What is the 3 out 2 in motion offense in basketball?
- The 3 out 2 in motion offense is a basketball strategy that utilizes a variety of offensive actions based on an initial formation of three perimeter players as well as two interior players.
- The perimeter players are typically located near the top and wing areas, respectively.
- The interior players generally occupy the low post areas.
- In essence, the 3 out 2 in motion offense seeks to create a general balance of inside and outside high percentage scoring opportunities.
- By focusing on various offensive actions, this scheme can be beneficial to both guards and post players.
- Simultaneously, it can also present a notable defensive challenge for the opposition.
- It should also be mentioned that it’s possible for players to switch locations during the initial alignment.
- For example, the shooting guard and power forward could switch places.
- In essence, the shooting guard could fill one of the low post areas while the power forward occupies one of wing areas.
- Nevertheless, the overall premise remains the same: three perimeter players and two interior players.
What are example demonstrations of the 3 out 2 in motion offense?
- The 3 out 2 in motion offense generally starts with some type of initial action; particularly a wing entry, dribble entry, or dribble handoff.
- Afterwards, the initial action could be followed up by additional sets or options to create various scoring opportunities.
- The examples below demonstrate these concepts in greater detail, which also includes diagrams, videos, and key actions in bold text.
How to understand the diagrams and player roles via a brief legend
In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions in number format, unless otherwise noted.
- 1 through 5: 1 through 5 represents the point guard (1), shooting guard (2), small forward (3), power forward (4), and center (5), respectively.
- Black Dot or Small Circle: The black dot or small circle represents the basketball.
- Solid Arrow: The solid arrow indicates movement or a cut on the basketball court.
- Dotted Arrow: The dotted arrow represents a basketball pass.
- Wavy Arrow: The wavy arrow indicates dribbling.
- T-Shaped Symbol: The T-shaped symbol signifies a screen, also known as a pick.
- Double Pipe Symbol: The double pipe symbol denotes handoff action.
Initial action
Wing entry
- Pass towards wing: A player at the top (or slot) in possession of the ball passes it to the wing.
- Off-ball actions: Once another player gains possession of the ball on the wing, the player that passed it as well as any other actions could utilize a variety of off-ball actions. On the adjacent image, 1 cuts away to the left side corner.
- Scoring opportunities: After the pass to the wing and potential off-ball actions occur, it’s possible for the team to generate one or more scoring opportunities.
Dribble entry
- Dribble towards wing: A player at the top in possession of the ball dribbles it towards the wing.
- Off-ball actions: Other players without possession of the ball could execute different types of off-ball actions such as cuts or screens. On the diagram, 3 cuts down to the adjacent corner while 2 fills the top.
- Scoring opportunities: After the dribble entry and possible off-ball actions happen, the team can create scoring opportunities from that.
Point of emphasis: Using dribble entry to counter denial defense
- In some instances, a wing defender will try to deny a wing entry pass that was mentioned earlier.
- When that occurs, it’s possible for the player at the top and an off-ball player, such as the one on the wing to essentially exchange spots on the court.
- Wing entry denial: On the diagram, a defender, denoted as X3, is in the passing lane between 1 and 3.
- Dribble entry: Instead of throwing a pass via wing entry, 1 simply dribbles in that direction.
- Shallow cut: 3 reads this and performs a shallow cut towards the top by going underneath 1, ultimately to exchange spots on the floor.
- Note: It’s possible for 3 to do something else instead of the shallow cut while another player fills the top. For example, 5 could cut to the top while 3 replaces at the vacant low post area.
Dribble handoff
- Dribble towards player: A player at the top in possession of the ball dribbles it towards another player, usually on the wing.
- Off-ball actions: Other players without possession of the ball could execute different types of off-ball actions such as cuts or screens. On the diagram, 4 cuts to the wing via a down screen set by 2.
- Scoring opportunities: After the dribble handoff and off-ball actions happen, the team can create scoring opportunities from that.
Handoff
Part 1
- Dribble handoff: 1 dribbles toward the right side wing area to execute a dribble handoff alongside 2 who dribbles back toward the top area.
- Top to wing pass: After the dribble handoff action occurs, 2 can pass the ball from the top to the left side wing, which can be received by 3.
