3 Out 2 In Wing Offense in Basketball

What is 3 out 2 in wing offense in basketball?

• 3 out 2 in wing offense consists of actions that are designed to create scoring opportunities from the wing areas or for wing players in general.
• Wing players typically include the shooting guard and the small forward.
• 3 out 2 in wing offense is also based on an initial formation of three perimeter players as well as two interior players.

What are example demonstrations of 3 out 2 in wing offense?

• 3 out 2 in wing offense begins with a type of initial action such as a dribble handoff.
• From there, that initial action could be followed up by additional player motion to produce 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.

Example 1: Part 1

• Dribble weave actions:
  • Starting off, 1 dribbles toward 3 near the right side wing.
  • 3 receives the handoff from 1 and dribbles back toward the top and eventually towards the left side wing.
  • 2 receives the handoff from 3 and dribbles the ball towards the top again.
• Cross screen action:
  • While the dribble weave happens, 4 can set a cross screen for 5.
  • 5 uses that screen to cut across the lane to the left side low post area.
  • Fill cut: After setting the cross screen, 4 fills the right side low post area.
  • Notes to consider:
    • The cross screen, in this instance, is utilized mainly to occupy the defense.
    • However, if 5 happens to get open near the basket as 3 is dribbling towards 2, then 3 could pass the ball inside before the second handoff occurs.
    • That could potentially lead to a layup for 5.
    • Nevertheless, the overall set is designed to generally emphasize wing scoring opportunities.

Example 1: Part 2

• Top to slot dribble: Following the second dribble handoff, 2 dribbles again towards the right slot.
• Slot to wing pass: 2 simply passes from the right slot towards the right side wing, which is received by 1.
• Lift cuts:
  • As 2 is dribbling towards the right slot and during the timing of the pass, 4 lifts up towards the right side high post elbow.
  • On the weak side, 5 also lifts slightly up towards the mid-post between the low post and high post elbow.
• UCLA action:2 executes the UCLA cut towards the basket via the back screen set by 4.
• Scoring opportunity: 1 could pass the ball to 2 who could score via a layup.
• Fill cut: If 2 is not open, then 2 fills the right side low post where 4 was previously located.

Point of Emphasis: Better passing and cutting angle

• Prior to dribbling towards the slot, 2 could technically pass to the wing from the top.
• However, by dribbling towards the slot area, that generally gives 2 a better passing and cutting angle for the UCLA action afterwards.

Point of Emphasis: Potential backdoor counter

• If 1’s defender were to deny the passing lane so that 1 couldn’t receive the ball, then that could trigger automatic backdoor cut action.
• Essentially, instead of passing towards the wing, 2 would pass to 4 instead and 1 would backdoor cut behind their defender, which could result in a possible layup.
• The video below showcases a basic demonstration of this.

Example 1: Part 3

• On-ball screen:
  • 4 can step out to set an on-ball screen near the wing for 1.
  • 1 can also use that ball screen to drive towards the middle of the floor.
• Stagger screen:
  • At the same time, 3 and 5 set a stagger screen near the low post area on the weak side.
  • 2 uses that stagger screen and cuts to the left side wing near 3’s previous location.
• Pin down screen:
  • Furthermore, after setting the on-ball screen, 4 moves toward the right side low post area to set a pin down screen.
  • 3 uses that pin down screen and cuts to the right side wing area near 1’s previous location.
    • Screen the screener: This is also screen the screener action because 3 set a screen earlier and then received one from another screener (4).
• Scoring opportunities:
  • 1 can pass to 2, who could be the team’s best shooter, leading to a three-point shot.
  • 1 could also pass to 3, who could be the team’s second best shooter. This is also another three-point shot opportunity.
  • 1 could simply keep possession of the ball and take the mid-range shot.

Point of Emphasis: Floppy

• When 2 uses the stagger screen to cut towards the perimeter and 3 follows up by using the single pin down screen, this is very reminiscent of floppy action.
• There are a few minor differences though between this particular action and the more traditional floppy:
  • Generally speaking, in traditional floppy, the screens are typically set closer to the lane lines or even within the lane.
    • For this example, the screens are set near the low post areas.
  • In traditional floppy, the first or initial cutter (2) could have the option to choose the stagger screen or the single screen.
    • For this case though, the initial cutter automatically chooses the stagger first because of the way the offensive sequence is ultimately structured.

Related:

Example 2: Part 1

• Dribble handoff: 1 dribbles toward 3 to execute dribble handoff action. 3 also dribbles back towards the top.
• Cut across lane: As that dribble action happens, 5 simply cuts across the lane towards the left side mid-post area next to 4.

Example 2: Part 2

• Top to wing pass:3 passes the ball to 2 near the left side wing.
• Double step-up screen action:
  • 4 and 5 lift up towards the left side wing to set a double step-up screen.
  • 2 uses that screen and dribbles towards the basket on baseline side.
• Elbow screen action:
  • Simultaneously, 1 cuts toward the right side elbow to set a screen.
  • 3 uses that elbow screen and cuts to the right side corner.
• Scoring opportunity: 2 could throw a drift pass across the lane to 3 who could take the open three-point shot.

Point of Emphasis: Hammer

• When 1 sets the elbow screen and 3 cuts to the corner, this is effectively hammer action.
• However, with traditional hammer action/set play, the screen is typically set someone who was already within the parameters of the three-point arc such as a post player.
• For this case, the screen is set by the point guard (1) who was initially on the wing. The screen is then used by a wing player (3) who cuts to the corner.

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Related: 3-Out 2-In Motion Offense & Special Situations – Joe Wootten