just setting one crossscreen, both perimeter players on top will now set a staggered screen for the player in the opposite corner. *This can also be a great quick hitter for a 3 at younger levels of competition. 3A: 1 is being denied at the top of the key and cannot receive the reversal pass from 2. 2dribbles over to the wing and passes the ball to 3 in the corner. 3B: 1 sets the first staggered screen and 2 sets the second one around the elbow area. 4 must be patient and wait for his screens to be set and then come off shoulder to shoulder. 3 passes to 4, who is looking for the shot at the top of the key. Coaching Tip: 2 must set a “head hunter” screen. He cannot simply screen an area, but instead must find a man and make contact. 3C: If 4 does not have the shot, then reverse the ball to 2 and now the normal flex action resumes. 5 steps out to the short corner and sets a flex screen along the baseline. 3 makes a hard flex cut looking for a wide open layup or a quick post on the opposite block. 4 sets a down-screen for 5, who then comes off the screen to the top looking for the shot or the reversal. Diagram 3A Diagram 3B Diagram 3C 9 www.basketballclassroom.com UCLA Pick: This is another great option if you have a bigger guard who can post up or a post player who can step out and shoot out from the perimeter. This is also an effective way to get your best player two different shot opportunities in the same possession. *Notice how 2 will get the chance for a quick post up AND a catch-and-shoot opportunity at the top of the key in just a matter of a few passes. 4A:1 is being denied and cannot receive a reversal pass. 2 must now dribble and pass to 3 in the corner. On the pass, 5 will post up hard for a count of two seconds, then set a UCLA pick at the high post for 2. 2 will fake the crossscreen to 1(just like the single screen option) and then cut off the UCLA pick and head for the block.