A common problem for many teams that have multiple good shooters is neglecting the drive. This can lead to defences playing very in your face to prevent the basketball from being shot from range. The opposite can also be true, and is usually the case with athletic and quick guards and forwards who can blitz past their defenders. In this case, defences can sag off to protect the drive and force shots from range. Teams must be a threat to attack at all distances, and modification of scrimmage basketball workouts can produce effective results.
A typical practice game for me is a half court game, with possession ending on defensive rebound. This is my preferred method since I want my to focus on concepts I’ve implemented earlier in the session, and it’s much easier as a coach to control the tempo of the workout in the half court. I often stop on change of possession to provide pointers.
I use the following modifications regularly to try and facilitate particular shots.
1. 3s and layups/dunks only
The point of this drill is to get players to drive to the hoop. I allow 3s as well to force the defence into playing honest defence, as if only layups were allowed they could sag off completely. This is a great way to provoke “drive and dish” where penetration occurs to the key and is dished out to the three point line for a shot or another drive. It’s great for teams that settle for the mid-range shot, or teams that tend to “clog up” the drive (too many people close to the hoop when someone drives resulting in too many defenders near the ball). Conversely, it’s a bad workout for stand-back-and-watch teams that don’t get to receiver spots when a teammate drives, as it encourages more of the same.
2. 5 on 4.
Taking away a defender encourages good ball movement to find an open player. This can be done as both a defensive and offensive workout as it forces a defense to communicate exceedingly well. Encourage the defense to ensure the ball and lane are covered at all times. Make it a rule that you can’t go from guarding the basketball to guarding the ball again after it’s passed. To prevent cheap shots I also encourage 5 passes before the offense can move. This workout can be combined with the 3s and layups one. Practically, it is done with 9 people with one person staying on offence each change of possession.
3. 5 on 6
6 defenders forces good ball movement and is more likely to generate jump shots than penetration, as the spare defender tends to hang around in the key and help on dribble penetration.