What is boomerang action in basketball?
The boomerang action is an offensive tactic that occurs when a player passes the basketball to an adjacent teammate and swiftly receives it again from that same teammate, primarily to create a scoring opportunity.
In essence, the boomerang action, sometimes referred to as a boomerang pass, is a type of double passing action utilized to generate an advantage against the defense while also attempting to produce one or more high percentage offensive scoring options, especially by targeting a defender who is not fully prepared to guard against the dribble attack.
What are examples of basic boomerang action?
This section showcases basic examples of the boomerang action by way of basketball diagrams.
Additionally, each of the offensive and/or defensive players on any diagrams below are generally represented by the standard basketball positions, unless otherwise noted.
In essence, 1 and X1 represent the offensive and defensive point guards, respectively.
2 and X2 denote the offensive and defensive shooting guards, respectively.
3 and X3 indicate the offensive and defensive small forwards, respectively.
4 and X4 signify the offensive and defensive power forwards, respectively.
5 and X5 designate the offensive and defensive center positions, respectively.
Example 1
This is a very basic example of boomerang action which is simply a pass from one teammate to another.
Afterwards, the second teammate eventually passes the ball back to the first teammate.
In terms of the diagram example, 1 passes with 2 as the receiver. After that, 2 passes it back with 1 as the recipient.
Related: The Boomerang Basketball Passing Concept – YouTube
Example 2 – Part 1
Here is a slightly more elaborate version of boomerang action between two players.
In essence, 1 is being guarded by X1 with on-ball defensive pressure.
Therefore, to release that pressure, 1 passes the ball with 2 as the receiver.
Example 2 – Part 2
From there, once 1 gives up the ball, X1 backs off and essentially moves into a help defense position within the high post area. This basically prevents easy middle penetration if 2 is able to beat X2 off the dribble.
However, for this basic example, what 1 could do is mini V-cut and receive the ball again via boomerang action from 2.
Afterwards, on the catch, when X1 closes out represented by the gray arrow, 1 could attack that closeout by dribbling on the left or right side towards the basket.
Example 3 – Part 1
On the diagram itself, 3 starts at the top with possession of the ball.
Following that, 3 begins to dribble towards the right side of the lane line with the intention of attacking the basket via an on-ball screen set by 5.
Unfortunately for the offense, this is countered and mitigated when X5 switches onto 3 while X3 switches onto 5 who also rolls towards the basket.
From there, let’s say that X3 is able to use their speed to get in front of 5 or X4 slides into the lane as help and then slides back out while X3 recovers on top of 5.
In either event, 3 cannot easily attack the rim via the pick action and 5 is not open to receive the ball from 3 as well. However, all is not necessarily lost for the offensive team.
Example 3 – Part 2
This is mainly where boomerang action is generally most effective. That is to say, after a defensive switch (in this case by way of pick and roll action), a mismatch usually occurs.
Basically, if the offensive player setting the screen (i.e. the screener) is a post player, then in most cases, their defender (i.e the screener’s defender) will also usually be a post player.
From there, due to the switching action, the player in possession of the ball will most likely have a speed advantage.
In terms of the diagram example, 3 passes the ball with 1 as the recipient. When that occurs, X5 could possibly back up, represented by the gray arrow, into a more helping position.
The general idea there is to prevent or hinder easy dribble penetration towards the middle for 1.
However, even if X5 does not drop back and 1 does not attack the middle, 3 would still generally have the advantage in terms of speed as well as offensive action.
In other words, X5 doesn’t know what 3 is going to do after giving up the ball. 3 could set a strong side corner ball screen; 3 could screen away for another teammate on the weak side; 3 could also simply cut to the basket.
The main point is that after 3 executes the initial pass of the boomerang action, X5 could potentially provide off-ball help, remain in a neutral position, or even deny the pass back towards 3.
Regardless though, 3 would typically have the offensive advantage, primarily due to the switch and subsequent general mismatch.
At any rate, continuing with the diagram, 1 passes back with 3 as the recipient to complete the boomerang action.
From there, 3 could swiftly attempt to blow by X5 and attack the rim, which could lead to one or more scoring opportunities via a close-range shot or drive and kick action.
Related: “Boomerang” Action (versus pick & roll switch) – YouTube
What are additional insights in relation to boomerang action?
When to consider the boomerang action
Generally speaking, the offensive team could consider executing the boomerang action in the course of transition offense, during set plays, or anytime within the flow of the offense when an advantage occurs, usually due to mismatches because of defensive switches.
General benefit
The boomerang action allows the offensive player who made the initial pass the opportunity to create enough space so that they can attack their defender off the dribble upon receiving the pass back from a teammate.
Putting it another way, if a defender hinders or totally prevents dribble penetration, especially as a defensive switch counter to the pick and roll, then the boomerang action could be useful in terms of attacking that same defender after the pass back portion is completed.
Also, since the ball typically moves much faster than any particular defender, this generally means that the entire defense would have to react to the initial pass.
Moreover, the defender who would be the target of the dribble attack would have to react and/or recover to the pass back action on the catch of the offensive player who would receive it.
Boomerang action might be more serviceable than the escape dribble
The boomerang action could potentially be even more serviceable as opposed to the escape dribble then followed by a dribble attack.
Basically with an escape/retreat dribble, the on-ball defender can either keep applying pressure or simply remain in a neutral position while expecting and possibly being prepared for the potential dribble attack.
The diagram below shows the escape dribble concept.
Escape dribble example
This example starts with a setup that is very similar to Example 3 earlier. However, this time, the play is mirrored and players 2 through 5 have swapped areas of the court.
Essentially, X4 switches onto 2 while X2 switches onto 4 following the ball screen action.
Afterwards, instead of quickly initiating the boomerang action, 2 elects to utilize an escape dribble.
2 can either escape dribble towards the wing or even further away from the basket.
In this instance, the escape dribble is probably not too bad to consider, especially if 2 has a speed advantage over X4.
The issue though is that X4 has enough time to read and react to what 2 could possibly do, particularly if 2 decides to attack via the dribble.
Moreover, if X4 is really bold or aggressive, then X4 could continue to pressure the ball even with the escape dribble technically occurring, especially if X4 does not think 2 has a speed advantage.
From there, even if 2 passes with 1 as the receiver, any subsequent boomerang action may not be as effective.
Nonetheless, it should be noted that in some scenarios, depending on court location, an offensive player may be able to combine both escape dribble with boomerang action for a highly potent play.
For example, a player could receive possession of the ball in the high post and then escape dribble towards the wing. Afterwards, that same player could pass to the adjacent corner, receive the ball again to complete the boomerang action, and then attack the defender.
Additionally, it should be mentioned as well that in some cases, the defensive team might execute blitz action as a counter to the pick and roll, which would basically force the player in possession of the ball to pass it anyway or possibly risk turning it over, even if they wanted to use the escape dribble instead.