Floppy Action in Basketball

What are examples of floppy action?

Floppy action could include basic aspects that feature a player utilizing the stagger or single screen leading to a potential jump shot or other playmaking opportunity.

It’s also possible to implement other offensive options into floppy action such as additional screens or high low passes to create scoring opportunities.

The examples below demonstrate these concepts in greater detail, which also includes diagrams, a simple video, and key actions in bold text.

How to understand the diagrams and player roles

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.

Essentially, in terms of a brief legend for the diagrams:

• 1 through 5: 1 through 5 represents the offensive 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.

Basic

A player starts under the basket and has the option to utilize the single or stagger screen towards the perimeter wing areas.

It’s also feasible for one of the screeners to get open via screener the screener action.

Another point of emphasis; within the basic or traditional floppy style, a player would start under the basket and choose either side. However, it is technically possible for a player to start on one side and cut through to the other side without choosing or to fake a cut towards one side and immediately shift back to the other side. In those cases, the action would still be generally consider floppy.

Part 1

• Cut towards wing via single screen: 2 can cut towards the left side wing via the single screen set by 4.
• Cut towards wing via stagger screen: 2 could also cut towards the right side wing via the stagger screen set by 3 and 5.
• Scoring opportunity: Afterwards, 1 could pass towards the left side or right side wing, which can be received by 2, resulting in a potential three-point shot.

Part 2

• Cut towards wing via single screen by a screening player: Assuming 2 chooses the stagger screen to get open, that means 3 could cut towards the left side wing via the single screen set by 4.
• Scoring opportunity: 1 could pass the ball towards the left side wing. 4 could receive that pass and take the possible open three-point shot.

Cross screen

It’s possible for a team to utilize floppy action, which could then be followed up with a double cross screen to get the ball to the team’s post player.

Alternatively, it’s possible to execute high low action or implement a post entry feed to get the ball into the low post on the opposite side.

Part 1

• Cut towards wing via stagger screen: 3 could cut towards the right side wing via the stagger screen set by 2 and 4 as opposed to the single screen set by 5.
• Scoring opportunity: 3 could receive the ball from 1 and take the open three-point shot.
• Hold possession and cut away: If an open shot is not available, then 3 could simply hold the ball for the time being while 1 cuts away to the left side wing area.

Part 2

• Double cross screen in the lane: 2 and 4 can now step into the lane to set a double cross screen.
• Cut towards strong side low post: 5 can then use that double cross screen to get open near the right side low post area.
• Cut out towards perimeter: After setting the double cross screen, 2 could cut out towards the left side corner while 4 pops to the high post area.
• Cut towards strong side short corner (optional): Alternatively, instead of cutting towards the low post area, 5 could cut towards the short corner.
  • Note: This might be a good option if 5 has shooting capability.
• Scoring opportunities
  • Low post move: If 5 cut towards the low post, then 5 could receive the ball from 3 and score via a low post move.
  • Short corner jumper: If 5 opted instead to cut towards the short corner, then 5 could receive the ball from 3 and take the short jumper.
  • High post jump shot: If 5 is not open, then 4 could receive the ball from 3 and take the mid-range jump shot in the high post.

Point of emphasis: Spacing for post player to operate

• One of the main reasons why 2 and 4 can cut away from the basket after setting the double cross screen is because this gives 5 plenty of space to operate down low.
• In other words, off-ball defenders can’t really help too much because they generally won’t be able to recover quickly enough to potential shooters on the perimeter.
• This option could be very useful for teams that feature a dominant big who prefers to score via low post moves and such.

Point of emphasis: Possible offensive rebounder

• If 5 opts to cut towards the short corner as a potential pass recipient, then 2 may want to stay around the basket to serve as a possible offensive rebounder.
• If 2 cuts out towards the left side corner, then no other offensive players would be around to gather the offensive rebound, assuming 4 continues to pop towards the high post area.
• Conversely, 2 and 4 could switch their roles, assuming 5 does cut to the short corner. That is to say, 4 could stay near the basket while 2 pops to the high post instead.

Part 3

• Additional scoring opportunities
  • Note: The assumption for this part of the sequence is that 5 cut to the low post via the double cross screen and 4 received the ball from 3. However, 4 did not take the jump shot because it is not open.
  • High low: 5 could duck into the lane and seal their defender under the basket. 4 could throw the high low pass inside and 5 could score quickly.
  • Pass to wing and post entry: 4 could pass the ball out towards the left side wing, which would be received by 1. As that happens, 5 could follow the ball to the left side low post area. 1 could make the post entry feed to 5 who could try to score once more via a low post move.