Special plays from a 1-4 high alignment From Bill Agronin

The 1-4 offensive alignment affords a number of scoring opportunities, while causing the defense a number of problems.

Diagrammed here are three “special plays” that have proven to be very successful. They provide floor balance and give you a quick-hitting play to isolate your best scorer.

Special No. 1

DIAGRAM 1: This is a simple isolation play used to get 2 or 3 the ball in scoring position. 1 dribbles to 3, who cuts through the lane to the top of the 3-point line. 4 rolls to the low block.

DIAGRAM 2: As soon as 3 gets past the foul line, 4 sets screens for 3.

DIAGRAM 3: If 3 does not get the pass from 1, 4 pops out to the top of the key and receives the pass from 1.

At the same time, 3 should work to seal off the defender in the low post and get set to receive 4’s pass.

This high-low pass causes a great deal of difficulty for 3’s defender, who will not have weak-side help.

Special No. 2

DIAGRAM 4: 5 pops up and sets a screen for 1, who uses the screen. 1 dribbles to the right, and 2 cuts to the ball-side low block.

DIAGRAM 5: After 2 reaches the top of the key, 5 screens for 4, who dives to the low block. 5 should then open to the ball.

Special No. 3

DIAGRAM 6: This play has two options. In the first option, 1 dribbles off a high screen set by 5, while 2 rolls to the low block.

DIAGRAM 7: As soon as 1 reaches the wing area vacated by 2, 2 sets a backscreen for 3.

4 and 5 screen for 2, who receives a pass from 1 for a 3-point shot.

DIAGRAM 8: The second option has 5 set a backscreen for 4, who looks for a lob pass from 1.