- Flash cut: As the top to wing pass occurs, 5 can flash cut towards the high post area and eventually receive the ball from 3.
- Scoring opportunities
- Face-up shot or drive: 5 can face-up and take the jump shot if open. Alternatively, 5 could even drive to the basket and score if they have dribbling capability.
- High low: If 5 is not able to shoot or drive, then 4 could quickly duck into the lane area while potentially sealing the defender behind them. After that, 4 could receive the ball via the high low action and score around the basket.
- Corner cut: If 5 is not open to shoot or drive and the high low option is not feasible either, then 4 could cut out towards the right side corner while 5 simply keeps possession of the ball.
Part 2
- High post handoff: 5 could pivot slightly away from the direction of the basket towards the direction of the left side elbow area. While that happens, 2 could cut towards 5 to receive a possible handoff.
- Scoring opportunity: 2 could attack the rim and score around the basket.
- Corner cut: If 2 is not open to receive the handoff from 5, then 2 can simply cut through to the left side corner.
Part 3
- Dribble handoff: 5 dribbles toward the left side wing to perform a dribble handoff alongside 3.
- Dribble towards lane: 3 dribbles towards the lane just below the high post.
- Roll to basket: After handing the ball off, 5 simply rolls to the basket.
- Lift cut: Once 3 begins dribbling towards the lane and 5 rolls to the basket, 2 can lift up from the left side corner to fill the vacated adjacent wing.
- Scoring opportunities: 3 could take the mid-range shot or floater in the lane. Alternatively, 3 could pass the ball to any of the other teammates, depending on whoever could be open, which could lead to additional field goal attempts.
Point of emphasis: Dribbling towards the lane
- 3 should dribble towards the lane or more specifically, touch a piece of the paint with one or both feet because this puts more pressure on the defense as the ball is getting closer to the rim.
- That, in turn, makes it much easier for 3 to score or make plays for other teammates.
Point of emphasis: Lift cut
- The main reason why 2 should lift up is because that just makes it much more difficult for the defender who would be guarding 2 to provide help defense, particularly to hinder 5’s roll to the basket.
- Additional insights to consider
- The lift cut demonstrated by 2 in this example is somewhat similar to shake action that is typically utilized alongside ball screen action.
- Although this scenario features dribble handoff action instead of the ball screen, the overall concept is more or less similar.
Pass and screen away
Part 1
- Pass and screen away: 1 passes the ball towards the left side wing, which is received by 2. Afterwards, 1 screens away for 3 near the right side wing.
- Cut towards top: 3 uses the screen set by 1 and cuts to the top.
- Cross screen: As that happens, 5 cuts across the lane to the left side low post area by way of a cross screen set by 4.
- Fill cuts: 4 clears out to the right side corner while 1 fills the right side wing.
- Scoring opportunities: 5 could receive the ball and score via a layup or low post move. Alternatively, 3 could receive it and take the open three-point shot.
Part 2
- Pass towards wing: If 3 gains possession of the ball but the shot is not there, then 1 could receive the ball near the right side wing.
- Ram screen action: Next, 5 could cut towards the ball via the ram screen set by 3, who also fills the left side corner.
- Pick and roll action: After that, 1 could dribble towards the lane via the pick set by 5, who also rolls to the basket.
- Shake action: As that happens, 4 fills the vacated right side wing area via shake action.
- Scoring opportunities: From there, 1 could attempt to score or pass to other teammates, which could result in more possible scoring options.
Quick hitter
Part 1
- Dribble entry: Starting off, 1 performs a dribble entry towards the left side wing.
- Corner fill cuts: As the dribble entry happens, 3 shifts down to the left side corner and 4 cuts out to the right side corner.
Part 2
- Ball screen action: 5 lifts up to set a ball screen and 1 uses it to dribble towards the middle of the court.
- Pass from middle towards wing: Upon dribbling towards the middle of the court, 1 passes the ball towards the right side wing, which is received by 2.
- Cut from corner towards lane: After 2 gains possession of the ball, 3 moves slightly up around the adjacent wing before quickly cutting in towards the left side lane line.
