This is one of our “bread-and-butter” basketball offensive plays. Teams that play lazy defense can not stop this action.
Cross
How does this offensive basketball play start?
Player #1 passes to #3 and splits off the high post with #2.
Player #2 cuts to the ball-side block as #4 flashes high to reverse the ball.
Player #3 can make the pass to #2 on the cut if he is open.
If the cutter is not open, player #3 reverses the ball to #4.
Player #1 cuts to the wing and receives the pass from #4.
As #1 receives the pass from #4, player #3 cuts off a back-screen by #2 looking for the pass from #1. If #3 is open, player #1 passes him the ball for an easy basket. This option is usually available against teams that like to extend their defense while trying to force turnovers.
After passing the ball to #1, players #4 and #5 move to set a staggered double-down screen for #2. Player #2 waits for #3 to go shoulder-to-shoulder with him, and then rips high going shoulder-to-shoulder with players #4 and #5. If screens are set correctly, player #2 will be wide open for the 3-pt. shot at the top of the key.
Basketball Set Play Into Motion Offense
Player #1 must read the defense and make the safe pass. If nothing is open, we then move directly into our Blocker Mover Motion offense.
In conclusion, Cross is a great basketball play! We like Cross so much that we have designed sets so that we can run this action as a under out-of-bounds play, and as a side out-of-bounds play. This screen-the-screener action really works.
Have you tried this drill in practice? Did it work for you? Please let me know by leaving a comment in the box below. And be sure to check out this article before you leave the site: Basketball Offense – 15 Laws For Success