- Pass from wing towards lane: 2 could pass the ball from the right side wing towards the lane, which could be received by 3.
- Scoring opportunities: After receiving possession of the ball, 3 can take a mid-range jump shot, shoot a floater in the lane, or attack the rim in an attempt to score.
- 3 could also throw a kick out pass with 4 as the target, leading to a potential three-point shot opportunity if that is open.
Point of emphasis: Pass timing in relation to lane cut
- In terms of timing, 2 should generally pass at the moment when one or both feet of 3 touch the lane line just below the free throw line.
- Otherwise, 3 may not be open at all or 3 might not be able to score quickly and efficiently upon receiving the ball.
Point of emphasis: Corey cut
- It should also be mentioned that this particular lane cut from the corner/wing area is sometimes referred to as a Corey cut or Maggette cut.
- It’s derived from the name of former NBA player, Corey Maggette, who would use that type of cut to get open and score around the lane area or directly at the basket.
Screen the Screener
Part 1
- Dribble handoff: Starting off, 1 performs dribble handoff action with 3 near the right side wing area.
- Down screen: As the dribble handoff action occurs, 2 cuts toward the left side low post area to set a down screen for 4.
- Cut from low post to wing: 4 utilizes the down screen and cuts from the low post to the wing area.
- Low post fill: After setting the screen, 2 fills the vacated left side low post area.
- Dribble towards top: Simultaneously, 3 dribbles back towards the top after receiving possession of the ball from 1
- Pass from top towards wing: Upon reaching the top, 3 passes the ball towards the left side wing, which is received by 4.
- Scoring opportunity (optional): 4 has the option to take the three-point shot if they are open. Otherwise, 4 could simply keep possession of the ball.
Part 2
- Cross screen: 2 cuts into the lane to set a cross screen.
- Post to post cut: 5 cuts across the lane from the right side to left side low post area via the cross screen set by 2.
- Down screen: As that happens, 3 moves into the lane to set a down screen for 2.
- Cut from lane towards top: 2 uses the down screen and cuts towards the top.
- Passing options: 4 has the option to pass the ball to either 5 in the low post or 2 at the top.
- Scoring opportunities: 4 can score near the basket via a low post move if they receive the ball. Alternatively, 2 could take the three-point shot if they receive it instead.
Point of emphasis: Screen the screener
- The action in which 2 sets a screen for a teammate and then receives one from another teammate (3) is generally referred to as screen the screener action.
- In this instance and in many cases, the screener the screener action can be highly effective because it can be a little more difficult for defenders to switch against the screens or generally avoid one or both of the screens.
Related:
Wing series
Part 1
- Dribble entry: Starting off, 1 performs a dribble entry towards the left side wing.
- Cut through: As that happens, 2 cuts through to the empty right side corner.
- Lift towards top: Additionally, 4 lifts up from the left side low post area to fill the recently vacated top area.
Part 2
- Shuffle-style cut: 3 performs a shuffle-style cut from the wing towards the lane area via the off-ball screen that is set by 5 just outside of the right elbow area.
- Scoring opportunity: 1 could pass the ball to 3 who could score around the rim if that is available.
- Fill cut towards low post: Otherwise, 3 fills the adjacent left side low post area while 1 holds possession of the ball.
Part 3
If the shuffle action didn’t result in a score, the offensive team could still set up an additional screening action for one of the wing players.
- Stagger screen: 4 and 5 could cut towards the right corner to set a stagger screen.
- Cut towards top via screen: 2 could cut towards the top via that stagger screen.
- Scoring opportunity: After that, 2 could receive the ball from 1 and take the three-point shot if that is open.
Part 4
It’s possible to set up yet another screening action for a wing-based scoring opportunity.
- Elevator screen: If 2 received the ball but is not open to take the shot, then 4 and 5 could cut into the lane to set an elevator screen.
- Cut towards wing: 3 could cut back towards the original right side wing area by way of the elevator screen set.
- Scoring opportunity: 3 could receive possession of the ball from 2 and take the three-point shot.
- Note: 4 and 5 could try to gather an offensive rebound in the event that 3 misses the three-point field goal attempt.
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Related: 3-Out 2-In Motion Offense & Special Situations – Joe Wootten